What to Do If Your Crypto Wallet Was Hacked

If you suspect a wallet compromise, prioritize protecting anything still under your control and preserving evidence. Avoid following instructions from strangers who contact you after the incident.

Use a trusted device

If a computer or phone may be compromised, avoid entering secrets on it. Use a trusted device to secure associated email and exchange accounts, revoke suspicious sessions, and enable multifactor authentication.

Understand what was exposed

A seed phrase or private key may give full control of a wallet. Do not type it into websites or send it to an investigator. If a secret is compromised, consult the wallet's official security guidance on safely moving remaining assets to a newly secured wallet.

Review approvals carefully

For token-based assets, malicious contract approvals may be relevant. Use official wallet and chain resources and understand each transaction before signing. Avoid unknown “revoke” sites and unsolicited recovery links.

Preserve evidence

Record wallet addresses, transaction hashes, times, amounts, suspicious URLs, messages, and exchange case numbers. Keep copies of relevant alerts and device information where safe.

Report the incident

Contact the wallet or exchange provider through verified channels and report suspected fraud to the appropriate authority. A provider may be unable to reverse confirmed blockchain transactions.

Beware of recovery fraud

No legitimate helper needs your seed phrase to inspect a public transaction. Guaranteed recovery, advance unlocking fees, and remote-access demands are major warning signs.

Important: General educational information, not legal or financial advice. Outcomes depend on the facts and applicable law; no recovery or security result is guaranteed.