Audience page
Scams targeting crypto investors
Crypto investors and new crypto users face a unique threat landscape: rug pulls, fake exchange platforms, airdrop phishing, wallet-drainer smart contracts, and investment Ponzi schemes. The irreversibility of blockchain transactions and lack of consumer protection make crypto fraud especially damaging.
Common searches
Why this audience gets targeted
- Crypto transactions are irreversible, so once funds are sent to a scammer there is no chargeback or recovery mechanism.
- The fast pace of new tokens, airdrops, and DeFi projects creates FOMO that scammers weaponize.
- New crypto users often lack the technical knowledge to distinguish legitimate platforms from cloned or fake ones.
What to check first
- Verify any exchange, token, or airdrop through official project channels and blockchain explorers before connecting your wallet.
- Never share your seed phrase or private keys with anyone, including supposed support agents or airdrop forms.
- Use a separate wallet with limited funds for interacting with new or unverified smart contracts.
Crypto recovery agent scam
After a person loses money in crypto, a second scam appears claiming funds can be recovered for a fee or wallet access.
Assume unsolicited recovery outreach is fraudulent.
Previous fraud victims
Global
Romance-led investment scam
A relationship begins on social or dating platforms and gradually shifts toward a fake investing opportunity with fabricated gains and escalating deposits.
Never invest based on a romantic contact's recommendation.
Online daters
Global
AI celebrity livestream crypto giveaway scam
A livestream uses a celebrity deepfake to promote a limited-time crypto giveaway that promises to send back more than you transfer.
Assume send-to-receive crypto giveaways are fraudulent and report the channel.
Crypto traders
Global
Fake LinkedIn recruiter crypto role scam
A recruiter claims to fill an exclusive crypto role, then pushes the candidate into downloading a wallet, trading app, or identity kit.
Verify the recruiter from the company's actual careers page before engaging.
Tech workers
Global
Stolen phone data recovery scam
A victim of phone theft finds a service claiming it can recover iCloud, photo, or wallet access in exchange for credentials.
Use official device recovery channels and rotate credentials instead.
Phone theft victims
Global
NFT asset recovery service scam
A supposed blockchain investigator says lost NFTs or tokens can be restored if you sign a recovery transaction or pay an unlock fee.
Never sign recovery transactions from unverified helpers.
NFT holders
Global
Romance-to-forex bait scam
A romantic contact slowly shifts the conversation into a special forex or crypto opportunity that only trusted people can access.
Separate emotional relationships from financial decisions entirely.
Professionals
Global
High-yield staking dashboard scam
A platform shows steady staking or liquidity returns, but withdrawals fail once the victim adds meaningful capital.
Try a small withdrawal early and stop at the first excuse.
Crypto holders
Global
Celebrity romance chat scam
A victim believes they are in private contact with a celebrity or creator who eventually asks for gift cards, crypto, or help escaping a contract.
Assume direct romantic or financial outreach from famous figures is fraudulent unless proven through official channels.
Fans
Global
AI trading bot dashboard scam
A platform promises AI-managed profits, shows a convincing dashboard, and keeps asking for larger deposits while withdrawals quietly fail.
Attempt a small withdrawal before trusting any AI or automated trading platform.
Retail investors
Global
Copy trading WhatsApp group scam
A private group promotes a mentor or analyst whose picks appear to win consistently, then funnels members into fake broker or wallet deposits.
Do not fund broker or wallet accounts shared only inside a chat group.
Retail investors
Global
Token presale whitelist scam
A crypto project promises early access or whitelist allocation, but the sale page, wallet, or smart contract is controlled by attackers.
Verify token sales from official project channels and never trust a wallet address shared in DMs.
Crypto users
Global
Tax warrant crypto payment scam
A caller says a tax warrant or filing violation will trigger arrest unless the victim pays immediately in crypto or gift cards.
End the call and contact the tax authority from its official website or mailed notice.
Households
U.S.
pet shipping fee scam
After a puppy or kitten purchase, the buyer is told the pet requires a special climate-controlled crate, insurance, or customs fees that escalate indefinitely.
Legitimate pet shipping companies provide all-inclusive quotes upfront.
Pet seekers
U.S.
fake cryptocurrency exchange platform scam
Scammers build professional-looking crypto exchange websites that accept deposits but prevent withdrawals, stealing users' funds and personal data.
Only use exchanges registered with your national financial regulator — check FinCEN, FCA, or ASIC registries
Crypto investors
Global
rug pull token scam
Developers launch a new cryptocurrency token with heavy promotion, attract investor funds into the liquidity pool, then drain all liquidity and disappear with investors' money.
