Funds in the account suddenly frozen, law enforcement calls—this scenario happens in the crypto world so often that it’s enough to make people feel cold. Some fall from dreams into nightmares overnight, but others turn danger into opportunity. What’s the difference? It’s whether you know how to respond.

When communicating with law enforcement, there are 3 sentences you must never say, and 3 sentences you must clarify.

Never say "I know this is illegal"—this self-incriminating statement will directly convict you. What should you say instead? "This is my personal handling of virtual assets. The law may not protect me, but this is fundamentally different from money laundering or fraud. I have not disrupted financial order."

Don’t be scared into repeatedly agreeing with "full restitution"—that will only put you in a passive position. The correct attitude is: "I acquired the assets in good faith and am unaware of the source. I am willing to discuss a reasonable repayment plan with the victim through coordination."

Also, don’t be frightened by the "criminal record threat"—immediately saying "cooperate, cooperate" only makes you look guilty. Be firm where you need to be: "I have provided complete evidence and am proactively cooperating with the investigation. I am not a suspect; where would the criminal record come from? Unless it’s proven that I am the account holder involved in the case, my other normal accounts cannot be frozen."

Ultimately, the best protection is prevention. The five-step review process before issuing tokens is truly indispensable—covering the source of funds, trading counterparties, on-chain labels, and off-chain recipients, every step must be checked. The earlier you develop this habit, the more you can avoid trouble later.