Lost ETH after AI deepfake support call – has anyone recovered from this new scam?

Raphael, that's a very advanced form of social engineering combined with technological leverage. The deepfake itself is a major concern. On-chain tracing is indeed possible, using tools like Etherscan, Chainalysis, or TRM Labs. You can see exactly where your ETH went, how many hops it made, and if it landed in a known illicit address or a mixer. However, seeing where it went doesn't mean you can *recover* it. These scam operations often use multiple layers of wallets and eventually cash out through services that have lax KYC, or through peer-to-peer exchanges in jurisdictions where law enforcement has limited reach.

Your best course of action is what Hugo mentioned: lodge comprehensive reports with local law enforcement, the AMF in France, and potentially the CFTC if you believe the scam has US connections (given it's Coinbase). Keep all transaction IDs, screenshots, chat logs, and the exact URL you clicked. This data is crucial for law enforcement to build cases, even if individual recovery is rare. And for goodness sake, block any recovery agency contact immediately – they are almost universally scams.

Oh man, Raphael, I'm so sorry this happened to you. This AI deepfake stuff is absolutely terrifying, it's making these scams so much harder to spot. It sounds like a classic 'wallet drainer' scam, where they trick you into signing a malicious transaction approval. Once you approved that 'linking' transaction, you essentially gave them permission to move your funds from your wallet.

From a technical standpoint, once crypto leaves your wallet and goes to an external address controlled by the scammer, it's incredibly difficult to get back. Coinbase is right, they can't reverse those transactions. What you *can* do, and you should, is report it to the local police (your gendarmerie or police nationale in Lyon) and also file a report online with the French financial regulator (AMF) if they handle crypto scams. Also, definitely file a report with IC3 if you're interacting with US-based platforms like Coinbase, as it creates a paper trail. They might not get your money back, but it helps build cases against these groups. Avoid anyone promising 100% recovery; they're almost certainly recovery scammers.

Ugh, my heart goes out to you. These deepfake scams are genuinely insidious. I got hit by a similar but less sophisticated scam a few months back – not AI, but a very convincing fake website that looked just like my bank. Luckily, I only put in a small amount of crypto then realised my mistake. The sheer sophistication of what you describe, with a video call and everything, makes me feel sick. It's not your fault, they're using cutting-edge tech to rip people off. FWIW, make sure you've changed ALL your passwords, not just for Coinbase, but your email too. And enable 2FA on everything. It's a small comfort, but tightening up your security aftermath is key. Don't beat yourself up for falling for it; these people are pros.

Merde, Raphael. That's a truly nasty one. The AI element really ups the game for these scumbags. Look, I'm going to be brutally honest here: once crypto is gone to a scammer's wallet, especially ETH which moves fast, the chances of recovery are almost zero. Anyone telling you otherwise, especially those 'recovery agents' who suddenly appear offering help for an upfront fee, are just going to scam you again. They prey on desperation. You'll likely see a bunch of them comment here. Your best bet is to report it everywhere, as Hugo said, just to contribute to the data, but mentally prepare for the loss. It's a hard lesson.

Yeah, that's rough. This AI deepfake thing is what everyone feared. It's not about being 'stupid' anymore; it's about being outmaneuvered by sophisticated tech. We *all* google support sometimes. The red flag, usually, is if they ask you to connect your wallet or sign *any* transaction. Legitimate support will *never* ask you to do that. They deal with account issues, not on-chain actions from your personal wallet. Always verify the URL *meticulously* and initiate contact directly through the official Coinbase app or website, not a Google link. As for recovery, like Sophie said, it's very unlikely. So sorry for your loss.

Oh man, Raphael, I am so heartbroken for you. This sounds absolutely terrifyingly real. I nearly fell for a phishing scam myself last year that mimicked my bank, but it didn't have the deepfake video call element. The feeling of realizing you've been duped, and for such a big amount, is soul-crushing. Please know that this isn't a reflection of your intelligence. These scammers are literally deploying state-of-the-art tech to defraud people. My only advice, besides what others have said about reporting, is to talk to someone you trust. The shame can be isolating, but you're not alone in experiencing these sophisticated attacks. Be kind to yourself.