Check if liquidity is locked using tools like Team Finance or Unicrypt before investing in any new token
Crypto investors
Global
crypto wallet drainer scam
Malicious smart contracts or phishing sites trick users into signing a transaction that grants the attacker unlimited permission to transfer tokens from their wallet.
Always review transaction details carefully in your wallet before signing — revoke approvals regularly using tools like Revoke.cash
Crypto investors
Global
fake crypto airdrop scam
Scammers impersonate real crypto projects and announce fake airdrops on social media, directing users to malicious claim sites that steal wallet credentials or drain funds.
Verify any airdrop announcement through the project's official website and verified social media channels
Crypto investors
Global
crypto pump and dump group scam
Organized groups on Telegram or Discord coordinate mass purchases to inflate a low-cap token price, then sell their pre-purchased holdings at the peak, leaving latecomers with losses.
Recognize that pump and dump schemes are illegal market manipulation — participants can face legal consequences
Crypto investors
Global
crypto recovery service scam
Scammers target people who have already lost cryptocurrency to fraud, offering to recover the stolen funds for an upfront fee, then stealing more money from the victim.
Understand that stolen cryptocurrency is extremely difficult to recover — anyone guaranteeing recovery is likely a scammer
Crypto investors
Global
NFT marketplace fraud scam
Scammers create fake NFT marketplaces or counterfeit NFT listings on real platforms, selling stolen art or worthless tokens to unsuspecting collectors.
Verify NFT collection contract addresses through the official project website before purchasing
NFT collectors
Global
DeFi yield farming trap scam
Fraudulent DeFi protocols advertise impossibly high annual yields to attract deposits, then drain the liquidity pools or lock funds behind escalating withdrawal fees.
Research the protocol's smart contract audit reports and team credentials before depositing any funds
DeFi users
Global
fake crypto mining pool scam
Scammers create fake cloud mining or mining pool platforms that accept investments for mining hashrate but never actually mine any cryptocurrency.
Verify any mining pool by checking public blockchain explorers for their pool address and hashrate contribution
Crypto investors
Global
SIM swap for crypto theft scam
Scammers convince your mobile carrier to transfer your phone number to their SIM card, then use it to bypass two-factor authentication and access your cryptocurrency exchange accounts.
Switch from SMS-based 2FA to hardware security keys or authenticator apps for all cryptocurrency exchange accounts
Crypto investors
U.S.
Twitter crypto promotion scam
Hacked or impersonator Twitter accounts post fake cryptocurrency promotions promising to double any crypto sent to a wallet address, stealing funds from followers.
Remember that no legitimate person or company will ever ask you to send crypto to receive more back
Social media users
Global
Reddit investment tip scam
Scammers infiltrate investment subreddits with fake success stories and coordinated posts promoting fraudulent trading platforms or pump-and-dump stocks.
Verify investment advice from Reddit through independent financial research and regulated sources
Social media users
U.S.
car shipping deposit scam
A vehicle transport company collects a deposit to ship a car and then delays indefinitely, demands more money, or disappears entirely.
Verify the transport company's FMCSA operating authority and insurance at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov.
Car buyers
U.S.
webcam blackmail email scam
A mass-sent email claims the sender hacked your webcam and recorded you during intimate activity, demanding cryptocurrency payment to prevent release of the footage.
Do not reply or send any payment — these are mass-sent with no actual footage.
Adults
U.S.
grandchild stuck abroad scam
A caller claims to be your grandchild stranded in a foreign country — passport stolen, wallet gone — and needs money wired urgently to get home safely.
Hang up and contact your grandchild through their normal phone number, email, or social media.
Grandparents
U.S.
grandchild lost wallet overseas scam
A caller pretending to be your grandchild says they lost their wallet while traveling abroad and need money wired for a hotel, food, and a replacement passport.
Hang up and contact your grandchild through their normal phone or social media to confirm their location.
Grandparents
U.S.
fake crypto wallet app scam
Counterfeit cryptocurrency wallet apps impersonate popular wallets like MetaMask or Trust Wallet to steal private keys and drain user crypto holdings.
Download crypto wallet apps only from links on the wallet official website and verify the developer name in the app store
Crypto users
U.S.
crypto Ponzi scheme
Fraudulent cryptocurrency investment platforms promise guaranteed high returns but pay early investors with new investor funds, eventually collapsing and leaving most participants with total losses.
Be extremely skeptical of any investment promising guaranteed returns, as all legitimate investments carry risk
Investors
U.S.
high-yield investment program (HYIP) scam
HYIPs are fraudulent online investment platforms that promise extraordinarily high returns, sometimes 1-10 percent daily, funded entirely by new investor deposits in a classic Ponzi structure.
