Scam category
Cryptocurrency scams
Cryptocurrency scams exploit the complexity and irreversibility of blockchain transactions. Victims are lured by guaranteed returns, fake exchanges, or social media hype into sending funds to wallets controlled by scammers. Once crypto is transferred, there is no chargeback, no bank to call, and no recovery path in most cases.
Category activity
“bitcoin scam”
↑ 72%Watch for
- The platform or person promises guaranteed returns or risk-free crypto profits.
- You are pressured to move funds from a known exchange to an unfamiliar wallet or platform.
- The project has anonymous founders, no audited smart contracts, and a community that silences questions.
Common searches
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.
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 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.
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.
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