Getting rugpulled or scammed is painful — emotionally and financially. But if it happens, don’t panic.
You can still act fast to report, document, and protect your case (and help others avoid the same trap).
This guide shows you exactly what to do in the first 24 hours, and how to properly collect digital evidence for potential recovery or investigation.
⚡ Step 1: Stay Calm — Don’t Delete or Move Anything
Your wallet, transactions, and chat history are all part of the evidence trail.
Don’t transfer funds, close your account, or delete messages — these can destroy proof.
“The blockchain never forgets — but your screenshots do.”
Keep your device connected and take screenshots before scammers disappear or edit information.
📸 Step 2: Capture All Proof Immediately
You’ll need clear, timestamped evidence for reports or community alerts. Here’s what to save:
A. Blockchain Data
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Token contract address
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Transaction hashes (TXID) showing your purchases or losses
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Liquidity pool info (before and after rug)
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Token ownership and functions (view on Etherscan or BscScan)
B. Project Info
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Website (use archive.org/web to save a snapshot)
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Telegram / Discord / X (Twitter) handles
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Screenshots of team claims, whitepaper, or fake audits
C. Communication Evidence
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DM conversations with project admins or promoters
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Influencer tweets or videos promoting the token
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Any messages promising “refunds” or “manual unlocks”
💡 Pro tip: Name each screenshot clearly (e.g., “TXID_2025-10-21.png”).
🧩 Step 3: Verify and Record the Smart Contract
Visit Etherscan / BscScan / Solscan, search the token contract, and check:
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Is the contract verified?
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Who owns it? (look for “Contract Creator”)
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Liquidity pool locked? (use tools like TeamFinance, Unicrypt)
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Functions like mint(), blacklist(), or restrictSell()?
Then, download or copy the contract source code if available — it might be taken down later.
🚔 Step 4: Report the Scam
Once you have the evidence, report to the following places:
📮 1. Blockchain Platforms
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BscScan / Etherscan: Use “Report/Flag” feature on token page.
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DEXTools / CoinMarketCap / CoinGecko: Report via their scam form.
🧠 2. Community and Watchdogs
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RugScamAlert.com → Submit details for public awareness.
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Reddit: Post under r/CryptoScams or r/Scams.
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X (Twitter): Tag watchdog accounts with evidence threads.
🏛️ 3. Law Enforcement (Optional but Valuable)
If you lost a large amount:
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File a cybercrime complaint in your country (e.g., IC3.gov in the US).
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Provide wallet addresses, TXIDs, and screenshots.
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You can also report to Chainalysis or TRM Labs if tracking funds.
💡 Step 5: Protect Yourself and Help Others
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Block scam addresses on your wallet app.
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Warn others in Telegram / Discord groups (with proof).
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Share verified evidence (TXIDs, contract links) — not emotional claims.
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Join watchdog communities like RugScamAlert to strengthen the network.
“Every scam stopped early saves hundreds of others.” — RugScamAlert.com
🧠 Pro Tips for the Future
✅ Always verify if liquidity is locked and renounced.
✅ Never FOMO into unverified tokens.
✅ Check project audits and team doxxing.
✅ Keep your funds in wallets you control (not exchange wallets).
