The short answer
Prepare a chronological ledger of messages, payment records and public crypto transactions. Preserve the time zone or UTC offset shown on each original record; do not label every New Zealand date NZST because daylight-saving time differs. Record original currencies and crypto units separately from estimated NZD values. Mark what is verified, reported or uncertain, and never include wallet secrets.
Providing clear evidence to New Zealand Police can be a daunting task when the loss involves complex cryptocurrency transactions. Police need a structured timeline to understand the nature of the fraud and the flow of funds.
This guide provides a professional approach to documenting your case. By organizing your evidence correctly, you assist investigators and increase the likelihood of accurate reporting for your case.
01Building a Chronological Ledger
A well-organized log is the foundation of any fraud report. Use a spreadsheet or simple text format to record everything. Start with the date and time of the initial contact and each subsequent interaction.
Keep the original timestamp and its time-zone label or UTC offset. New Zealand local records may show NZST or NZDT; exchange records may use UTC. If a time zone is unknown, say so rather than converting it by guesswork. Record what was communicated and use neutral categories such as 'Initial contact', 'Payment request' or 'Claimed technical support'.
Sources for this section[1] FMA: report a scam[2] New Zealand Police: cryptocurrency investment warnings
02Documenting Transactions
For a public network such as Ethereum, record the network, asset, sending address, receiving address, transaction hash and asset amount. A hash without its network can be ambiguous. For a transfer within a custodial platform, preserve the provider's receipt even if it does not show a public transaction hash.
Do not manually guess how much you lost. Use official bank or exchange statements to confirm amounts. If you used a personal wallet, reference the transaction hash provided by your wallet software. If you were misled into sending funds, clearly mark these as 'Disputed/Fraudulent' in your ledger.
Source for this section[3] Ethereum: transactions and finality
03Communicating with Authorities
When submitting your evidence to the police, focus on clarity. Do not overwhelm them with disorganized screenshots. Instead, include a summary document that points to the most important evidence, such as the initial contact emails or fraudulent platform websites.
Police may require official documentation from your bank or crypto exchange to track the flow of money. Be prepared to request these records formally from those institutions early in the process.
Source for this section[1] FMA: report a scam
04What NOT to Include
Never include your recovery phrase, private keys, or passwords in your police report. Law enforcement does not need these to investigate the transactions.
Be cautious about sharing too many personal details if it is not necessary. Keep your report focused on the facts of the financial loss, the entity involved, and the evidence of the deception.
Source for this section[4] Ethereum: wallet custody and recovery
05Hypothetical Evidence Log Template
Use this structure to organize your data:
Use separate fields: original date/time and time zone; interaction type; request made; payment or transaction reference; original amount and unit; optional NZD estimate with its valuation date; evidence filename; and confidence label such as 'verified payment' or 'unconfirmed claim'. Verification of a payment does not prove who controlled its destination.
Hypothetical entry: [timestamp and zone], [message platform], 'asked to pay a withdrawal fee', [original amount and currency], [receipt filename], 'request preserved; recipient identity unverified'. Keep a separate line for each bank payment and each crypto transfer. This is an original preparation template, not a police form or a statement that fraud has been established.
Sources for this section[1] FMA: report a scam[3] Ethereum: transactions and finality
Checklist
- Create a master ledger in spreadsheet format.
- Use NZST for all time-based entries.
- List all transaction hashes (if applicable).
- Record the URL of the suspected scam platforms.
- Summarize all key conversations (who, what, when).
- Obtain official records from your bank or exchange.
- Identify and exclude all private keys and passwords.
- Keep a summary document for a quick reference by authorities.
Questions people ask
Does the police need my private keys to track the stolen money?
No. They track funds via the public ledger (blockchain) using transaction hashes and addresses. Never give your private keys to anyone, including law enforcement.
Should I include screenshots of the scam website?
Yes, but clearly label them. Screenshots are useful, but a descriptive list of the steps you took on the website is even more helpful for investigators.
Can I report the loss without a full ledger?
You can report, but a detailed ledger makes the process much more effective. Without organized evidence, it is significantly harder for investigators to track the scammer's activity.
Safety boundaries
- No legitimate helper needs your seed phrase, private key, password, one-time code, remote access to your device or a wallet connection.
- Nobody can promise that funds will be recovered. Treat any guarantee, or any fee demanded to release funds, with suspicion.
- Find official contact details yourself, through the regulator, bank or platform website, not through a message or advert you received.
- This guide is general education. It is not legal, financial or tax advice and does not assess your situation.
If you want to organise your facts, the initial claim outline on our homepage collects only a short summary and contact details. It creates no client relationship and promises no outcome. Do not send documents or credentials.
Official sources
- [1]FMA: report a scam
Checked 4 October 2026 - [2]New Zealand Police: cryptocurrency investment warnings
Checked 4 October 2026 - [3]Ethereum: transactions and finality
Checked 4 October 2026 - [4]Ethereum: wallet custody and recovery
Checked 4 October 2026
AI-assisted educational content published by Central Crypto Claim using the official sources listed below. No independent expert review is claimed. This is not legal, financial or tax advice.