I... I can't believe this is happening. The AI deepfake part is new and genuinely scary. I lost my life savings last year to a pig-butchering scam that used a fake CoinEgg platform. There was no deepfake, just a 'friend' who convinced me to invest. I called the police, filed reports with financial crimes, everything. They gave me the same line: 'once it's gone, it's gone.' It's soul-destroying. I'm still trying to put my life back together, honestly. All I can say is, don't let it consume you. It's not about getting your money back, it's about finding a way to move forward.

Wow, this is intense. AI deepfakes... that's a whole new level of awful. I was fortunate enough to catch a sim swap scam *just* in time thanks to a friend warning me to watch out for suspicious network activity. It really highlights how vulnerable we are to these tech-savvy criminals. This isn't just about 'being careful'; it's about knowing these specific *types* of scams exist and how they operate. Like Andreas said, the rule of thumb is: legitimate support will *never* ask you to initiate or approve a transaction from your personal wallet. Ever. That knowledge is critical moving forward. I'm so incredibly sorry, what a horrible experience.

Mate, I'm genuinely sorry to hear this. It sounds absolutely devastating. This isn't just you, eh? These deepfake scams are proper sophisticated. Don't blame yourself for falling for it. The only thing you can do now is just try to learn from it, as harsh as that sounds, and protect yourself going forward. Make sure your family and friends know about this scam too, so they don't fall victim. It's a tough lesson, but sharing your story helps others. Hope you find some peace, mate.

This truly is the next frontier of scamming, Raphael, and it exploits our trust in established brands like Coinbase. The detail you give about the 'security verification' and 'linking' account is classic. They create a façade of legitimacy to get you to grant them direct control over your assets. The phrase to remember for crypto is: "Not your keys, not your crypto." But in this case, it was *your* keys that signed away your crypto under false pretenses.

Lucas is right about the on-chain analysis. You can use Etherscan to track the transaction. Input your wallet address or the transaction hash, and it will show you the movement of funds. See where they went after leaving your wallet. Often, these funds get quickly moved to a series of intermediary wallets (called 'hops') and then either to an exchange or a mixer. If it goes to a major exchange like Binance, law enforcement *can* sometimes get information with a proper subpoena, but it's a long shot and dependent on the jurisdiction and the amount. If it goes to a mixer or a smaller, unregulated exchange, it's essentially untraceable. Report everything, but manage expectations.

This is a really nasty evolution of phishing, sadly. The deepfake AI voice and video are terrifyingly convincing. The core issue here is that you were tricked into *initiating* the transaction yourself. Any support scam will try to get you to send crypto or approve a transaction on your end. Real support won't need you to send them funds or approve outbound txns. If you haven't already, report this to your local police fraud unit in Lyon. They might not recover it, but it builds data.

Ugh, I feel your pain. I lost a good chunk to a similar Binance impersonator scam last year. Thought I was talking to real support on social media… big mistake. They got me to approve a transfer that looked harmless. The feeling of dread when you realize it's gone? Awful. Seriously, haven't touched crypto much since. Just gotta warn everyone I can.

AI deepfake support? Sounds like something out of a movie. I'm always wary of any 'support' that contacts *me* first, especially on crypto. If I need help, I go directly to the official site and find their *official* contact info myself. Google searches can be sketchy. Did you check the URL very carefully before you clicked?

Mate, I'm so sorry to hear this. I nearly fell for a BitForex scam where they used a similar 'verify your account' gimmick. Told me my account was flagged and I needed to send a small amount to a new address to 'unblock' it. Saw the red flags just in time – my gut screamed NO. You did right by going to official Coinbase support afterwards, even if they can't fix it.

This scam preyed on your desire for legitimate support. The AI deepfake is a new, potent weapon. Recovery is extremely difficult once funds leave the platform and hit mixers or decentralized exchanges. Your best bet is formal reporting: file a police report in France and see if Europol has any coordinated efforts. Also, monitor Etherscan for the address that received your ETH; sometimes, scammers make mistakes, but don't count on it. Always verify support channels through the official app or website, never via search engine links.

Oh no, that's absolutely dreadful! I can only imagine how violating that must feel. It's a testament to how advanced these scams are getting. Please be kind to yourself – these scammers are incredibly manipulative. Have you considered reaching out to a victim support group? Sometimes just talking to others who've been through similar things can help a little.

