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Crypto Scam Database

Latest crypto scams, fraudulent cryptocurrency exchanges, fake investment platforms, and blockchain fraud — community-sourced and updated daily

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Fraudulent Cryptocurrency Exchanges

MOST COMMON
Avg. victim loss: $45,000

Fake crypto exchanges mirror legitimate platforms with near-identical interfaces. They accept deposits freely but block all withdrawals — citing tax obligations, verification fees, or "security holds" that grow with every payment made.

How They Operate
▸Cloned interfaces mimicking Binance, Coinbase, Kraken
▸Withdrawal fees that increase each time you try to withdraw
▸Fake trading volume and price charts
▸Fake "verified" badges and regulatory seals
▸Support agents pressuring larger deposits via Telegram
Red Flags
⛔Domain under 12 months old (verify with WHOIS)
⛔Not registered with FCA, FinCEN, ASIC, or any regulator
⛔Not listed on CoinMarketCap or CoinGecko
⛔Customer support only via Telegram or WhatsApp
⛔Withdrawal requires "insurance fee" or "tax payment"
📈

Fake Investment Platforms & Trading Bots

HIGH LOSS
Avg. victim loss: $62,000

Fraudulent investment platforms display fake profits in a realistic dashboard. Scammers allow small initial withdrawals to build trust, then block accounts once victims deposit large sums. Common forms: AI trading bots, arbitrage platforms, copy-trading services.

How They Operate
▸Fake profit dashboard showing unrealistic returns
▸Initial small withdrawals allowed to build trust
▸Account "frozen" after large deposit
▸Celebrity deepfake endorsements (Elon Musk, MrBeast)
▸"Account manager" guides you through the platform via Telegram
Red Flags
⛔Guaranteed returns of 1%+ per day or 10%+ per month
⛔Profits visible in dashboard but withdrawals blocked
⛔Referral bonuses that resemble a pyramid structure
⛔No verifiable company registration number
⛔Smart contract address not audited
💔

Pig Butchering Scams (Sha Zhu Pan)

FASTEST GROWING
Avg. victim loss: $120,000

The most devastating crypto fraud: scammers build fake romantic or friendship relationships over weeks via dating apps, WhatsApp, or LinkedIn. Once trust is established, they introduce a "profitable" investment platform where victims deposit increasing amounts before the scammer vanishes.

How They Operate
▸Initial contact via dating app, LinkedIn, or wrong-number WhatsApp
▸Weeks of relationship building before mentioning investment
▸"I learned this from my uncle / a friend in finance"
▸Small early profits visible — bait to encourage more
▸Platform only accessible via a link they provide (not on app stores)
Red Flags
⛔Stranger contacted you unsolicited and became very friendly quickly
⛔They mentioned their investment success after building rapport
⛔Investment platform is not on any major app store
⛔Cannot independently verify the platform exists
⛔Profits grow quickly in dashboard but withdrawal is always delayed
🪙

DeFi Rug Pulls, Honeypots & Token Scams

DeFi/NFT
Avg. victim loss: $8,000

Developers create a token or DeFi protocol, attract investors, then drain the liquidity pool and disappear. Hard rug: instant smart contract drain. Soft rug: gradual developer sell-off. Honeypot: contract lets you buy but not sell.

How They Operate
▸Heavily promoted via paid influencers on TikTok, YouTube, Twitter
▸Whitepaper copied from another project or vague
▸Huge APY promises (500%–10,000%+)
▸Anonymous development team with no doxxing
▸Liquidity not locked — can be withdrawn instantly
Red Flags
⛔Smart contract has not been audited by a reputable firm
⛔Liquidity not locked (check via Team Finance or Unicrypt)
⛔Developer wallet holds >50% of token supply
⛔Cannot sell the token after purchasing (honeypot)
⛔Project has no GitHub repository or verifiable development history
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Crypto Recovery Scams

SECONDARY SCAM
Avg. victim loss: $3,500 additional

Targeting people who already lost money to crypto fraud. "Recovery experts" claim they can retrieve lost funds using blockchain forensics, court orders, or hacking. They charge large upfront fees then disappear or demand more. Nearly 100% of these services are scams.

