<span style="font-weight: 400;">When your cryptocurrency gets stolen, you’re probably immediately thinking about how to recover the funds, not realizing that this may not be possible in all situations. In some cases, it can be incredibly difficult and even impossible to get the lost cryptocurrency back if you don’t know who stole it or who you can hold accountable. But that doesn’t mean there’s nothing you can do to try and get your cryptocurrency back after it was stolen. In fact, there are certain steps you can take that could help you increase your chances of recovery when your cryptocurrency is stolen! </span>

<img class="aligncenter" src="http://rolemodelafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/bitcoin-exchange-hacked.jpg" alt="Bitcoin Hacked: $16mil Worth of Bitcoins Stolen! – Role Model Africa" width="513" height="325" />
<h2><b>Hello, I Got My Crypto Stolen!!</b></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Unfortunately, crypto theft is becoming very regular. Unlike other investments, cryptocurrency isn’t regulated or backed by banks or governments. So, there’s no authority to help you recover your crypto if it gets stolen.  However, you can take a few measures to reduce your risk of getting hacked and what to do if it happens.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Firstly, when choosing which exchange to use, consider security primarily; choose one that requires multiple forms of verification (ID and phone) and has solid online reviews. Most importantly, </span><b>do not use an exchange that doesn’t provide 2-factor authentication (2FA</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">).</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>And if an exchange doesn’t support 2FA?</strong> Try moving your assets off exchanges completely because leaving them increases their vulnerability and accessibility to hackers. Instead, reserve in cold storage on a hardware wallet like <a href="https://www.cryptoknowmics.com/news/hardware-wallet-trezor-alerts-users-on-an-ongoing-phishing-attack">Trezor</a> or <a href="https://www.ledger.com/">Ledger Nano S</a>, which are very secure devices.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Finally, suppose you’re holding significant amounts of cryptocurrency and think it might be at risk for hacking. In that case, you should explore insured wallets such as Coinbase Custody – <a href="https://www.cryptoknowmics.com/news/coinbase-plans-movie-trilogy-starring-bored-apes">Coinbase</a> will ensure digital assets stored on its platform against hacking and accidental loss of up to $1 million per account.</span>
<h2><b>Cryptocurrency Recovery</b></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">If your crypto were stolen, you might recover them. There are several tools and techniques that you can use to get back your bitcoins, although there is no guarantee of success. Recovering cryptocurrency that has been stolen involves trying to uncover whoever stole it and getting them to give it back. However, in many cases, if you publicly announce that you own a certain amount of cryptocurrency, recovering your digital currency will be impossible. Whoever stole it from you will know that they’ll be found, and you may prosecute them if they return it.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Suppose cryptocurrency has been stolen from your computer or mobile device by malware. In that case, you have to remove whatever was attacking your system and figure out how it got there originally. To protect your devices against future attacks, make sure you keep your software up-to-date and use <a href="https://cybernews.com/best-antivirus-software/antivirus-for-mac/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><b>antivirus software on your Mac</b></a>, Windows, and other devices. You should also avoid using public Wi-Fi networks when possible. And, as always, never click on links or download attachments from emails sent by people you don’t know. It might seem obvious, but these precautions can help prevent most kinds of malware attacks.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">It’s important to note that it may not be worth very much even if you manage to get your cryptocurrency back after an attack like this. This is because the price of crypto fluctuates wildly and could drop significantly between when someone steals your coins and when you finally get them back (if ever). And remember: As soon as you realize that you are a victim of any theft, contact law enforcement immediately! Bitcoin thefts are relatively common these days (particularly through phishing scams), so authorities often deal with these types of crimes.</span>
<h2><b>What Steps Should I Take Next</b></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">When you try to transfer crypto from an exchange into your wallet, you entrust that third party with your currency. Most exchanges are set up in a way to make it almost impossible for them to steal your money—but when someone does, it’s not always easy to find out who did it.</span>
<h3><b>Contact Customer Support</b></h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">If you suspect theft or need help reporting theft (or some answers), you can contact whatever entity handles customer support for your cryptocurrency exchange. This can be everything from a chat platform or email address to a phone number. If they don’t handle customer support directly, there will be a link or contact info for their customer support team.</span>
