Real Results: A Satisfied Client from Portugal Shares His Experience
When João M., a crypto investor from Lisbon, Portugal, woke up to find his wallet drained, he feared it was all gone for good. The night before, he had approved a transaction on a seemingly legitimate staking platform. What he didn’t realize was that he had fallen victim to a phishing scam, one designed to quietly take control of his wallet.
In total, João lost over €38,000 worth of crypto assets, including ETH, USDT, and several altcoins. The attackers used a malicious contract embedded in the site to execute transfers within minutes.
“I thought I was done. I didn’t know where to turn. I had never been scammed before,” João said.
Thankfully, João reached out to Chain Retrieval—and what happened next changed everything.
Chain Retrieval Traced the Stolen Funds and Recovered a Portion
After verifying the wallet address and timeline, Chain Retrieval’s on-chain investigation team got to work. Using its proprietary tools, the team mapped out the attacker’s wallet cluster and began monitoring token movements across multiple blockchains.
Within hours, Chain Retrieval:
-
Identified the attack contract and the drainer wallet
-
Tracked the stolen funds through bridges and DEX swaps
-
Flagged wallet addresses on Ethereum and BNB Chain
-
Submitted reports to exchanges where funds briefly passed through
Thanks to the fast action and real-time monitoring, Chain Retrieval successfully froze a portion of the funds that had been moved into a centralized exchange account.
João recovered nearly €11,000, a rare and significant win in the world of crypto theft.
“Without Chain Retrieval, I wouldn’t have gotten anything back. They moved faster than the scammers,” he said.
How Chain Retrieval Protects Users from Becoming Victims
This story underscores the growing need for real-time wallet protection, especially as scams in 2025 become more advanced.
Chain Retrieval offers users a suite of powerful tools to stay safe:
-
Transaction simulation to preview and detect risky smart contracts
-
Wallet monitoring that sends alerts for unusual activity
-
Blacklist integration to flag known scam addresses and phishing dApps
-
On-chain tracing to follow stolen funds and support investigations
-
Recovery support including reports for law enforcement and exchanges
Had João used the transaction simulator before signing, the smart contract’s malicious code would have been flagged immediately.
In 2025, Chain Retrieval isn’t just helpful—it’s essential.
Phishing Scams Are on the Rise in Europe
João’s case is part of a larger trend. According to data collected by Chain Retrieval, phishing attacks across Europe have surged by 48% in the first half of 2025. Portugal, Spain, and Germany have been particularly affected.
Attackers are creating:
-
Fake staking platforms
-
Airdrop claims that drain wallets
-
AI-generated customer support impersonators
-
Malicious browser extensions mimicking trusted wallets
“The scam I fell for looked professional. It even had fake reviews and fake social media followers,” João recalled.
These tactics are designed to lure users into signing malicious smart contracts that look harmless. Once approved, users’ tokens are silently drained.
If You’ve Been Scammed, Don’t Wait—Act Fast
If you suspect a wallet breach or have already lost funds, contact Chain Retrieval immediately. Time is critical. The sooner you act, the higher the chance of freezing or tracing the assets before they disappear.
Chain Retrieval Services:
-
Wallet tracing and forensic reports
-
Scam detection and blacklist alerts
-
Real-time monitoring tools
-
Assistance with recovery and legal reports
Even if only a portion of the funds is recoverable, it can make a huge difference—just like it did for João.
Protecting the Future of Web3
As Web3 continues to grow, so does the need for reliable security tools. Chain Retrieval is leading the way in helping users around the world—from beginners to professionals—detect threats, trace stolen assets, and recover losses.
“Crypto shouldn’t be a gamble. It should be secure, and users deserve real protection,” the Chain Retrieval team stated.
João agrees.
“I learned my lesson the hard way. But now I use Chain Retrieval every day. It’s my safety net.”