Crypto Scams: Types & How They Work
18 common crypto scams, explained in detail: exactly how scammers carry each one out, the warning signs to watch for, and how to protect yourself. Free to read, no account required.
Address Poisoning
Scammers send a tiny unsolicited transaction from a lookalike address, hoping you'll copy it from your history by mistake later.
Clipboard Hijacking Malware
Malware that silently swaps a copied wallet address for the attacker's own address before you paste it.
Crypto Job & Recruitment Scams
Fake job offers in the crypto industry that require an upfront "training" payment or ask you to move crypto as part of the role.
Fake Airdrops
Fraudulent "claim your free tokens" campaigns designed to trick you into connecting your wallet to a malicious site or approving a harmful transaction.
Fake Customer Support Scams
Scammers posing as official support staff, often reached by replying to a public complaint, to extract credentials or remote access.
Fake Exchanges & Trading Platforms
Convincing but entirely fabricated trading platforms that show fake balances and profits — until you try to withdraw.
Fake Giveaways
Scams promising to double or multiply any crypto sent to a given address, often impersonating a celebrity or official account.
Fake ICOs & Token Presales
Fraudulent token launches that raise funds for a project that's never actually built, or that's designed to be abandoned.
Fake Mining & Staking Platforms
Platforms promising fixed, guaranteed returns from mining or staking hardware and services that don't actually exist.
Fake Trading Bots
Software or services claiming an "AI" or automated bot can guarantee consistent trading profits, used to collect deposits that are never actually traded.
Impersonation Scams
Scammers posing as a project's official team, a well-known figure, or a trusted contact to extract funds or credentials directly.
Malicious Wallet Apps & Browser Extensions
Fake wallet apps or browser extensions, sometimes listed in official app stores, built to steal funds or seed phrases on setup.
Phishing Scams
Fake websites, apps or messages built to look like a genuine wallet or exchange, designed to steal your seed phrase or login details.
Pig Butchering Scams
A scammer builds a long romantic or friendly relationship over weeks or months before introducing a fake investment platform.
Ponzi & High-Yield Investment Schemes
Platforms promising fixed, unrealistically high daily or weekly returns, paid using money from newer investors rather than real profit.
Pump-and-Dump Schemes
A coordinated group artificially inflates a low-value token's price, then sells into the rally, leaving later buyers holding the loss.
Rug Pulls
A project's creators abruptly drain the funds or abandon development, leaving the token worthless.
SIM Swapping
An attacker hijacks your phone number to intercept two-factor authentication codes and take over your accounts.
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