The short answer
Reporting a crypto scam requires immediate action. You must stop communicating with the scammers, contact your bank to report the transaction as fraud, and submit a formal report to the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) via their online form. Additionally, you should file a report with the New Zealand Police to ensure the incident is documented for potential investigation and to help warn others.
Discovering you have been targeted by a cryptocurrency investment scam can be a distressing experience. In New Zealand, multiple regulatory and law enforcement bodies work to monitor and investigate these activities, but they require timely and accurate reporting from victims to be effective.
This guide outlines the critical steps you must take to document your situation, secure your financial accounts, and report the activity through the appropriate New Zealand channels. Protecting your personal information and stopping further losses are the immediate priorities when you suspect fraud.
01Immediate Steps to Stop Financial Losses
The first priority is to prevent further access to your assets. If you have provided credentials or private keys to a suspected scammer, assume your security is compromised. You must cease all communication immediately, as scammers often use persistence to extract more information or money by posing as helpful recovery agents or financial professionals.
Contact your bank or the institution you used to send your funds. While on-chain crypto transactions are typically irreversible, your bank may have policies for dealing with fraud, especially if fiat currency was moved through their systems to reach the scammers. Be transparent with your bank about how the payment was made.
Source for this section[1] FMA: report a scam
02Reporting to the Financial Markets Authority (FMA)
The FMA is the primary regulator for investment fraud in New Zealand. They track reports to issue warnings and alerts, which are crucial for protecting other potential victims. Reporting to the FMA does not equate to a guaranteed recovery of funds, but it is an essential step for the systemic tracking of illicit investment schemes.
When filing your report via the FMA online portal, include a clear, concise overview of the events. Mention the amount lost, the names of websites or platforms used, and how you were initially contacted. Include evidence if available, such as emails or screenshots, but ensure you do not share sensitive private keys or seed phrases.
Source for this section[1] FMA: report a scam
03Involving Law Enforcement
If your identity has been stolen or if you have been targeted by a major criminal investment scheme, contact the New Zealand Police. The police can assess the situation to determine if a formal investigation is viable.
Note that many scam operations are based offshore, which can make fund recovery difficult for local law enforcement. However, reporting to the police provides an official record of the crime, which may be required by your bank or insurance provider for internal fraud assessments.
Source for this section[2] New Zealand Police: cryptocurrency investment warnings
04Utilizing Emotional Support Resources
Financial loss can be emotionally overwhelming, and many victims experience feelings of shame. It is important to remember that these are organized criminal operations designed to deceive. Victim Support New Zealand offers free, confidential support for people who have been impacted by crime or trauma.
Talking to trusted family or friends can also help alleviate the burden of the experience. Scammers often rely on the secrecy of victims to maintain their schemes without public scrutiny.
Source for this section[1] FMA: report a scam
05Hypothetical Evidence Preparation Example
To assist in your reporting, maintain a structured record. If you engaged with a platform 'AlphaTrading', create a simple spreadsheet or document.
Practical template: date/time with its original time-zone label or UTC offset, platform URL, payment method, public transaction hash and network, original asset amount and unit, and notes such as 'withdrawal pending; additional fee requested'. Keep any NZD valuation separate and label its date and basis. Do not include keys or passwords.
Sources for this section[1] FMA: report a scam[2] New Zealand Police: cryptocurrency investment warnings
Checklist
- Stop all contact with the scammer immediately.
- Contact your bank or payment provider to report the transaction as fraud.
- Compile a log of interactions, including dates, names, and websites involved.
- Gather supporting materials like emails or screenshots (redacting sensitive keys).
- Submit an online report via the FMA website.
- File an official report with the New Zealand Police if identity theft occurred.
- Contact Victim Support at 0800 842 846 for emotional guidance.
Questions people ask
Will reporting my scam to the FMA help me recover my lost funds?
The FMA cannot help you recover money directly. Their primary role in this context is to investigate, publish warnings to protect others, and provide guidance. Recovery depends on the nature of the investment and the location of the perpetrators.
What information should I provide when reporting to the FMA?
Provide a brief, factual overview of the events, the total amount lost, the names of the entities involved, and any supporting documentation like screenshots or correspondence. Do not provide your private wallet keys or seed phrases.
Why should I bother reporting if the scammers are offshore?
Reporting is vital because it contributes to a wider database of scams. This allows regulators to publish alerts that prevent others from falling victim to the same operation, and it builds a comprehensive picture of criminal activity in New Zealand.
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
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.