Understand that returns of 1 percent per day would be 3,678 percent annually, which is impossible for any legitimate investment
Investors
U.S.
wallet connect phishing airdrop scam
Scammers create fake airdrop claim sites that prompt users to connect their crypto wallet, then use malicious smart contract approvals to drain all tokens from the wallet.
Never connect your wallet to unknown websites and verify any airdrop through the project official channels
Crypto users
U.S.
token approval exploit airdrop scam
Malicious airdrop claims trick users into signing broad token approval transactions that allow scammers to transfer any amount of the approved token from the victim wallet at any time.
Review every transaction carefully in your wallet and never approve unlimited token spending for unfamiliar contracts
DeFi participants
U.S.
fake Ethereum airdrop scam
Scammers impersonate the Ethereum Foundation or Vitalik Buterin to promote fake ETH airdrops that require victims to send ETH first or connect wallets to phishing sites.
Remember that no legitimate cryptocurrency project or figure asks you to send crypto to receive more in return
Crypto users
U.S.
NFT mint drain scam
Fake NFT minting sites disguised as free airdrops or early access mints use malicious smart contracts to drain ETH or approved tokens from connected wallets during the minting process.
Only use minting links from the project official website and verify through multiple official channels before clicking
NFT collectors
U.S.
social media airdrop link scam
Fake airdrop announcements on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok use engagement bait to drive clicks to phishing sites that steal wallet credentials or personal data.
Verify any airdrop by checking the project official website and verified social media accounts
Crypto users
U.S.
Discord airdrop bot scam
Malicious bots in crypto Discord servers send automated DMs about fake airdrops, directing users to phishing sites that steal wallet credentials or drain connected wallets.
Disable DMs from server members in your Discord privacy settings for crypto-related servers
Crypto users
U.S.
airdrop verification phishing scam
Fake airdrops require identity verification that collects personal documents and selfies, enabling identity theft or KYC bypass on crypto exchanges using the victim credentials.
Never upload identity documents to claim a free airdrop, as legitimate airdrops rarely require KYC
Crypto users
U.S.
governance token scam airdrop
Scammers create fake governance tokens airdropped to wallets, and when users try to sell or interact with them, they are directed to malicious sites that drain their real assets.
Do not interact with unknown tokens that appear in your wallet uninvited as they may be honeypot scams
DeFi participants
U.S.
layer-2 bridge exploit airdrop scam
Fake airdrops impersonate layer-2 scaling solutions and direct users to fraudulent bridge interfaces that steal deposited funds instead of bridging them to another network.
Use bridge interfaces only from the official project website and verify the URL through multiple trusted sources
DeFi participants
U.S.
fake DEX launch airdrop scam
Scammers announce fake decentralized exchange launches with airdrop incentives, collecting wallet connections and token approvals that enable theft of user funds.
Research any new DEX thoroughly before connecting your wallet, checking for audits, team identity, and community history
DeFi participants
U.S.
PayPal invoice scam
Scammers send real PayPal invoices for products or services you never ordered — such as cryptocurrency purchases or tech support — hoping you will call the embedded phone number and hand over personal information or remote access.
If you receive an invoice for something you did not buy, do not call the phone number — log into PayPal directly and decline the invoice.
PayPal users
U.S.
Bitcoin investment via Cash App scam
Scammers recruit victims through social media to invest in Bitcoin through Cash App, promising guaranteed returns — victims either send Bitcoin directly to the scammer or lose control of their Cash App account.
No one can guarantee returns on cryptocurrency — guaranteed profit claims are always a scam.
Young adults
U.S.
Apple Pay unauthorized charge scam
A phishing email or text claims there is an unauthorized charge on your Apple Pay account, directing you to a fake dispute page that steals your financial information.
Check your transaction history directly in the Wallet app on your iPhone — do not use links from messages.
Apple Pay users
U.S.
crypto promotion by fake influencer on TikTok
Fake or compromised TikTok accounts impersonate popular influencers to promote fraudulent cryptocurrency investments, leading followers to lose money on worthless tokens.
Never invest based solely on social media influencer recommendations — always do independent research.
Young adults
U.S.
Coinbase account suspended phishing scam
Phishing emails or texts claim your Coinbase account has been suspended due to suspicious activity, directing you to a fake login page that steals your credentials and two-factor codes.
Never click links in emails or texts about account issues — log in directly at coinbase.com to check your account status.
