Written by Nicola Staub, CEO
Bridging the Gap Between Victims and Law Enforcement
The rapid rise in popularity of cryptocurrencies has, unfortunately, been accompanied by a surge in crypto scams in the United States. While law enforcement agencies are doing their best to investigate and recover assets, they are often stretched thin and unable to provide timely support for victims. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the state of crypto scam investigations and asset recovery in the U.S., highlighting the resource constraints of local law enforcement and how organizations like CYBERA are stepping in to help bridge the gap.
The Struggle of Local Law Enforcement
Both local and federal law enforcement agencies are grappling with the overwhelming number of crypto scam cases. Ideally, these agencies would be able to promptly assign experienced investigators to cases, trace stolen assets, and work with crypto companies to freeze and return the funds to victims. Unfortunately, most cases stall at the initial stages of investigation due to limited resources and personnel.
Enter CYBERA
To help address these challenges, CYBERA is working closely with victims and various law enforcement agencies across the globe, including local and federal police agencies and district attorney offices, to provide support in investigating and tracing stolen assets. We have developed expertise in the following areas:
- Starting investigations of transactions within 24 hours.
- Tracing assets using open-source and licensed tools.
- Identifying regulated crypto companies/VASPs associated with criminal wallets.
- Requesting temporary freezing of funds and providing case reports to identified crypto companies.
At CYBERA, we’re continuously working to close the gap between victims and law enforcement agencies. To further our efforts, we have now launched our CRYPTOTRACETM product, which offers on-demand crypto tracing to support asset freezing for victims directly through local law enforcement agencies. If you’re a representative of a law enforcement agency, please reach out to our team to get set up at no cost and request tracing on demand whenever it’s needed.
It’s important to note that CYBERA’s involvement doesn’t guarantee asset recovery. We clearly communicate this to every victim we advise. However, our unique technology automates global asset tracing and freezing with over 500 trusted points of contact. As a result, we’ve temporarily frozen assets in about 50% of cases where victims engaged our tracing services. Though only around 5% of these cases have led to actual asset recovery, this is still a 100x improvement compared to the current 0.05% recovery rate without CYBERA.
What Victims Can Do
If you’ve fallen victim to a crypto scam, first seek support from local law enforcement agencies, including the Secret Service, local police, district attorney’s office, and the FBI. If they can’t provide sufficient support, consider reaching out to organizations like CYBERA. Exercise caution with dubious offers, as many recovery service companies are scams themselves or overpromise results and charge excessive fees. We’re innovators in pricing, with most of our services, education, and data sharing for prevention being free for victims. Our technology allows us to offer tracing reports starting at $500, with a 10% recovery fee. This includes immediate response, reporting, and collaboration with identified cash-out points and law enforcement. Let us know if you find high-quality tracing support at a lower price point.
Conclusion
The growing number of crypto scams in the United States has put a strain on local law enforcement agencies, often leaving victims without timely support. Organizations like CYBERA are working to bridge this gap by assisting in crypto scam investigations and asset recovery efforts. While our services have limitations, they provide valuable initial support for victims who may otherwise have little hope of recovering their stolen assets. It is essential for victims to exhaust all available resources, starting with law enforcement and then considering additional assistance from organizations like CYBERA.