Woah, AI deepfake support? This world is getting crazier. I still don't trust any 'support' that pops up uninvited or that I find through a random search. I always bookmark the official support page or use the app's built-in support chat. Cleaner, safer. Sorry about your ETH, that's rough.

This sounds like the stuff they warn you about. I'm always super suspicious of unsolicited contact, and especially of any process that asks me to authorize *any* transaction to 'verify' things. If they can't just look up my account info directly, it's a scam, plain and simple. The deepfake element is new, though. Scary.

A deepfake support call? That's wild. I stick to the official Coinbase app for all my support needs. I never click links from search results for financial platforms. Found that out the hard way with a fake PayPal login page years ago. Just type the URL directly or use the official app. Sorry this happened to you.

AI deepfake… great. Just great. So now even video calls aren't safe? I'm already paranoid about clicking anything online. If someone claims to be support and wants me to do *anything* involving my wallet or my finances, I hang up and call the company directly using the number on their official website. Never trust, always verify.

I think I might have been targeted by something similar. I didn't lose crypto, thank god, but I was on a 'support' chat for a different exchange and they tried to get me to download some weird remote access software. I told them no way and logged off immediately. Feeling really shaken up about it. The AI thing is terrifying.

Aw man, that's absolutely brutal. The tech getting so advanced makes it so much harder. I learned my lesson with some dodgy crypto forum advice once. Never again. Always go direct to the source if you need help, like Coinbase's official support channel *within their app*. So easy to get phished otherwise. Hope you're doing okay.

You're not alone. I lost about 2k on a fake Ledger support call last year. Same deal – looked super real, walked me through 'securing my wallet'. Turned out they were just draining it. Filed police reports, contacted regulatory bodies like the CFTC in the US, but honestly? Never saw a penny back. Gotta be so, so careful out there.

This is a significant escalation in social engineering tactics within the crypto space. The use of deepfake AI technology to impersonate support staff is deeply concerning. While direct recovery is unlikely, filing official reports is crucial. Report it to the French police, and consider submitting a complaint to France's financial authorities (like the AMF if it involved a regulated entity, though crypto often falls in a gray area). Transparency in reporting helps regulators understand the evolving threats, even if your personal funds aren't returned. Always, always go directly to the official app or website for support contacts.

Oh dear, that sounds like an absolute nightmare. The AI deepfake part is truly chilling. Please know you're not stupid; these scammers are masters of deception. My advice, having seen similar scams happen to friends: any 'support' asking you to approve transactions or send funds, even a tiny 'test' amount, is a massive red flag. No legitimate support will ever ask for that. Stay safe out there.

I work in cybersecurity and this type of attack is becoming more prevalent. The deepfake AI is the scary part – it bypasses traditional cues of a scammer. My advice to everyone: Bookmark your exchange's official support page or, better yet, use the support function *within* their official app. Never trust a link from a search engine or an unsolicited message for financial platforms. It's better to be slightly inconvenienced finding the real contact than to lose everything.

This is horrifying. I had a similar thing happen, but it was text-based. They pretended to be Kraken support and were asking for my private keys. Thankfully, I remembered reading somewhere never to share those, ever. They got very aggressive when I refused. I blocked them and reported it to Kraken via their official channels. So sorry your ETH is gone.

Wow, AI deepfake support. I've heard whispers about this kind of thing. Just goes to show you can't trust your own eyes or ears anymore. I learned to be super cautious after getting scammed by Wealth Recovery International – they promise the moon for finding lost funds, but they just take more. Now, if I need support, I close everything, go to the main website myself, and find the contact info there. No exceptions.

This is exactly why I stick to using the official Coinbase app for support. I never, ever click on links from Google or any search engine when it comes to my financial accounts. Found out years ago that those top results can be ads for fake sites. It's a pain sometimes, but typing in the direct URL or using the app is the safest way. I'm so sorry this happened, it sounds like a nightmare.

Oh god, I feel sick reading this. That sounds like my worst nightmare. I lost a bit of money to a CoinEgg scam a while back, felt like such an idiot. You're definitely not alone in falling for these things. The AI deepfake makes it a whole new level of cruel. Has anyone suggested checking the blockchain explorer (like Etherscan) for the address they sent it to? Sometimes you can see if it moves, but unlikely to get it back.

