Although crypto has been having a rough few months, interest in cryptocurrency investing hasn’t died down. Neither has scammers’ desire to part would-be crypto investors with their money.

One of the cleverest schemes the scammers run involves setting up a 100% fake cryptocurrency and getting people to invest in it. Here are some things you need to watch out for:

1. Promises of a guaranteed return on investment.

If a crypto guarantees returns, stay well away from it. Cryptocurrencies have a high potential for big returns, but they’re certainly not without their risk. In investing, there are no guarantees.

2. In-your-face promotion.

Scammers will create fake social media accounts and send you private messages encouraging you to invest in their new crypto. You may be bombarded on all fronts — Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and more.

3. A website with lots of grammar and spelling errors.

If you see a typo or poor grammar on its official website, chances are, the crypto you’re considering investing in is a scam. Here’s a list of fake crypto trading sites that we’ve observed this year.

4. Difficult to buy.

Major cryptocurrencies are now available for purchase on all top cryptocurrency exchanges, such as Coinbase, Binance, and Crypto.com. If you cannot find a cryptocurrency on any of the most popular exchanges, chances are it’s a scam.

5. Bad reviews.

Scour the Internet and check for any related reviews. Do not just rely on one source, check social media, online forums, and dedicated review websites.  

How to Protect Yourself

• Be skeptical — if it seems too good to be true, it is.
• Don’t click on links in messages sent to you by unknown senders.
• Use Trend Micro ScamCheck to easily detect crypto scam websites in real time.

Trend Micro ScamCheck is a completely free app and browser extension for detecting scams, phishing attacks, malware, and dangerous links. Available for Android, iOS, Safari, Google Chrome, and Microsoft Edge. Click the button below to download for FREE!

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