$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
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.
“airdrop scam”
↑ 459%Key indicators
Usually targetsNFT collectors
Often hitsFreelancers and contractors
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$1.4K
median reported loss
Typical range$90 – $9.0K
Recovery rate~15%
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers hack or impersonate popular NFT project Discord servers and post fake minting links
2
The mint site looks identical to the real project but contains a malicious contract that requests broad wallet permissions
3
When users sign the mint transaction, the contract drains ETH, WETH, or other valuable tokens from the wallet instead of minting an NFT
What to do first
Only use minting links from the project official website and verify through multiple official channels before clicking
Related terms
NFT drain attackfake mint siteNFT phishing mintFake airdrop scamsDiscordStableNFT collectorsCrypto usersDeFi participantsFreelancers and contractorsTech workers and developersUnited StatesUnited KingdomJapanNFT drain attackfake mint site
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Paul, 35, a nft collectors, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate fake airdrop scams situation while using Discord. Scammers hack or impersonate popular NFT project Discord servers and post fake minting links
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: The mint site looks identical to the real project but contains a malicious contract that requests broad wallet permissions
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: When users sign the mint transaction, the contract drains ETH, WETH, or other valuable tokens from the wallet instead of minting an NFT
The outcome
Paul realized something was wrong when minting link is shared via discord dm or an account impersonating a project moderator. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Only use minting links from the project official website and verify through multiple official channels before clicking Paul's experience shows why minting link is shared via discord dm or an account impersonating a project moderator and mint page requests permissions beyond a simple nft purchase transaction are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Minting link is shared via Discord DM or an account impersonating a project moderator
- Mint page requests permissions beyond a simple NFT purchase transaction
- The NFT project was just announced with no prior community or development history
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Only use minting links from the project official website and verify through multiple official channels before clicking
- ✓Be extremely cautious of any minting links shared via Discord DMs, as legitimate projects never distribute mints this way
- ✓Use a burner wallet with only the funds needed for the mint rather than connecting your main wallet
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- Multiple high-profile NFT Discord hacks in 2022 and 2023 resulted in millions of dollars drained through fake mint links, including attacks on Bored Ape Yacht Club and Moonbirds servers
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓Only use minting links from the project official website and verify through multiple official channels before clicking
- ✓Be extremely cautious of any minting links shared via Discord DMs, as legitimate projects never distribute mints this way
- ✓Use a burner wallet with only the funds needed for the mint rather than connecting your main wallet
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
Multiple high-profile NFT Discord hacks in 2022 and 2023 resulted in millions of dollars drained through fake mint links, including attacks on Bored Ape Yacht Club and Moonbirds servers
OpenScam research
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. United States has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
ReportFraud.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Central U.S. consumer fraud reporting portal.
File an IC3 complaint
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
FBI portal for internet-enabled crime reports.
Start identity theft recovery
IdentityTheft.gov
Official U.S. identity theft recovery plan builder.
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
NFT collectors, Crypto users, DeFi participants
Geographic concentration
United States, United Kingdom, Japan
Primary channel
Discord — Fake airdrop scams
Why this group is vulnerable
NFT collectors are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The ongoing nature of reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- Multiple high-profile NFT Discord hacks in 2022 and 2023 resulted in millions of dollars drained through fake mint links, including attacks on Bored Ape Yacht Club and Moonbirds servers
Source notes
- OpenScam research
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about nft mint drain scam
How does the nft mint drain scam work?+
Scammers hack or impersonate popular NFT project Discord servers and post fake minting links The mint site looks identical to the real project but contains a malicious contract that requests broad wallet permissions When users sign the mint transaction, the contract drains ETH, WETH, or other valuable tokens from the wallet instead of minting an NFT
What are the warning signs of nft mint drain scam?+
Minting link is shared via Discord DM or an account impersonating a project moderator Mint page requests permissions beyond a simple NFT purchase transaction The NFT project was just announced with no prior community or development history
What should I do if I encounter nft mint drain scam?+
Only use minting links from the project official website and verify through multiple official channels before clicking Be extremely cautious of any minting links shared via Discord DMs, as legitimate projects never distribute mints this way Use a burner wallet with only the funds needed for the mint rather than connecting your main wallet
Who is most at risk for nft mint drain scam?+
This scam primarily targets NFT collectors, Crypto users, DeFi participants. It is most commonly reported in United States, United Kingdom, Japan and typically appears on Discord.
Is nft mint drain scam still active?+
NFT mint drain scam is currently on our watch list. It has been reported across US, UK, JP. Last updated 2026-04-04.
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Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.