Blockchain technology, which powers cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, has revolutionized finance—but it has also opened the door to new forms of fraud. Scammers exploit the decentralized and anonymous nature of crypto to deceive both novice and experienced investors through a range of blockchain-related scams.
Scammers promise high returns to investors with no legitimate business activity. New investors' money is used to pay earlier investors, giving the illusion of profitability.
Fraudsters create fake cryptocurrency projects and raise funds through ICOs. After collecting money, they abandon the project and disappear with the investors' funds.
Organizers artificially inflate the price of a low-value cryptocurrency by spreading positive but false information. Once the price peaks, they sell their holdings, causing the value to crash and leaving other investors with worthless tokens.
Developers abandon a cryptocurrency project after raising significant funds, usually in decentralized finance (DeFi) projects. They might also withdraw liquidity from decentralized exchanges, making it impossible for investors to sell their tokens.
Scammers set up exchanges offering attractive rates but disappear with users' funds after deposits. Some exchanges might manipulate prices or refuse withdrawals.
Fraudsters impersonate celebrities or well-known figures, promising to multiply any cryptocurrency sent to them as part of a giveaway. Once users send their coins, they receive nothing in return.
Companies offer mining contracts with promises of guaranteed returns through cloud mining. They often cease operations suddenly or refuse to pay out earnings.
Scammers impersonate blockchain companies, support teams, or influential individuals to solicit funds or personal information.
Fraudsters lure users with promises of free tokens if they provide their private keys or sign up on malicious websites.