Crypto Scams: How to Spot, Avoid, and Recover from Crypto Fraud

When you hear crypto scams, fraudulent schemes designed to trick people into giving up their digital assets. Also known as crypto fraud, these attacks target everything from new investors to seasoned traders who think they’re too smart to get fooled. The truth? No one is immune. Last year, over $3.5 billion vanished in crypto scams—many of them disguised as legit exchanges, airdrops, or DeFi projects. And it’s not just about lost money. Some people lose years of savings, get blacklisted from platforms, or even face legal trouble after unknowingly helping launder stolen funds.

Crypto exchange scams, platforms that look real but vanish with your deposits are everywhere. Look at JPEX and AOFEX—both had polished websites, fake testimonials, and even customer support chatbots. They vanished overnight, leaving users with empty wallets. Then there’s the crypto airdrop scam, fake giveaways that ask you to connect your wallet or pay a "gas fee" to claim free tokens. These aren’t giveaways—they’re phishing traps. Once you sign that approval, your entire balance can be drained in seconds. Even legitimate-looking projects like Paco (PACO) or fake Bit2Me airdrops are designed to look real so you’ll act before thinking.

Scammers don’t just steal money—they steal trust. They copy real team photos, fake GitHub activity, and even create fake news articles to make their projects look credible. They use FOMO to rush you. They’ll say "limited spots" or "only 24 hours left"—but real airdrops don’t pressure you. They don’t ask for your seed phrase. They don’t need you to send crypto to "unlock" rewards. If it sounds too good to be true, it is. And if the project has no public team, zero liquidity, or a website built in a day? Run.

You’re not alone if you’ve been targeted. Thousands of people fall for these scams every month. But knowing the patterns helps you spot them before it’s too late. The posts below break down real cases—like the JPEX scandal, the collapse of BitParax, and how underground trading in China hides fraud behind anonymity. You’ll learn how to check if an exchange is legit, how to verify airdrop legitimacy, and what steps to take if you’ve already been scammed. This isn’t theory. It’s what works when your money’s on the line.