How a crypto investigation report can help get your money back
If you’ve lost money to a crypto scam or wallet hack, you’ll know the immediate feeling of dread that sets in as you realise your funds have gone missing. But by working with an expert partner like Complex Tracing, you may be able to locate your funds and pursue legal action to recover them. We prepare detailed, court-ready evidence packs that act as a foundation for further legal action, giving you the best chance of getting your money back.
What are the legal instruments available to aid recovery?
The UK – and specifically the courts of England and Wales – has become one of the world's leading jurisdictions for crypto asset recovery. The judges here have shown a strong willingness to apply existing legal tools to digital assets, which means a well-prepared investigation report can unlock some genuinely powerful remedies.
Worldwide Freezing Order (WFO)
A WFO prevents a thief from moving stolen assets anywhere in the world, but to get one, your lawyer needs to convince a judge of two things: that you have a "good arguable case," and that there's a "real risk of dissipation" – in other words, that the funds will vanish if the court doesn't act. A detailed tracing report gives them the evidence to make exactly that argument.
Disclosure Orders (Bankers Trust/Norwich Pharmacal)
Once you know which exchange is holding the stolen funds, the next challenge is finding out who controls the account. This is where disclosure orders come in. The investigation report is used to show the court that a specific exchange holds vital information about the wallet in question – and the court can then order that exchange (even if it's based overseas) to hand over the KYC details of the account holder.
Proprietary Injunctions
Finally, the report helps your lawyers argue that you still hold property rights over your stolen crypto. This is a powerful principle in UK law – the assets are still legally yours, even after they've been moved – and it significantly strengthens the case for having them returned.
How does an investigation work in practice?
Every investigation varies in terms of complexity and timelines – and a successful trace doesn’t always lead to a successful recovery. Having said that, here’s an illustrative scenario that shows how a typical case might play out, from realising the loss to working with a tracing service to pursuing recovery through the courts.
- You notice that crypto funds have gone missing – and realise you’ve fallen victim to a theft.
- You contact Complex Tracing and, after a review, decide that tracing the funds is viable.
- Complex Tracing follows the trail to a large international exchange where your funds are now held.
- Complex Tracing prepares a detailed evidence pack for your solicitor.
- Your solicitor uses the report to apply to the High Court for a WFO against the unknown fraudster and a Norwich Pharmacal Order against the exchange.
- On reviewing the clear evidence, the judge grants both orders.
- The exchange receives the court order, freezes the account and provides the fraudster's identity documents.
- Your solicitor can now take direct legal action against the identified individual.
Isn’t this something my solicitor can handle themselves?
No, it’s unlikely your solicitor will have the necessary expertise to interpret the raw blockchain data. Think of it like DNA evidence – it provides powerful proof, but it needs to be interpreted and presented by a forensic scientist in order to be admissible (and persuasive) in court. Firms like Complex Tracing are the forensic experts when it comes to crypto – we analyse the data and present a court-ready report that your solicitor can use to build a solid case.
Have you lost cryptocurrency to a scam or hack?
If you've lost crypto to a scam or theft, don't try to navigate the tracing and recovery process alone. Speak to the team at Complex Tracing – we'll help you understand your options and build the evidence your legal team needs to secure court orders or injunctions and pursue recovery where possible.
