Frequently asked questions
Short answers, with links to the full guides. Terms are explained in the glossary.
About AML checks
What is an AML check for a crypto wallet?
It looks at where an address received money from on the blockchain and how much of it links to known risky sources such as scams, sanctioned entities, mixers or darknet markets. The result is usually a risk score and a breakdown by category.
Does a high risk score mean the owner is a criminal?
No. It means part of the funds passed through risky sources at some point. That is a reason to ask questions or decline the transfer, not proof of wrongdoing.
If the score is low, can an exchange still freeze my deposit?
Yes. Each exchange uses its own data and rules, and stablecoin issuers can freeze addresses independently. A low score lowers the chance of trouble but guarantees nothing.
When should I run a check?
Before receiving from someone new, before a P2P or OTC trade, before a large transfer, and whenever you cannot tell where the money came from.
Why do two checkers give different results?
Each uses its own attribution data and labels. One may know an address is a scam; another may not have labelled it yet. “No data” means unknown, not clean.
Safety
Do I need to give a seed phrase or connect my wallet?
Never. A real AML check needs only a public address. Sites that ask you to connect a wallet and “approve” a transaction to run a check are a known wallet-drainer scam — see our guide to fake AML checkers.
What if I shared my seed phrase by mistake?
Treat the wallet as compromised: create a new wallet with a new seed phrase and move your funds there immediately. No AML service, exchange or support agent ever needs your seed phrase.
How do I find a service’s real Telegram bot?
Open its official website and follow the link from there. We list official handles as linked from each service’s own site.
About TopAML
Does TopAML check wallets itself?
No. We are an independent review site. We compare the services that run checks — their prices, networks and reports — and link to them. We never run checks ourselves and never see the addresses you check.
How do you score services?
On six published criteria — price, networks, report depth, transparency, privacy and channels — using only facts we could verify on each service’s own pages. Details are on the methodology page.
Do services pay to be listed?
No. We have no affiliate deals today. If we add any, links will be labelled and the score formula will not change. See the affiliate disclosure.
How often is the data updated?
Sources are checked automatically every 3 days — last on 4 Nov 2026: official sites, pricing pages, network lists, Telegram bots and every cited source. Any change is flagged on the page and re-checked by an editor.
Frozen funds and exchanges
What should I do if an exchange froze my deposit?
Answer only through official support, provide documents on where the funds came from, and ignore paid “recovery” offers. Our step-by-step guide covers it.
Can USDT be frozen by Tether?
Yes. Tether can restrict USDT at specific addresses, independently of any exchange. See USDT TRC-20.
What is the Travel Rule?
A requirement for service providers to send sender and recipient information with transfers. See the Travel Rule explained.