Avoiding Crypto Scams and Phishing: A Practical Checklist

Last Updated: Feb 10, 2026 Share on
Marco Berger

Written by Marco Berger

Crypto Market News & Price Analysis

Carol Wang

Edited by Carol Wang

Crypto Content Strategy & Editorial

Crypto scams often use urgency, fake support, or spoofed sites. The best defense is verification and strict security habits.

Scams evolve quickly. The core patterns stay the same, so learning the signals saves money over time.

Common Scam Patterns

Fake airdrops, impersonated support chats, plus fake wallet updates are frequent. Always verify the domain and official channels.

Promised returns are another red flag. If a message pressures you to act fast, pause and verify first.

Phishing Red Flags

Watch for misspelled URLs, unexpected login prompts, or requests for seed phrases. Legitimate platforms never ask for your recovery words.

Look closely at sender addresses and links. Phishing sites often target a single page like a login or wallet connect screen.

Practical Protection Steps

Use hardware wallets for long term storage, enable 2FA and bookmark official login pages. For security tools see Tools.

Separate daily use funds from long term savings. This limits damage if a hot wallet is compromised.

Where to Verify Platforms

Use our exchange reviews and casino reviews to check reputation and policies.

Quick Facts

Most common scam Phishing links and fake support
Top signal Requests for seed phrases or private keys
Best protection Hardware wallets plus strong account security
Verification habit Bookmark official domains
Reporting path Contact platform support or local fraud channels

Key Takeaways

  • Never share seed phrases or private keys.
  • Verify domains before logging in or signing transactions.
  • Use 2FA, device security, plus clean browser habits.

FAQ

What is the most common crypto scam?

Phishing is the most common, including fake login pages and spoofed support.

Do real platforms ask for seed phrases?

No. Any request for a seed phrase is a scam.

How can I verify an airdrop?

Check the official project channels and avoid links from direct messages.

Are browser wallet popups safe?

Only if you triggered them on a trusted site. Popups on unknown sites are risky.

What should I do after a phishing mistake?

Move funds to a new wallet, revoke approvals, then contact platform support.

Sources and Further Reading