<h3><b>Change Your Passwords</b></h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">The simplest thing you can do is change all of your passwords on every account you have digital assets on. A good rule of thumb is to use two-factor authentication wherever possible and use strong passwords. Two-factor authentication means logging in requires something only you know (like a password) plus something only you have (like your cell phone).</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Strong passwords include at least eight characters, including letters, numbers, symbols, and spaces. Capitalization doesn’t matter, but substituting numbers for letters is another good idea. It makes things harder to guess, even if hackers have access to lists of common passwords. To keep track of these passwords, you can store them using a password manager like LastPass or 1Password. You could also write down your passwords and store them somewhere safe, but keep in mind that if you do so, then anyone who has access to those notes also has access to your accounts.</span>
<h3><b>Get New Addresses</b></h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Even if someone steals your coins from an exchange, they might not be able to spend them because they won’t have access to any new addresses you send your coins to after being stolen. So, first thing’s first: generate new addresses. Then, you can create a new wallet or import one of your old wallets into a fresh client.</span>
<h3><b>Check Exchanges and Wallets</b></h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">After changing your passwords and generating some new addresses, check for the occurrence of any suspicious activity. First, check your primary wallet (where you hold most of your funds) and any wallets you use exclusively to store smaller amounts of crypto.</span>
<h3><b>Check Block Explorers</b></h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Block explorers are another great tool for keeping tabs on activity within specific blockchains. These websites let you search for specific transactions within blockchain data. While block explorers aren’t necessary, they help keep tabs on your cryptocurrency investments.</span>
<h3><b>Report Theft</b></h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">It may seem obvious, but one of the best ways to recover your crypto is to report a theft to law enforcement officials. Depending on where you live, specific agencies may be dedicated to investigating cybercrime and protecting consumers online. In addition, reporting thefts can help build better protections against future attacks while holding thieves accountable for their actions. Furthermore, hopefully, it will deter others from committing similar crimes in the future.</span>
<h2><b>How to Report an Exchange Theft</b></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">If you’ve lost cryptocurrencies because of a hack or an internal error, it’s important to contact both your exchange and local law enforcement. If you use an unsecured exchange (like Mt. Gox) or if cryptocurrency is stolen from a secure exchange, it might be possible to recover some of your funds—but there are no guarantees.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">To start, file a police report with your local authorities; if you have time before filing that report, reach out to your exchange and see if they can help. You should also reach out to any third-party services (like Coinbase) that interact with that specific cryptocurrency wallet; they may also be able to help.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Once you file a police report, also send a request for assistance to your country’s cybercrime division. It may take several weeks for these agencies to get back to you, so make sure you keep comprehensive records of all communication along the way. If necessary, seek legal advice to determine how best to proceed. It’s always good to check what recourse you have under civil law.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Lastly, don’t give up! Although recovering your cryptocurrency isn’t easy, many victims find success through civil suits against hackers and exchanges. Keep your head up! Your future self will thank you for being proactive now rather than later when things could worsen!</span>
<h2><b>Cost Of Recovering Stolen Cryptocurrency</b></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Several governments don’t recognize cryptocurrencies as an asset. So they have no obligation to help you recover stolen crypto. Although a Formal report will not help you recover stolen crypto, it will help you in the event of an insurance claim or a lawsuit and can give you legal standing in case of further theft.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The costs for recovering stolen cryptocurrency vary considerably. Most crypto-hunting services charge around 20% of the total recovered balance. However, prices vary depending on the success rate. Most services can take months before bringing your crypto assets back. Computer-based recovery service providers may charge a flat fee upfront, while crypto-hypnotists may charge a flat fee per session. Nevertheless, recovering your stolen cryptocurrency may not be as easy as you thought.</span>

Can You Recover Stolen Cryptocurrency?

There are many ways people can lose their cryptocurrency, but the most common way is by having their account hacked and funds stolen.

Oluwademilade Afolabi is a freelance writer and editor passionate about blockchain technology and the health industry. He is a 6th year medical student, and has worked with various companies and blogs since the blockchain revolution began.

Can You Recover Stolen Cryptocurrency?

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