Cryptocurrency investors
U.S.
fake Coinbase Wallet app scam
Counterfeit Coinbase Wallet apps published on unofficial app stores or promoted through ads steal seed phrases and drain cryptocurrency holdings.
Only download Coinbase Wallet from the official Apple App Store or Google Play Store — verify the developer is Coinbase Inc.
Cryptocurrency investors
U.S.
Coinbase customer support impersonator scam
Scammers pose as Coinbase support agents via phone calls, social media, or fake support websites to trick users into sharing login credentials or granting remote access to their devices.
Coinbase support will never call you first, ask for your password, or request remote access to your device.
Cryptocurrency investors
U.S.
Coinbase Earn impersonator scam
Fake websites and social media posts imitate the Coinbase Earn program, promising free cryptocurrency for completing tasks, but steal credentials or require an upfront deposit that is never returned.
Access Coinbase Earn only through the official Coinbase app or website — the real program never requires a deposit.
New crypto users
U.S.
Coinbase withdrawal verification phishing scam
Fake emails alert users to a large withdrawal from their Coinbase account and prompt them to 'cancel' the transaction through a phishing link that captures their credentials.
Check your account directly at coinbase.com — if there is no pending withdrawal, the email is fake.
Cryptocurrency investors
U.S.
fake Coinbase Pro upgrade scam
Scammers promote a fraudulent 'Coinbase Pro upgrade' through emails or ads, tricking users into transferring cryptocurrency to a fake platform where funds are stolen.
Coinbase merged Coinbase Pro into its main platform as Advanced Trade — there is no separate upgrade process requiring fund transfers.
Active traders
U.S.
Coinbase seed phrase harvest scam
Scammers pose as Coinbase staff and convince users to reveal their wallet seed phrases through fake security procedures, gaining full access to all cryptocurrency in the wallet.
No legitimate company, including Coinbase, will ever ask for your seed phrase — this is the single most important rule in crypto security.
New crypto users
U.S.
Coinbase card skimming scam
Fake Coinbase Card management portals capture debit card details, enabling unauthorized transactions and ATM withdrawals linked to victims' crypto balances.
Manage your Coinbase Card only through the official Coinbase app — never through links in emails or messages.
Coinbase Card users
U.S.
Coinbase fake listing alert scam
Scammers announce fake cryptocurrency listings on Coinbase to pump worthless tokens, then dump them after victims buy in based on the false news.
Check official Coinbase channels — blog.coinbase.com and the official Coinbase Twitter/X account — for legitimate listing announcements.
Cryptocurrency investors
U.S.
Coinbase Commerce invoice scam
Fraudulent invoices sent via Coinbase Commerce or mimicking its interface trick businesses and individuals into paying for goods or services they never ordered.
Never pay an invoice you did not expect — verify with the supposed sender through a separate communication channel.
Small business owners
U.S.
Robinhood crypto wallet phishing scam
A phishing campaign targets Robinhood crypto wallet users with fake wallet verification or transfer confirmation emails, capturing login credentials and wallet keys.
Robinhood will never ask for your wallet seed phrase or private keys — this is always a scam.
Crypto investors
U.S.
time tracking malware scam targeting remote workers
Employers or scammers require remote workers to install time tracking software that secretly contains spyware, keyloggers, or cryptocurrency miners.
Only install time tracking software from verified developers — check reviews and the developer's reputation before installing.
Remote workers
U.S.
celebrity crypto endorsement deepfake
AI-generated deepfake videos show celebrities apparently endorsing cryptocurrency investment platforms, luring victims into depositing money on fraudulent exchanges that steal their funds.
Verify any celebrity endorsement by checking the person's official social media accounts and website.
Crypto investors
U.S.
Instagram lifestyle pig butchering scam
Scammers curate glamorous Instagram profiles showcasing luxury lifestyles funded by alleged investments, then DM targets to build relationships and funnel them into fake crypto or forex platforms.
Be suspicious of strangers on Instagram who DM you about investment opportunities, regardless of how glamorous their profile appears.
Young adults
U.S.
crypto trading mentorship pig butchering scam
Scammers pose as successful crypto traders offering mentorship, guiding victims through increasingly larger trades on a fake exchange until their funds are locked and unrecoverable.
Verify any crypto exchange on CoinMarketCap, CoinGecko, or check if it is registered with FinCEN.
Crypto beginners
U.S.
Crypto MLM token recruitment scheme
A cryptocurrency project uses MLM-style recruitment to attract investors who earn commissions by recruiting others, with the token having little real utility or market value.
Verify the token is listed on major exchanges and has real trading volume independent of the recruitment program.
Crypto traders
U.S.
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