Over $275k in Stolen Funds Recovered Through International Law Enforcement Partnerships
This is the ChangeNOW Safety Report, our way of sharing how we handle fraud attempts, protect users, and work with law enforcement to push back against crypto scams.
In this issue, we’re walking through three real cases where stolen funds were successfully recovered.
Case 1: Approx. $200k Returned with Assistance from Singapore Police
This case highlights the power of swift international cooperation. The Singapore Police Force (SPF), during the early stages of their investigation into a crypto theft case, proactively reached out to ChangeNOW with intelligence on a suspicious wallet holding approximately 50 ETH in stolen assets. Thanks to their timely intervention, the funds had not yet been moved, allowing for immediate action.
Upon receiving this alert, our compliance team swiftly adjusted AML settings and began enhanced monitoring of the wallet in question. Not long after, an attempt was made to exchange the stolen crypto through ChangeNOW. Our robust risk detection systems flagged the transaction, and it was promptly frozen for manual review.
Once we confirmed the activity was tied to the reported theft, we maintained the freeze and continued working closely with SPF. Their confirmation that the wallet was part of an active investigation allowed legal procedures to proceed efficiently.
Thanks to the decisive action by Singapore authorities and the rapid, coordinated response by ChangeNOW’s compliance team, over $200,000 in stolen funds were successfully recovered and returned to the rightful owner.
Case 2: $25k Recovered in Partnership with North Wales Police Cybercrime Unit
In this case, a fraudster impersonating a law enforcement officer contacted a victim and gained remote access to their device. The attacker then transferred approximately $25k in crypto to their own address.
Once alerted, our team enabled transaction alerts for the relevant wallet and closely monitored for any activity. As soon as the scammer tried to use ChangeNOW to move the stolen funds, the transaction was frozen and reviewed by our team.
We got in touch with the North Wales Police Cybercrime Unit (led by PC 3137 Knowles), and they confirmed the wallet was already part of their investigation.
Once the legal part was sorted out, the funds went back to the victim. Thanks to timely action and effective cooperation, the stolen funds were successfully recovered.
Case 3: Approx. $50k Returned via Cooperation with Norwegian Authorities
In this case, someone pretending to be from a crypto support team messaged a user and sent them a phishing link. It looked legitimate enough that the user entered their passphrase — giving the scammer access to their wallet.
Shortly after, an attempt was made to move the assets using ChangeNOW. The transaction triggered internal alerts and was paused for manual review. Upon confirming suspicious activity, the funds were frozen.
As part of an ongoing fraud investigation in Norway, the Norwegian police contacted ChangeNOW after conducting their own financial transaction analyses, which led them to our platform. In response to their inquiry, we confirmed that one of the transactions had been blocklisted and that the relevant funds were still in our possession.
Following this, the funds were seized by the Norwegian police with a view to restitution to the injured party.
Quick Case Summary: Over $275,000 Recovered
| Case | Country | Amount Recovered | Partner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case 1 | 🇸🇬 Singapore | $200,000 | Singapore Police Force |
| Case 2 | 🏴 North Wales | $25,000 | North Wales Police Cybercrime Unit |
| Case 3 | 🇳🇴 Norway | $50,000 | Norwegian Authorities |
The Bigger Picture: Crypto Fraud Is on the Rise
These cases are not isolated. Crypto fraud is a rapidly growing global problem:
- $14.5 billion was lost to crypto scams in 2024, a 23% increase from the previous year (Elliptic).
- In the United States, victims reported $3.9 billion in crypto fraud losses in 2024, with nearly 150,000 complaints filed (Elliptic).
- The first half of 2025 already saw $2.17 billion stolen from crypto services, surpassing the total for all of 2024 (Chainalysis).
These numbers show why quick action and strong cooperation between victims, exchanges, and law enforcement are essential.
Common Fraud Schemes We Encounter
Based on cases we see most often, scammers usually operate in three main ways:
- Phishing & fake support — fake websites or messages that trick users into entering wallet details or seed phrases.
- Impersonation of authorities — criminals pretend to be police or regulators and pressure victims into giving remote access or transferring funds.
- Investment scams & fake platforms — fraudulent projects that collect deposits and disappear.
When to Contact Us Immediately
If you:
- Entered your wallet details on a suspicious link or phishing site,
- Sent funds after being pressured by someone posing as “support” or “law enforcement,”
- Noticed unauthorized movements of your funds,
📩 Reach out to us right away at compliance@changenow.io.
The sooner we know, the more we can try to do together with law enforcement.
Final Notes
Catching fraud isn’t simple — but with quick action and the right people involved, funds can be returned.
At ChangeNOW, we don’t keep frozen funds and we don’t profit from fraud cases. Our goal is to help victims recover what’s theirs and make crypto safer, step by step.
