Crypto funds vanished after 'tech support' helped me access my old wallet, any recourse?

Amelia, please don't lose hope entirely, but manage your expectations. I would recommend reaching out to an actual blockchain forensics firm, not a 'recovery service' that asks for upfront fees – those are scams themselves. A legitimate firm like Nethertrace.co might be able to help trace the funds further than you can on Etherscan. They can identify if the funds ended up on an exchange or if there's any pattern that could help law enforcement. They can then prepare a proper report for the police, which might give them more actionable intelligence than just your initial complaint. It's still a long shot, because crypto transactions are irreversible, but if there's any pathway, they'd be the ones to find it. Just be very wary of anyone promising 100% recovery.

Oh Amelia, that's absolutely devastating, and it's a classic remote access scam. They prey on the fact that people are often locked out of old accounts. When they connected to your computer, they either installed malware to steal your private keys as soon as you unlocked the wallet, or they simply copied the keys directly once you provided them with access during the 'troubleshooting' process. The fact that the balance was visible before it vanished, then he disconnected, points to him being the one who initiated the transfer.

First, make sure that computer is offline and scanned for any lingering malware. Disconnect from the internet ASAP. Unfortunately, because you willingly (even if unknowingly) gave them access to your system, and thus your private keys, this is extremely difficult to reverse. Once crypto leaves your wallet and goes to theirs, it's gone. The only slim chance is if they sent it to an exchange like Binance and KYC'd there, but scammers rarely do that with their main accounts. You can use Etherscan to follow the transaction path, but honestly, it'll probably just lead to a series of other wallets that ultimately funnel into a mixer or an anonymous exchange. The police often struggle with these, especially cross-border. I'm so sorry, this is truly awful.

Ugh, this is just heartbreaking. I'm so sorry this happened to you, Amelia. It's not your fault, these scammers are incredibly cunning and target people who are just trying to access their own assets. You were vulnerable and they exploited it. Trying to access old crypto wallets is tricky, and they know people will look for help.

Keep all records, screenshots, the phone number, the 'tech support' website if you can find it again, everything. Even if the police seem clueless now, sometimes these things build up. For others reading, NEVER let anyone have remote access to your computer for anything financial, especially crypto. If you're stuck, always look for official support channels, and even then, be super careful. Really hoping you find some peace from this, it's a rotten situation.

Amelia, this is exactly why you absolutely cannot trust anyone offering 'tech support' for crypto wallets online. Especially if they ask for remote access. Your crypto is essentially like digital cash, and when they have remote access, it's like you're handing them your physical wallet and telling them your PIN. Once they have control, they can do whatever they want. The money is almost certainly gone forever. Crypto transactions are irreversible. The only silver lining (and it's a tiny one) is that you've learned a very expensive lesson about digital security. Please, please, change all your passwords now, especially for email accounts, and make sure that computer is clean. These guys often leave backdoors.

Oh man, that sucks, Amelia. I'm really sorry. But honestly, it sounds like that crypto is gone. Once they get access to your computer and your wallet's private keys, they've got everything they need to transfer it out. It's like letting a thief into your house with a copy of your bank card. No bank in the world can stop them once they've got the keys. Chasing it on Etherscan is good for confirming it left *your* wallet, but it rarely leads to actual recovery, especially for someone who isn't a pro at tracing. It's a harsh lesson, but that's how crypto works – self-custody means self-responsibility, and unfortunately, also self-vulnerability to sophisticated scams like this.

This happened to me last year, Amelia, but with a smaller amount. I was trying to unstake some old coins and fell for a fake Telegram support group. They took control of my screen and boom, wallet drained. I felt like such an idiot, I really did. Tried to follow it on a block explorer, but it just went to this huge wallet and then disappeared into a mixing service, I guess. The police in Rotterdam just gave me a crime number and basically said good luck. It's the worst feeling, that knot in your stomach. Just wanted to say you're not alone, and it's a horrible thing to go through. Don't beat yourself up about it too much, these guys are pros.

