Did you just transfer money earned in the crypto circle to your bank card and suddenly receive a freeze notice? Don’t panic! Having been in this field for 10 years, I’ve seen too many people fall victim to 'OTC aftereffects.' Today, I’ll share life-saving details with you; after reading, you should at least save five digits.
Why 'there was no issue at the time, but a bombshell came a month later'? The police investigation has a 'time difference.'
Many people wonder: The platform approved the transaction, and the bank didn’t raise any flags, so how come I was targeted two months later?
The core pitfall lies in the 'funding chain'—the money you received may have just been scammed from the victim. For example, a scammer uses A's money to buy your coin; A hasn't reported it yet, so the bank and platform can't find any issues with this money. But once A reports it, the police trace back the flow, and your link becomes a 'funding transfer station,' which will naturally be marked.
Remember: This does not mean you broke the law; it’s just that the funding chain has been contaminated, and the police need to verify if you are a 'partner.'
These 5 types of operations are the easiest to be targeted; check yourself quickly.
Don't think 'I'm engaging in legitimate transactions, so I'm safe.' These details can make you an immediate focus for verification:
Frequent changes of bank cards for receiving payments, using ICBC today and CCB tomorrow, and always logging in from unfamiliar IPs like internet cafes or hotels.
Writing 'buy coin,' 'USDT,' or 'digital assets' in transaction notes is equivalent to directly telling the bank, 'I am engaging in crypto transactions.'
Money is transferred out immediately upon receipt, especially to unfamiliar accounts; the flow looks like 'money laundering script.'
The buyer's platform real name is 'Zhang San', but the bank card owner making the payment is 'Li Si', and the other party says 'My friend paid for me.'
Making large transactions during 2-5 AM; this time frame is a peak period for scams, and the bank's risk control will directly raise a red flag.
Don't panic when you receive a freeze notice! These 3 steps can save you.
If you receive a call from the police or the bank, follow these steps first; don't panic and mess up your actions:
First, distinguish authenticity: The police and banks will never ask for your bank card password or verification code, nor will they ask you to 'transfer a sum of money to prove your innocence.' If the other party says 'add me on WeChat to send materials' or 'share your screen for instructions,' they are 100% scammers. Hang up and call official customer service to verify.
Do not privately transfer money for 'settlement': Even if it is confirmed that the money you received involves fraud, you must go through official processes. For example, if the police ask you to return the money, be sure to request the other party to provide (a notice of fund return related to the case). The money can only be transferred to the public account designated by the police, and after the transfer, you must obtain a receipt and a case closure certificate. Never believe 'transferring to my personal account privately will unblock it.'
The more comprehensive your evidence preparation is, the faster the unblocking will be: Organize platform transaction records and chat logs with buyers (especially screenshots where the other party promises 'clean funds') and bank transaction details in chronological order. Provide whatever the police need; don’t resist, cooperating with the verification can actually shorten the freezing time.
What happens after freezing? Here are 4 outcomes to give you a heads-up.
Don't think 'the money is gone' just because it’s frozen; the results fall into 4 categories. Knowing early can bring peace of mind.
Best case: With complete materials, you can prove you are an 'unaware seller'. After verification, the account will be unblocked within 24-72 hours, without affecting future card usage.
Common situation: Account is temporarily controlled, can only receive money, not withdraw. Once the case is initially clarified (usually 1-3 months), it will be restored.
Bad situation: The money involved in fraud is frozen, while other funds can be used normally. The freeze will only be lifted after the case is concluded.
Most troublesome: Being listed on the bank's risk control list, future transfers will always be subject to pop-up audits. At this point, it is recommended to get a new card specifically for OTC.
Want to avoid pitfalls? You must develop these 6 habits.
Rather than panicking afterwards, it’s better to prepare protective measures in advance. These few tips have been tested to reduce risks by 90%.
Only use trusted platforms for escrow transactions. When selecting buyers, look for 'more than 1000 completed transactions + over 98% positive rating + real name for over 6 months.' Directly pass on new accounts.
Only accept money that matches 'the platform real name and the payer.' If the other party says 'company payment' or 'family payment,' cancel the transaction directly.
Break large transactions into smaller ones within 50,000, and operate between 9 AM - 5 PM, avoiding late-night and early-morning hours.
Ask the buyer to note 'shopping money' or 'service fee'; absolutely do not mention 'coin,' 'chain,' or 'digital assets.'
Get a dedicated bank card solely for OTC payments; do not mix it with salary cards or mortgage cards.
Never help others receive or transfer money, even if they are relatives or friends. If there’s any problem with the funds, you will be considered a 'co-conspirator.'