Crypto Scam Center
Over $17 billion was lost to cryptocurrency scams globally in 2024 alone. Scammers are becoming more sophisticated, using AI deepfakes, social engineering, and fake platforms. Your best defense is knowledge.
$17B+
Global losses (2024)
+245%
Deepfake fraud increase
$5.6B
Pig butchering (US, 2024)
Common Scam Types
Scammers create fake social media profiles posing as celebrities, influencers, or crypto executives to trick victims into sending funds or clicking malicious links.
Criminals use AI-generated video and voice clones of real executives, influencers, and even victims' family members to promote fraudulent investments or authorize fake transactions.
Scammers build months-long relationships with victims through dating apps or social media, then manipulate them into investing in fraudulent crypto platforms controlled by the scammers.
Attackers use fake websites, fraudulent emails, and malicious wallet approval requests to steal login credentials, seed phrases, or trick victims into signing transactions that drain their funds.
Malicious smart contracts, often disguised as NFT mints or token claims, are designed to drain all assets from a wallet the moment a user grants approval.
Scammers build professional-looking but completely fraudulent exchange websites that accept deposits but never allow legitimate withdrawals.
After victims lose money to a crypto scam, a second wave of scammers poses as recovery services, lawyers, or hackers who claim they can retrieve stolen funds — for an upfront fee.
Developers launch a token or DeFi project, hype it to attract investment, then abandon the project and drain all liquidity — leaving investors with worthless tokens.
Organized groups coordinate to buy a low-cap cryptocurrency, artificially inflate its price through hype, then sell their holdings at the peak — crashing the price on remaining investors.
Fake token airdrops lure users into connecting their wallets to malicious websites or signing transactions that grant attackers access to drain their real assets.
Attackers convince phone carriers to transfer your phone number to their device, bypassing SMS-based two-factor authentication to drain crypto accounts.
Attackers send tiny transactions from wallet addresses that closely resemble ones you frequently use, hoping you'll copy the wrong address from transaction history.
Malware silently monitors your clipboard and replaces copied cryptocurrency addresses with the attacker's address, redirecting your transactions.
Scammers impersonate exchange or wallet customer support on Discord, Telegram, and Twitter, tricking victims into revealing seed phrases or granting remote access.
Recruitment-based crypto 'investment' programs that promise guaranteed high returns, using new investor deposits to pay earlier investors until the inevitable collapse.
Fake browser extensions mimicking MetaMask, Phantom, and other crypto wallets steal seed phrases, inject malicious code into web pages, and drain wallets.
If you encounter any of these, proceed with extreme caution or walk away entirely.
- 1Guaranteed returns or promises of risk-free profits — no legitimate investment can guarantee returns.
- 2'Send X to receive 2X back' offers from anyone, regardless of who they claim to be.
- 3Unsolicited DMs or messages about investment opportunities, especially from strangers on social media.
- 4Pressure to act immediately — legitimate opportunities do not evaporate in minutes.
- 5Requests for your seed phrase or private key. No legitimate service, wallet, or exchange will ever ask for these.
- 6Being asked to deposit more money in order to withdraw existing funds.
- 7An online romantic interest who steers conversations toward crypto investing.
- 8Websites with URLs that closely mimic legitimate platforms but have subtle misspellings or unusual domains.
- 9Projects with anonymous teams, no verifiable track record, and heavy marketing but no working product.
- 10Token contracts that are unverified, unaudited, or have suspicious owner-only functions.
- 11Celebrity endorsement videos appearing only on third-party channels, not the celebrity's official accounts.
- 12Unlocked liquidity on DEX token pairs — meaning developers can withdraw all funds at any time.
- 13Unexpected tokens appearing in your wallet with names directing you to claim on a website.
- 14Telegram or Discord groups sending coordinated 'buy now' signals with countdown timers.
- 15Recovery services that contact you after a loss promising to retrieve your funds for an upfront fee.
- 16AI-generated or deepfake content that cannot be verified through official channels.
- 17Platforms not listed on major aggregators (CoinGecko, CoinMarketCap) claiming high volume and legitimacy.
- 18Your phone suddenly loses signal or shows 'No Service' unexpectedly — possible SIM swap in progress.
- 19A transaction in your wallet history shows an address very similar to one you frequently use — likely address poisoning.
- 20You are asked to install a browser extension from an unofficial link to 'connect your wallet.'
- 21Customer support contacts you first via DM on Discord, Telegram, or Twitter — real support never does this.
- 22An investment requires you to recruit others to earn higher returns — hallmark of a Ponzi or MLM scheme.
Test Your Knowledge
Test your ability to identify cryptocurrency scams with 30 scenario-based questions. Each question presents a real-world situation and tests whether you can spot the danger.
Report suspected scams to your local authorities, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3.gov), and the platform where the scam originated.
This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Scam techniques evolve rapidly — always verify information through official sources and stay up to date with the latest threats.
Take Action: Protect Yourself
Now that you know the threats, take proactive steps to secure your crypto.