C'est terrible, Amelia. Je suis vraiment désolé. I hear this too often. This is a very common scam tactic. They make you *think* they're helping, then they steal everything. Your only path, and it's a long shot, is if the funds landed on a regulated exchange that would freeze them. But again, these types of scammers are usually smarter than that. They'll use intermediate wallets and then cash out quickly or use mixers. The UK police are likely to be overwhelmed with these kinds of cases, and frankly, lack the resources and expertise to pursue them cross-border effectively. It's a crime that requires international cooperation and specialist knowledge, which most local forces don't have. So sorry, but prepare for the worst.

Man, this is exactly what happened to my uncle last year. He had some Bitcoin from ages ago, remembered he had it, tried to get it out. Fell for a similar 'tech support' thing, lost about 4k euro. He was so mad at himself, kept saying how stupid he felt. I tried to help him look, but it was just gone, into the ether, literally. It's a horrible feeling when you think you've got something and then it's snatched away. I wish I had better news for you, but yeah, it's probably gone. Just makes you sick.

This sounds really rough, Amelia. I've seen countless stories like this. The 'tech support' scam is a classic. They get remote access, you unlock your wallet, and boom – they sweep it. The suggestion to move it to Binance was likely a misdirection, just to get you to confirm the balance and prepare for a transaction, while they were already initiating their own. Unfortunately, once crypto leaves your wallet to a scammer's wallet, it's pretty much considered unrecoverable by most standards. It's not like a credit card chargeback. The police often can't do much because of the anonymous nature and cross-border elements of these crimes. I'm really sorry this happened.

Quelle horreur! As others have said, this is a very common method. They look for people who are rediscovering old assets, because those people are likely less familiar with current crypto security practices and more desperate to get access. The moment you gave them remote access, it was over. Your private keys were exposed. Think of it like giving someone the only key to a safe. They opened it, took the contents, and disappeared. Blockchain transactions are final. I really hope you find a way to cope with this loss, because from a recovery perspective, it's exceptionally difficult. Stay safe out there.

Oh mate, that's a brutal one. The 'tech support' scam using AnyDesk is unfortunately super common. They basically guide you to the transfer, then the address they give you is actually one of theirs, or they hijack the transaction last second. Moving it to Binance or any exchange is a good instinct for security, but doing it right after they 'helped' you log in? Big red flag. The fact they hung up immediately is also telling. These folks aren't interested in helping, they're after the keys or the funds directly.

I fell for something similar, not crypto but bank details. They pretended to be from my bank, said there was suspicious activity. Got me to download some remote access app. Took me ages to get rid of them and change everything. My biggest mistake was not double-checking the phone number they gave me. Always, always verify any contact number independently, don't trust the one they provide. It’s gutting, I know. The police here in Amsterdam were sympathetic but said without a suspect or stolen IP (which they can mask easily), it's tough.

This is exactly how they get you. The 'help you move to a more secure wallet' is classic. They don't want to help you secure it; they want to funnel it into *their* wallet. The worst part is that once the crypto is moved, especially if it's to a private wallet address controlled by the scammer, it's incredibly hard to trace. The UK police are often swamped, and unless you have a clear lead, it’s a difficult case. Be wary of anyone offering to recover funds for a fee, too. That's usually a second scam.

I'm so sorry this happened to you. I had a friend who lost funds this way too. They found an old wallet, thought they'd secured it, then got hit with a similar 'support' scam. The scammer actually sent them a link that looked like a legitimate wallet interface, and when they entered their keys there, poof. Gone. The key is to be extremely skeptical of unsolicited help, especially when it involves remote access or sharing private keys/seed phrases. Never share those with anyone, ever. Not even 'support'.

This is precisely the type of scam that makes me sick. The 'tech support' angle is designed to exploit trust and urgency. They create a problem (can't access wallet), offer the solution (remote access), and then steal the funds. I lost about $5k last year to something similar, only it was pitched as an investment platform scam. They freeze your account and then charge you a fake 'tax' or 'fee' to release it, which of course, never happens. You've done the right thing reporting to the police, but I wouldn't hold my breath for recovery through them.

That's absolutely brutal, and I'm really sorry you're going through this. It's a horrible feeling when you think you've found a windfall only for it to vanish. The scammer's plan was likely to get you to approve a transaction to their address, perhaps by swapping out the destination address on your clipboard at the last moment or by having you sign a malicious contract. For future reference, if you ever need to move funds, do it yourself from your own device, don't let anyone remote in. It's the golden rule for crypto security.