Man, that's brutal. The deepfake stuff is getting terrifyingly good. I saw a demo once where they mimicked my boss perfectly after giving them like, 30 seconds of audio. It’s wild how fast this tech moves. I'm honestly surprised it took this long for crypto scams to get this sophisticated.

For recovery, honestly, your best bet is to report it to the authorities. Since it's crypto, it's tough, but sometimes law enforcement has specific units for digital asset crimes. I'd file a report with the French cybercrime unit if you haven't already. Might not get the ETH back immediately if ever, but it's crucial data for them.

Oh no, this sounds like an absolute nightmare! I'm so sorry you're going through this. That AI deepfake tech is truly scary, it's hard to believe how real those things can appear. Please don't beat yourself up, these scams are designed to fool even smart people. The fact that you reached out to real Coinbase support is the right step.

Sending you strength. Maybe try looking up crypto recovery groups but be VERY careful, lots of scams prey on victims like us. Only engage with well-vetted ones. Or maybe try contacting Binance support just to ask their opinion on tracing, they deal with a lot.

This is EXACTLY the kind of scam I've been warning my family about. They look real, they sound real, and they get you to authorize transactions yourself. It’s not like traditional hacking where they steal your password. They trick you into giving them the keys. The AI deepfake aspect just makes it harder to spot the fake.

ANYONE seeing a "support" video call asking for wallet verification or to approve a transfer: HANG UP. Find the official support number or chat on the company's actual website yourself. Never trust a link from search results or a direct incoming call/chat prompt for sensitive actions. Seriously.

Yoh, this is chilling. That AI deepfake support scam sounds incredibly sophisticated. You really have to question everything these days. I saw a WhatsApp message from my cousin yesterday that looked so real, but the grammar was just slightly off, so I knew it wasn't him. Always trust your gut on small inconsistencies.

Coinbase support saying they can't do anything is also pretty standard because once it leaves their platform and hits a different chain/wallet, it's gone. It’s like cash. But still, report it. Always report scams to places like IC3 (if you're in the US) or your local police. Even if they can't recover funds, it builds a case against these scam operations.

Wait — AI deepfake *support*? That's a new one on me. Usually, it's phishing emails or fake websites. A video call that looks and sounds real… damn. I'm skeptical about how easy it is to fake video calls on that level, but if Coinbase confirmed it, then it’s happening. Still, I'd be wary of any recovery outfits promising miracles. Remember 'Wealth Recovery International' and 'Funds Recovery Group'? All scams preying on people who've already lost money.

Did you get the address where your ETH was sent? You can check it on Etherscan to see if it’s moved around. It’s unlikely to recover from there, but at least you get visibility. I'd be triple-checking any official support channels from now on; never click a search result link directly.

Awful news, mate. These scams are getting out of hand. That deepfake aspect is next level — makes it almost impossible to tell what's real. I had a nab tried to get me to send a crypto transfer last month, said he was from the tax office, but his English was too good, you know? I just hung up and called the real tax office myself.

With crypto, once it's sent, especially to an unknown address, it's pretty much lost unless you can prove it was stolen via a direct account hack *and* the exchange can reverse it. Unlikely with what sounds like a social engineering scam. Your best bet might be reporting it to the CFTC if you were dealing with any regulated services that might have been impersonated, but don't hold your breath for recovery.

Always use the official app or website. Never search for support numbers or links. Get them from the back of your card or account page.

I'm sorry, but I'm a bit doubtful about the 'AI deepfake' part. While AI is advanced, perfectly mimicking someone in real-time on a video call that passes Coinbase's internal checks sounds like a stretch. It's more likely a very convincing prerecorded video or a very good actor using a voice modulator who somehow got a legit-looking interface.

Regardless, the outcome is the same: your ETH is gone because you approved a transaction. The only 'hope' is if you can trace the destination address. You can look at this on Etherscan. If the funds sit there or go to a known exchange, there's a *tiny* chance law enforcement could act, but it’s a long shot. Be extremely skeptical of anyone offering recovery services, especially if they ask for money upfront. They are almost certainly scams like BitForex impersonators.