How They Operate
▸Appear after you post about losing money in a crypto group or forum
▸Claim to have "hacked back" funds for previous clients
▸Demand upfront fees of $500–$5,000 before any recovery begins
▸Show fake "recovered funds" screenshots from previous victims
▸Use official-sounding names (Crypto Fraud Investigators Ltd)
Red Flags
⛔Claims to recover funds that are already on the blockchain
⛔Charges fees before any recovery is attempted
⛔Found you after you posted about losing money online
⛔Cannot provide verifiable, independent client testimonials
⛔Promises >90% success rate — cryptographically impossible
🎨

NFT Fraud & Fake Marketplaces

NFT
Avg. victim loss: $4,200

NFT scams include fake marketplace phishing sites, wash trading to inflate prices, stolen artwork sold without creator permission, and Discord compromises that post fake "limited mint" links to drain connected wallets.

How They Operate
▸Discord server compromised — fake mint link posted as "official"
▸Phishing site mimics OpenSea, Magic Eden, or Blur
▸"Approve all" wallet transaction drains entire wallet
▸Wash trading inflates floor price before rug
▸Stolen art minted and sold without original creator's knowledge
Red Flags
⛔Mint link shared urgently via Discord DM or compromised channel
⛔Website URL slightly different from official (opensea vs opensea-nft)
⛔Wallet transaction requests "approve all" spending permission
⛔Creator has no verifiable social media presence or portfolio
⛔Marketplace not verified on the official blockchain

Think You Found a Scam Exchange?

Run a free safety check to see if it's flagged in any blacklist or scam database.

Check a Website Report a Scam

How to Protect Yourself From Crypto Scams

🔍
Verify Before Depositing
Check domain age (WHOIS), regulatory registration, and run a safety check before depositing to any exchange.
📋
Check Regulatory Lists
FCA Warning List, ASIC Investor Alert List, and SEC Action Lookup are free, comprehensive, and updated daily.
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Never Pay to Withdraw
Legitimate platforms never charge tax, insurance, or security fees to release your own funds.
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Use Hardware Wallets
For significant crypto holdings, store in a hardware wallet (Ledger, Trezor). Not your keys, not your coins.
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Verify Independently
Never use websites or contact details from a message someone sent you. Search independently.
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Report Immediately
The sooner you report to Action Fraud, FBI IC3, or your bank, the better the chance of any recovery.

Where to Report Crypto Scams

🇬🇧
Action Fraud (UK)
UK national fraud reporting centre
actionfraud.police.uk →
🇺🇸
FBI IC3 (US)
Internet Crime Complaint Center
ic3.gov →
🇦🇺
ASIC (Australia)
Australian financial regulator
asic.gov.au/report-misconduct →
🌍
FCA (UK Financial)
Check if firm is FCA registered
register.fca.org.uk →
🇨🇦
CRTC (Canada)
Canadian anti-fraud centre
fightspam.gc.ca →
🇪🇺
EBA (Europe)
EU Banking Authority scam register
eba.europa.eu →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common crypto scam in 2026?

Pig butchering scams (sha zhu pan) are the most financially devastating, costing victims an estimated $75 billion globally. The scammer builds a relationship over weeks before introducing a fake investment platform.

How do I check if a crypto exchange is legitimate?

Check: 1) Regulatory registration (FCA, FinCEN, ASIC) 2) Domain age via WHOIS — scam exchanges are almost always under 1 year old 3) Safety check on ScamWebGuard 4) Listed on CoinMarketCap or CoinGecko 5) Search the FCA Warning List.

Can I get my crypto back from a scam?

Crypto transactions are irreversible on the blockchain. However, report to your regulator immediately, file a police report, and contact your bank if you funded via bank transfer. Avoid crypto recovery services — they are almost universally secondary scams.

What are fake investment platforms?

Sites that display fictional profits to encourage deposits, then block withdrawals. They come as AI trading bots, DeFi yield farms, arbitrage bots, and copy-trading services. All promise guaranteed returns — a classic scam marker.

What are crypto scam recovery services?

Nearly all are secondary scams targeting victims. They charge large upfront fees and then disappear. No service can reverse blockchain transactions. Only legitimate path is through law enforcement if funds passed through a regulated exchange.

Related Tools
Wallet Risk Checker Crypto Scam Checker Investment Scam Checker Scam Message Analyzer Scam Recovery Guide Domain Age Checker WHOIS Lookup
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