Ah, the old 'helpful tech support' con. Been there, not crypto, but close enough. They are very slick. They make you feel like they're genuinely helping, build your confidence, and then BAM. My cousin got hit by a fake antivirus scam that way, cost him nearly a grand. The trick is that they use legitimate software like AnyDesk to gain access, making it seem legit. You can report to the FBI IC3 if you're in the US, but since you're in the UK, I think the Action Fraud portal is your best bet. They might not recover the funds, but it helps track these patterns.

This is heartbreaking. The specific detail about moving it to 'more secure' wallet and suggesting Binance is textbook. They either had you send it directly to their wallet, or they tricked you into signing a transaction that allowed them to drain it. I had a similar scare where someone offered to 'help me stake my coins' and asked for remote access. I immediately shut it down. Never, EVER give anyone remote access to your devices if you're dealing with crypto. This happened to a buddy of mine who lost his whole Trust Wallet stash. He never got it back.

So sorry to hear your story. It's a nightmare scenario. The same thing happened to a mate of mine from Perth. He found old Bitcoin, searched for support, got roped into a similar AnyDesk scam. They convinced him to send it to a 'new' wallet they set up for him, which was just their address. The police suggested he check with crypto tracing services, but he said they wanted thousands upfront and he didn't have it. It’s so frustrating when the money just disappears. Always double check the wallet address *before* you send. If it looks slightly off, it probably is.

This is a very common attack vector, unfortunately. The remote access combined with the suggestion to move funds is the giveaway. The scammer likely had a script ready to execute a transfer to their own wallet the moment you initiated the process. They might have even manipulated your screen to *show* you sending it to Binance while actually sending it elsewhere. For tracing, while Etherscan shows transactions, actually recovering funds from a scammer's wallet is extremely difficult unless the receiving exchange (like Binance or Kraken) freezes the account, which usually requires a court order or law enforcement intervention. Your best bet is to report it to Action Fraud in the UK. They compile reports and sometimes can identify patterns or networks.

Reading this makes my blood boil. These scammers prey on people's excitement and lack of immediate knowledge. The 'tech support' using AnyDesk is a huge red flag. They create a sense of urgency and then exploit it. The crucial step here is that they guided you *during* the transfer. That's when they likely swapped the destination address or initiated their own transaction. This is why you should *never* let anyone remotely access your computer for financial matters. Ever. And if anyone contacts you promising to recover lost crypto for a fee, like some 'Funds Recovery Group' or 'Wealth Recovery International', it's almost certainly another scam.

I had a similar experience a while back, though it was less money. Found an old wallet, got a 'support' number from a search engine ad. The guy was pushy, wanted to install some 'recovery tool'. I got suspicious and refused. He got angry and hung up. Later, I learned these guys often just use fake websites or numbers that look real. They either get your seed phrase or get you to authorize a fake transaction. It's devastating when it happens. The main takeaway for everyone reading this: only use official support channels found on the project's official website or documentation, never from a random search result.

Ugh, I feel for you. This is textbook 'tech support scammer' meets crypto. The AnyDesk access is how they get direct control. They probably had a malicious script ready to go, or they manipulated the transaction details as you were inputting them. It's infuriating because these scams are so prevalent. My sister got a phishing email that looked identical to a notification from Coinbase, asking her to 'verify her account'. She almost clicked it, but I caught her just in time. She’d have lost her funds. Always, always check the URL and sender details meticulously. Never click links from unexpected emails or messages if they involve your finances.

Oh mate, that's rough. Reminds me of a mate of mine who lost a few grand after falling for a similar 'urgent recovery' scam on Facebook. They posed as some official-looking crypto group. He ended up sending them money to 'unlock' his supposed winnings. Total scam. He went to Action Fraud but also got nowhere fast.

For your situation, the fact they used AnyDesk is a huge red flag. They likely manipulated the transaction as you were sending it, or maybe even stole your private keys while connected. These 'tech support' scams are rampant. They prey on people's excitement and lack of technical knowledge.

Did they ever ask you to pay a fee or send a small amount first to 'verify' something? That's usually the point where you know it's a scam.

I'd try reporting it to the FBI IC3. They collect reports of cybercrime and might have patterns they can spot, even if they can't recover your funds directly. It’s better than doing nothing.