Free guide
Crypto scam terms, in plain words
The words you'll run into while reporting a scam, explained simply. Each one links to a guide that goes further.
- Bitcoin ATM (crypto kiosk)
- A machine that turns cash into cryptocurrency and sends it to a wallet. Scammers often tell victims to use one. What to do if you paid through one.
- Block explorer
- A public website that shows the record of any crypto transfer. Paste in a transaction ID and it shows the amount, date and addresses involved.
- Blockchain (network)
- The public record a cryptocurrency runs on, such as Bitcoin, Ethereum or Tron. The same coin can move on different networks, so a report should name the network.
- Crypto exchange
- A company where you buy, sell and hold crypto, such as Coinbase or Kraken. How to report a scam to yours.
- Deepfake
- A fake video, photo or voice made with AI to look and sound like a real person. Scammers use them to pose as officials and loved ones.
- FinCEN
- The U.S. Treasury office that fights financial crime. It publishes alerts that help banks spot scams.
- IC3
- The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, where you report online fraud at www.ic3.gov. Filing is free. How to file.
- Pig butchering
- A long con where a scammer builds trust over weeks or months, then steers you into a fake crypto investment. What to do now.
- Police report number
- The number your police department gives your report. Exchanges and attorneys often ask for it. How to file a report.
- Private key
- The secret that controls a crypto wallet. Anyone who has it can take the money. Never share it.
- Recovery phrase (seed phrase)
- A list of 12 or 24 words that can restore a wallet. Anyone who has it controls the wallet. No real support team or agency will ever ask for it.
- Recovery scam
- A second scam aimed at people who already lost money, promising to get it back for a fee. Check an offer for red flags.
- Spoofing
- Faking a phone number, email address or website so it looks like it comes from someone you trust, like your bank or the police.
- Stablecoin
- A cryptocurrency built to hold a steady value, usually one U.S. dollar. USDT (Tether) and USDC are common examples.
- Transaction ID (transaction hash, TxID)
- The unique code for one crypto transfer. The FBI calls transaction details the most important information you can report. How to find yours.
- Wallet
- An app or device that holds crypto. Some are run by an exchange; others you control yourself.
- Wallet address
- The string of letters and numbers crypto is sent to, like an account number. It's public and safe to include in a report.
Have your transaction IDs and wallet addresses? The free IC3 summary puts them in the order the IC3 form asks for.
Build your free IC3 summary
More free guides
- How to file with the FBI's IC3
- How to file a police report
- How to report a scam to your exchange
- How to find your transaction ID
- Pig butchering: what to do now
- Bitcoin ATM scam: what to do now
- Spotting fake police, FBI and government officials
- What happens after you report
- Check a recovery offer for red flags
Sources
- IC3: Cryptocurrency
- FBI public service announcement: guidance for cryptocurrency scam victims (2023)
- FinCEN Alert FIN-2023-Alert005: pig butchering (2023)
- FBI public service announcement: scammers impersonating the IC3 (July 2026)
Last checked against official guidance: November 2026.