CFTC warns over rise in impersonation scams targeting crypto victims

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has warned investors about a growing wave of scams involving fraudsters impersonating agency officials to target victims of previous cryptocurrency fraud schemes.

According to the regulator, scammers are using fake CFTC branding, forged documents and spoofed communications to appear legitimate. Victims are typically contacted after losing money in a crypto-related scam and are told the agency can help recover their funds — but only after paying an upfront fee or transferring additional digital assets.

The CFTC stressed that it never requests payments, cryptocurrency transfers or personal financial information from the public, and does not provide fund recovery services. The agency said official enforcement-related communications are only issued in writing following completed investigations.

The warning comes amid a broader rise in government impersonation fraud across the United States. Reported losses linked to such scams reached US$445 million over the past year, with fraudsters increasingly targeting both older individuals and younger crypto investors.

The regulator advised anyone contacted by individuals claiming to represent the CFTC and requesting money or digital assets to avoid engaging, refuse any payments, and report the incident through the agency’s official reporting channels.

Authorities also reiterated that legitimate government agencies will never demand cryptocurrency payments, request upfront fees to process cases, or pressure victims into taking immediate action.