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Read out the honest review about the Changelly service before investing your money to them. Learn about the Cryptocoin exchange frauds and traps!

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Changelly is a scam. Do not be captivated by its fake online reviews. My personal experience is very bad. They have misleading terms and conditions in their KYC. They are manipulators who will loot you after gaining your trust.

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Changelly is a scam. Do not be captivated by its fake online reviews. My personal experience is very bad. They have misleading terms and conditions in their KYC. They are manipulators who will loot you after gaining your trust. Slideshow 8068031 by changellyreview

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Changelly is a Czech spot cryptocurrency exchange, launched in 2013. What do you think about Changelly? In this presentation I have shared experiences of customers about Changelly. Review their comments and visit us at Changelly Review to read more.

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complete list of www.changelly.com complaints scam unauthorized charges rip off defective product poor service

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Complete list of www.changelly.com complaints. Scam, unauthorized charges, rip off, defective product, poor service.

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July 2018

I've put this web page together to share my experience with the crypto swap service changelly, and to make a warning for anyone else considering whether to use their service. Specifically: they may try to confiscate your funds. They are not trustworthy.

I had a desire to build a DCR position, and I wanted to transact with anonymity. Shapeshift was not available in my jurisdiction, and I read positive reviews online. In addition, changelly has this description on their website:

Transfer from one wallet to another within seconds. It's that simple.

They also quote a Charlie Shrem tweet:

I love how @Changelly_team has no limits and awesome fees when going from crypto to crypto. No reason for exchanges !

Their FAQ makes no mention of AML or KYC. In fact, there are several statements about how their service is "fast", "safe", and "instant". Here it is, as of 24-Jul-2018:
Click here to read Changelly FAQ
I started small, with exchanges of 1 and 10 ETH for DCR. Things went ok, so I went for 25 ETH, again with no problem. At this point the service seemed reasonable, so I put through 50 ETH. The exchange happened with no problem, but then this screen came up:
Click here to see the Changelly screenshot.
Here is the KYC document:
Click here to view Changely AML / KYC
which contains this statement:

proof of the origin funds - Please provide us with everything you have to identify that you're the owner of those funds, such as initial resource of funds and/or exchange accounts with history (of the trading) and also where they came from.

So they want to see your entire trading history back to when you converted to fiat, no matter how complicated. It's not clear whether they also want you to prove that you owned the fiat.

I am trying to be even-handed, but that's pretty fucking intrusive and burdensome for a service that bills itself as "transferring in seconds".

My entire email exchange with changelly is included below. I include this for completeness, to make others aware of what may happen to them.

Two final observations:

Changelly does have a note about KYC in their Terms of service, however there is nothing to indicate that they will take your money and refuse to give it back. A more honest company would require KYC before taking customer funds, and refuse to transact if they found something suspicious.

In the emails, changelly does a lot of virtue-signalling about trying to prevent crime, however in our interactions, there is only one party that is attempting to confiscate and steal money, and that party is not me.

Here are all the emails so far:

July 20, 2018 19:52

Good day, I have received your AML request for the transaction referenced in the subject line.

I find the AML requirements to be very intrusive, specifically this:

"proof of the origin funds - Please provide us with everything you have to identify that you're the owner of those funds, such as initial resource of funds and/or exchange accounts with history (of the trading) and also where they came from."

Could you have my 50 ETH returned to me, and I will transact elsewhere?

July 20, 2018 20:01

Dear Customer,

Transaction xxxxxxxxxxxx you've processed recently has been placed on hold since our risk management system marked it as suspicious.

According to European AML directives and regulations, we ask you to provide us with a photo of your face with the ID document (passport or driving licence) valid in your country and a piece of paper with the date and the inscription "Changelly" on it in one photo with the attached picture on the background.

Also, to accelerate the conclusion of the verification process, please provide us with official proofs of the origin funds. Please provide us with everything you have to identify that you're the owner of those funds, such as initial resource of funds and/or exchange accounts with history (of the trading) and also where they came from.

These documents must be sent in the following message.

Thank you for your all provided documents in advance.

July 20, 2018 20:15

July 20, 2018 20:48

Could you please respond?

July 20, 2018 21:22

July 21, 2018 00:12

Dear Customer,

Unfortunately, our service attracts numerous criminals lately who try to cover their tracks and try to use stolen funds. In this regard, we had to put our security system into a mode that would allow maximum control over the movement of suspicious funds.

The KYC procedure consists of investigation in case of stolen funds and it authorised to claim this type of information to be provided.

In accordance with the best practices of counteracting the turnover of stolen funds, which are practiced by most well-known and trusted exchanges and exchangers, we keep funds on hold in case of suspicious transactions of users.

And that's why we insist on the requirements described above to be compiled.

Thank you in advance for the data provided.

July 21, 2018 01:17

I don't want the transaction to be completed.

Your KYC / AML requirements are much more intrusive than any other organization I have interacted with.

I am only asking for my funds to be returned to me, and I will not attempt any more transactions with your business.

I request that you return my 50 ETH to me.

July 21, 2018 02:15

Dear Customer,

Unfortunately, we are not able to make a refund as your funds have already been exchanged.
Looking forward to receiving all the required data.
Thank you in advance!

July 21, 2018 07:28

These are ATROCIOUS business practices.

You are holding my money hostage.

You are asking a level of information which is extensive, and which is really none of your business.

It's really not clear from your Terms of Use, or from what I researched online prior to use, that you would put me in this kind of a position.

