Your crypto wallet was compromised — malware captured your seed phrase, a malicious browser extension intercepted your transactions, your computer was remotely accessed, or your hot wallet was drained through a security vulnerability. Wallet hacks require immediate response: secure remaining assets, trace the stolen funds, and pursue recovery through exchange freezing and legal action.
Common wallet hack vectors: Seed phrase theft (malware, phishing, physical access), malicious browser extensions (fake MetaMask, clipboard hijackers), remote access trojans (RATs) giving attackers screen control, compromised private keys through insecure storage, and smart contract vulnerabilities exploited by attackers.
Immediate response protocol: (1) Transfer remaining assets to a new wallet with a fresh seed phrase generated on a clean device. (2) Revoke all token approvals from the compromised address. (3) Record all unauthorized transaction IDs. (4) Do NOT use the same device until it's verified clean — the malware may still be active. (5) Contact us for fund tracing.
Recovery depends on where funds go: If the attacker moves stolen crypto to centralized exchanges (to cash out), we can request emergency freezing. If funds stay in non-custodial wallets, recovery requires identifying the attacker and pursuing legal action. We trace both paths simultaneously.
If your self-custodial wallet has been compromised, the situation is urgent. Immediate steps: (1) If you still have partial access, immediately transfer remaining funds to a NEW wallet with a fresh seed phrase. Do not reuse the old wallet. (2) Revoke all token approvals on the compromised wallet using tools like revoke.cash or Etherscan's token approval checker. (3) Document the hack — transaction hashes, addresses that received stolen funds, timestamps, and any information about how the compromise occurred. (4) Contact us — we trace the stolen funds through blockchain analytics. If funds reach a centralized exchange, we can request emergency freezing. (5) File a police report. (6) If you can identify how the hack occurred (malware, fake app, malicious dApp), report it — this helps prevent others from being victimized. (7) Do NOT interact with the attacker's addresses — some attackers set honeypot traps that drain additional funds from victims attempting recovery.
If you sent funds through a specific exchange, we can trace the transaction and pursue freezing. Recovery strategies differ by platform — each exchange has its own compliance team, legal jurisdiction, and cooperation protocols. Select the platform you used:
Potentially. The stolen funds move to the attacker's address — fully traceable on-chain. If the attacker sends funds to a centralized exchange (necessary for cashing out), we request emergency freezing. If they keep funds in wallets, we pursue identification through OSINT and legal channels. The key is starting the trace before the attacker has time to launder through mixers or privacy coins.
Several possibilities: (1) Malware on your device captured the seed phrase when you entered it. (2) A malicious browser extension intercepted your transactions. (3) Your seed phrase backup was compromised (photo in cloud storage, note that someone found). (4) The wallet software itself had a vulnerability. (5) A malicious smart contract approval drained tokens without needing your seed. We determine the attack vector as part of the investigation.
Immediately. The first 24-72 hours are critical for crypto recovery. Funds can be traced and frozen on exchanges during this window. After 72 hours, funds may pass through mixers, be converted to privacy coins, or be withdrawn to cash — making recovery significantly harder. Contact us now — we provide initial assessment within 6 hours.
Self-custodial wallet hacks are the hardest to recover because there's no central authority to contact. However, recovery is possible if the attacker moves funds to a centralized exchange (most do, eventually, to cash out). We trace the stolen funds through blockchain analytics, identify the exchange where funds are deposited, and send emergency freeze requests with supporting evidence (police report, transaction records, proof of ownership). The key is having transaction hashes and acting quickly before funds reach a mixer or privacy coin.
Immediately create a new wallet with a fresh seed phrase (never reuse the old one). Write the seed phrase on paper and store it offline — never in digital format. Use a hardware wallet (Ledger, Trezor) for significant holdings. Enable a passphrase (25th word) on your hardware wallet for an additional security layer. Revoke all token approvals on your old wallet using revoke.cash. Run a full malware scan on all devices. Enable hardware 2FA (YubiKey) on all exchange accounts. Never connect your wallet to unverified dApps.
What if your exchange account was also frozen? Wallet hacks often lead to your exchange freezing the account that received the stolen funds — even if that account belongs to an innocent third party. Our crypto account unlock practice works alongside fraud recovery to unfreeze legitimate accounts. For non-custodial wallet complications — lost seed phrases, multi-sig disputes, or inherited wallets — see our complex cases practice.
If your exchange account was frozen after the fraud, we unfreeze it in parallel with the recovery.
Unusual fraud scenarios — inherited wallets with stolen funds, shared accounts, cross-jurisdictional theft.
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Describe what happened. Include transaction IDs, wallet addresses, and any communication with the scammer. We respond within 6 hours.