Crypto Stolen From Trust Wallet: What to Do Now (2025)
You opened your Trust Wallet and the balance is zero. The funds you've been saving or investing are just gone. This is a terrifying and violating experience.
If crypto was stolen from your Trust Wallet, it was NOT hacked. You were scammed into either giving up your 12-word seed phrase or signing a malicious smart contract.
- Blockchain transactions are irreversible. The crypto cannot be "un-stolen."
- Trust Wallet is a non-custodial wallet; they cannot get your money back for you.
- You likely signed a "SetApprovalForAll" or "IncreaseAllowance" scam contract.
- Your immediate next step is to stop further losses and trace the funds.
How Your Crypto Was Really Stolen
Your wallet wasn't "hacked" like a bank account. Instead, you were tricked into giving a scammer the keys. This happens in two main ways:
1. Seed Phrase Phishing: You contacted "Trust Wallet Support" on Telegram or Twitter, and they asked for your 12-word seed phrase to "validate your wallet." Or, you entered your phrase into a fake "wallet upgrade" website. Giving someone your seed phrase is like giving them your bank PIN. They can log in as you and take everything.
2. Malicious Contract Approval: This is more common. You tried to mint a fake NFT, claim a fake airdrop, or use a sketchy DeFi platform. A pop-up from Trust Wallet asked you to "Approve" a transaction. You were not sending money; you were signing a contract that gave the scammer's wallet permission to withdraw your tokens (like your USDT or SHIB) whenever it wants. They let you wait, then drain you days later.
What to Do Immediately After Your Wallet is Drained
- STOP. Do NOT Send More Money: Do not send crypto to a "recovery service" that messages you. They are also scammers.
- Revoke All Approvals: If your wallet was drained by a malicious contract, other tokens may still be at risk. Immediately go to a tool like Revoke.cash or Etherscan's Token Approval Checker, connect your wallet, and revoke all active permissions.
- Create a NEW, Clean Wallet: Your current wallet is compromised and can never be trusted again. Create a new wallet with a new seed phrase.
- Transfer Any Remaining Assets: Move any remaining, non-stolen assets (if any) to your new, clean wallet immediately.
- File a Report: Report the crime to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3.gov) and the FTC. This creates a paper trail.
Common Problems: Can You Get Your Crypto Back?
The hard truth is that you cannot "reverse" the transaction. The crypto is not "lost" in the system; it is sitting in the scammer's wallet. You can look it up on a blockchain explorer (like Etherscan) and see the entire theft.
Because you cannot force the scammer to return it, the only path forward is to trace the funds. This is a highly technical process of following the stolen crypto as the scammer moves it through different wallets and exchanges.
If you've lost a significant amount, this is not something you can do yourself. Professional blockchain tracing services like Rankedsafe.com specialize in analyzing these transactions and tracing the funds to a centralized exchange (where the scammer must cash out). This trace report is the only evidence law enforcement or lawyers can use to try and freeze the assets.
Quick FAQ
Can Trust Wallet be hacked?
It is nearly impossible for the Trust Wallet app itself to be hacked. The theft always happens at the user level, by tricking the user into giving up their seed phrase or signing a bad contract. It's a scam, not a hack.
What is a "dust attack"?
This is when a scammer sends you a tiny amount of an unknown token. When you try to sell it, you are prompted to visit a fake website that asks you to approve a malicious contract. Ignore and hide all unknown tokens in your wallet.
Will I get my crypto back if I report it to the police?
Probably not. Local police do not have the tools or jurisdiction to trace crypto. An IC3 report is important for national data, but they will not investigate your individual case. A professional trace report is the only way to give law enforcement actionable data.
Protect Your Next Wallet From Day One
Your new wallet's 12-word seed phrase must be written on paper and stored somewhere fireproof and safe. Never type it into a computer. Never give it to anyone. Never take a screenshot of it.
A hardware wallet (like a Ledger or Trezor) is the best protection. It stores your keys offline, and you must physically press a button on the device to approve any transaction, making it impossible for these online scams to work.
Bottom line: Your stolen crypto is gone, but it is not lost. It is traceable. For small amounts, accept the loss as a hard lesson. For large amounts, the only path forward is a professional blockchain trace.