All I am asking is that you return my money, and we can go our separate ways and never interact again.

Please return my 50 ETH to me.I am willing to pay any transaction fees necessary to do so.

July 21, 2018 10:57

Dear Customer,

We can only release the funds after the KYC procedure is completed. Your initial currency was exchanged for the selected one within the ETA, so we cannot refund your ETH.

The KYC procedure consists of investigation in case of stolen funds and it authorized to claim this type of information to be provided.

In accordance with the best practices of counteracting the turnover of stolen funds, which are practiced by most well-known and trusted exchanges and exchangers, we keep funds on hold in case of suspicious transactions of users.

And that's why we insist on the requirements described above to be compiled.

Thank you in advance for the data provided.

July 22, 2018 14:31

This is terrible business, bordering on outright theft.

If KYC holds that importance for you, then you should require your KYC before taking customer funds.

Nothing on your web page makes it clear that you may attempt to confiscate funds.

Your terms of use also do not make it clear that you may attempt to confiscate funds.

My money is being held hostage to some arbitrary rule or ML-based based system that you have implemented, and your self-appointed rule as law enforcement.

Please return my my 50 ETH.

July 22, 2018 14:38

Dear Customer,

If you use our site, you agree with our Terms of use which say

When you create a Changelly Account you oblige to:
- change the password, which is generated by Website automatically, for a strong password that you do not use for any other websites, online or off-line services;
- provide accurate e-mail, which belongs to you;
- maintain the security of your Changelly Account and promptly notify us if you discover any suspicious activity related to your account;
-agree to pass through AML/KYC procedures, which may be applied to You from time to time. During the AML/KYC procedures, Changelly reserves the right to request additional information and documents, which are aimed without limitation to identify our user and to prove the source of the funds;
- take responsibility for all activities that occur under your Changelly Account.

We can't proceed the transaction until all the required documents are provided.
Thank you for understanding.

July 22, 2018 14:44

July 22, 2018 15:06

Dear Customer,

We apologize for making you wait. We do value our customers and do our best to proceed their transactions in minimum time.

Unfortunately, our service attracts numerous criminals lately who try to cover their tracks and try to use stolen funds. In this regard, we had to put our security system into a mode that would allow maximum control over the movement of suspicious funds.

We can't proceed the transaction until all the required documents are provided.

July 23, 2018 22:04

From: <xxx>

OK, you keep repeating standard form answers to me, so I don't know if I'm dealing with a low-level drone, or a higher-level person who is capable of making a decision. Could you escalate my case?

I also want to inform you that I am constructing a web page with our interactions. I have expertise in SEO, so I will ensure that anyone who researches your company can understand your fraudulent behavior.

I will forward the web page to you when finished.

Give me back my 50 ETH.

July 24, 2018 22:17

July 25, 2018 10:45

July 25, 2018 19:55

From: <xxx>
To:[email protected] <[email protected]>
Please be aware that I am not going to stop following up regarding this, both by email and other means.

July 26, 2018 17:18

The website is done, which contains an honest review of your fraudulent practices. All publicity operations will commence within the next couple days.

Please give me back my 50 ETH, and all our interactions will come to an end.

Aug 1, 2018 21:04

The website is up, with its own domain name, which will help with SEO.

Press releases will go out soon.

Please give me back my 50 ETH, and our interactions will come to an end.

Aug 2, 2018 9:18

Dear Customer,

We apologize for making you wait. We do value our customers and do our best to proceed their transactions in minimum time.

We had been investigating the addressed your funds came from and unfortunately, we cannot process your transaction without required information we asked you to provide.
Also, our service attracts numerous criminals lately who try to cover their tracks and try to use stolen funds. In this regard, we had to put our security system into a mode that would allow maximum control over the movement of suspicious funds. The security service is overloaded and we have just processed your emails.

We ask you to provide us with official proofs of the origin of the funds. Please provide us with everything you have to identify that you're the owner of those funds, such as the initial resource of the funds and your exchange accounts with the history of trading and also where they came from.

Also, according to European AML directives and regulations, we ask you to provide us with a photo of your face with the ID document (passport or driving licence) valid in your country and a piece of paper with the date and the inscription "Changelly" on it in one photo with the attached picture on the background.

Once the required info is provided, your transaction will be processed and you will be added to our AML Whitelist!

Thank you for all your provided documents in advance.

Aug 3, 2018 22:24

Are you going to provide me the basis of your suspicions about my activity, or is that a proprietary algorithm that you refuse to share?

Your Terms of Service do not make it clear that your AML process involves taking funds and refusing to give them back. That is fraudulent behavior on your part, especially given the representations that you make on your home page and in your FAQ.

I would suggest you give me back my money, and update your Terms of Service to make them better, so people know exactly the risk they take when using your service.

Aug 16, 2018 20:15

Don't know if changelly has decided to stop talking to me or not at this point.

My website describing your fraudulent behavior is up and running at this point, and my SEO person is actively engaged in promoting it with search engines.

It would be more professional to not ignore this matter.

Dear Customer,

We apologize for the long silence.

We don't disclose the algorithm of our risk management system.

We can only release the funds after the KYC procedure is completed. Please provide the requested information so we can define the origin of the funds and identify you as the owner.

Aug 20, 2018 19:41

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Changelly Review and WARNING - Changelly may attempt to confiscate your funds

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July 2018 I've put this web page together to share my experience with the crypto swap service changelly, and to make a warning for anyone else considering whether to use their service. Specifically: they may try to confiscate your funds. They are not trustworthy.