Paid a Seller in Bitcoin and They Went Silent? What to Do Now | The Coin Shack

Paid in Bitcoin and the seller went silent? What to do now

In November 2026 a buyer shared on Reddit that he paid an online seller about US$750 in Bitcoin. The seller stopped replying the moment the payment arrived, and the Bitcoin was moved to another address the same day. If this has happened to you, you are not dumb: these scams are built to look real. Here is what is going on, and exactly what to do.

TL;DR

• Yes, it is the usual scam pattern: seller wants Bitcoin only, money is moved on right away, seller goes silent.
• Don't try to get it back yourself, and never pay a "recovery" service. They are almost always a second scam.
• Save everything and report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (1-888-495-8501) and your local police.
• Next time: pay sellers you don't know with a method that has buyer protection, never Bitcoin.

How the scam works

1. A good deal. A product, ticket, puppy, or service at a nice price, on a website, social media or marketplace.

2. "Bitcoin only, please." The seller asks for Bitcoin, or gives a discount for it, because Bitcoin payments can't be cancelled and there is no bank to complain to.

3. Payment, then silence. Once the Bitcoin arrives, the seller stops answering.

4. The money moves on fast. Within hours, the Bitcoin is sent to another address, often on its way to an exchange or mixed with other people's coins. This is normal for scammers: it makes it harder to follow and freeze.

Do this now, in order

• Stop paying. If the seller asks for more ("customs fee", "insurance", "unlock fee"), that is the same scam again.
• Save everything: screenshots of the website or listing, every message and email, the seller's name, phone and email, the Bitcoin address you paid, and the Transaction ID from your wallet or exchange.
• Report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca or 1-888-495-8501. Then file a report with your local police and keep the report number.
• If you bought the Bitcoin on an exchange or at a Bitcoin store, tell them too. Give them the address and Transaction ID; they can flag the address and help police.
• Report the address publicly on chainabuse.com so others are warned before they pay it.
• Report the listing to the website or app where you found the seller (Facebook, Kijiji, Instagram, etc.).

Can I find out who the scammer is?

Usually not on your own. A Bitcoin address doesn't show a name. But police can ask an exchange who owns an account if the Bitcoin lands there, which is why your Transaction ID and report matter.

If the scammer offers other payment apps (like Interac e-Transfer, Cash App, Apple Pay or Chime), those accounts are tied to a real bank account or identity. Don't send them money, but write down the name, email, phone number or username they give you and add it to your police report. Police can request the details from those companies; you can't.

Don't go undercover or threaten them. It can put you at risk and rarely helps. Give what you have to the police and let them do it.

Watch out for "recovery" scams

After you post about a scam online, people will message you saying they can "trace" or "hack back" your Bitcoin for a fee. They can't. It is the most common second scam. No real police force or company charges you upfront to get crypto back.

How to spot it next time

• "Bitcoin only" from a stranger is a red flag. Real shops offer card payments, which you can dispute.
• Too-good-to-be-true prices, brand-new websites, and pressure to "pay now before it's gone".
• Search the seller's name, email and website with the word "scam" before you pay.
• Pay strangers with protection: a credit card, PayPal Goods and Services, or cash in person after you see the item.
• Unsure? Ask us before you pay. Call or visit our Markham store and we'll look at the request with you, free. We'd rather say "don't send that" than see you lose money.

Questions

Can a Bitcoin payment be reversed?

No. Once it's confirmed, nobody can cancel it: not your wallet, not us, not the police. That's why scammers ask for it.

The Bitcoin was moved to another address. Is that normal?

Yes, for scammers. They move it quickly, often toward an exchange where they can turn it into cash. Report the addresses and Transaction ID so police can follow it.

Someone says they can recover my Bitcoin for a fee. Should I pay?

No. That is almost always a second scam. Report them too.

Will The Coin Shack ever ask me to send Bitcoin to someone?

No. We never ask you to send Bitcoin to a third party, and we never ask for your wallet's secret words.