Crypto and investment scams

Crypto and investment scams promise guaranteed returns, fake trading platforms, or wallet 'verification' to steal deposits and drain wallets.

How crypto and investment scams work

You're drawn into a signal group, 'professor', fake platform, or wallet 'verification' that shows fake profits.

You deposit more to chase gains, then face a 'tax' or 'withdrawal fee' to release money that isn't real - or sign a transaction that drains your wallet.

Crypto transfers are usually irreversible, so the priority is protecting what's left and reporting fast.

Common opening lines

• “Join our VIP group for guaranteed daily trading profits.”
• “Pay the withdrawal/tax fee to release your profits.”
• “Validate your wallet - connect and sign here.”

Example patterns

Sanitised examples - placeholders only, never real links or data.

Red flags

• investment
• too good
• crypto
• upfront fee

What to do now

1. Stop paying and keep the deal/communication on official channels.
2. If money moved, contact your bank or payment provider immediately.
3. Save evidence and report to your national cybercrime authority.

What not to do

• Don't pay a fee to receive money, a refund, a prize, or to 'release' funds.
• Don't pay via gift cards, wire, or crypto to someone you haven't verified.
• Don't trust payment screenshots as proof of payment.

If you already responded

If you went further: if you clicked, don't enter anything and change any details you typed; if you entered card details, freeze the card with your bank; if you shared an OTP, change the password and enable app-based 2FA; if you paid, contact your bank or provider immediately; if you installed an app or gave remote access, disconnect, uninstall, and change passwords from a clean device.

How to verify safely

Use only regulated, registered platforms you researched independently; never share your seed phrase or 'connect and sign' on unknown sites.

How to report

Report through official channels you find yourself - never a number or link from the message. Tell your bank or payment provider if money moved, and file with your national fraud or cybercrime body. Find the right links in the reporting directory. Open the reporting directory.

Watch for 'recovery' offers afterwards: anyone promising to get your money back for an upfront fee is running a second scam.

Sources checked

• Huntress - Pig butchering scam: signs, examples & protection
• FBI IC3 - Senior US officials impersonated in malicious messaging campaign (2025)

Last reviewed: 2026-06-05

This is general safety information, not legal, financial, or cybersecurity incident-response advice. We can't detect every scam or guarantee recovery - always verify through official channels.