Is this a crypto scam?
Got a DM, an "investment opportunity" or a website that looks too good to be true? Answer 10 quick questions. Nothing you type leaves your browser.
0 of 10 answered
Before you do anything else
- Do not send money, crypto or your seed phrase. No real company will ever ask for your seed phrase.
- Find the company yourself (type the address, don't click links) and check your regulator's warning list.
- Already sent something? Stop paying, save every message and transaction ID, and report it to your bank or exchange and to the police. Beware of "recovery services": they are often the second scam.
Learn every trick in 60 seconds
Short animated explainers on how crypto scams work, so you spot them first.
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How each scam works, the red flags, and what to do.
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Plain-English, one-sentence definitions of the scams this check looks for.
How do I know if a crypto investment is a scam?
The biggest red flags are guaranteed or very high returns, pressure to act fast, contact that started with a stranger online, and requests to pay in crypto or gift cards. This check covers the 10 most common warning signs.
What is a seed phrase?
A seed phrase (also called recovery phrase) is the list of 12 or 24 words that gives full control of a crypto wallet: anyone who has it can take everything in it, so it should never be typed into a website or shared with anyone. Read the guide
Will a real company ever ask for my seed phrase?
Never. Support staff, exchanges and wallet makers will never ask for your seed phrase. Anyone who does, including someone claiming to be "support", is trying to rob you. Read the guide
What is a fake support scam?
A fake support scam is when someone pretends to be customer support for a wallet or exchange (in a DM, reply, pop-up or phone call) and asks you to "verify" your wallet by sharing your seed phrase or installing remote-access software. Read the guide
What is a pig butchering scam?
Pig butchering is a long-con scam where a stranger builds a friendship or romance over weeks, then introduces a "can't lose" crypto trading platform that only goes up; early small withdrawals work, but once you deposit more the money is gone and new "fees" appear. Read the guide
What is a wallet drainer?
A wallet drainer is a malicious website (often a fake airdrop, NFT mint or app) that asks you to connect your wallet and approve or sign a transaction, and that approval lets it move your tokens without asking again. Read the guide
What is address poisoning?
Address poisoning is when a scammer sends a tiny transaction from an address that looks almost identical to one you use, so that you later copy the wrong address from your transaction history and send your crypto to them. Read the guide
What is a crypto recovery scam?
A recovery scam targets people who already lost crypto: a fake "recovery agent" or "fraud investigator" promises to get the funds back for an upfront fee, then disappears. It is the second scam after the first. Read the guide
What is a rug pull?
A rug pull is when the creators of a new token promote it until the price rockets, then remove the liquidity or dump their holdings, and the token goes to zero in minutes. Read the guide
What is a crypto giveaway scam?
A giveaway scam is a post or live stream, often using a deepfake of a famous person, that promises to send back double whatever crypto you send first. Nothing ever comes back. Read the guide
What is a Ponzi scheme in crypto?
A Ponzi scheme pays "returns" to early investors with the deposits of newer ones instead of real profits, which is why "guaranteed 1-2% a day" platforms always collapse when new money stops coming in. Read the guide
I already sent crypto to a scammer. Can I get it back?
Crypto transfers are hard to reverse. Report it quickly to your exchange, your bank and the police, and keep all evidence. Be very careful with anyone who promises to recover your funds for a fee: that is a common follow-up scam. Read the guide
Is this check financial advice?
No. It is an educational tool that highlights warning signs. A low score does not mean an offer is safe. Always do your own research.