Crypto Scam: How to Spot Fake Coins, Fake Exchanges, and Avoid Losing Your Money

When you hear about a new crypto project promising 10x returns with no risk, that’s not a opportunity—it’s a crypto scam, a deceptive scheme designed to steal your funds by pretending to be a legitimate investment. Also known as crypto fraud, these schemes thrive on hype, fake volume, and ghost teams. They don’t build tech—they build illusions. And they’re everywhere. From exchanges with no team or audits, to tokens with zero supply, to airdrops that ask for your private key—scammers are getting smarter, and your wallet is the target.

Most fake crypto exchange, a platform that pretends to let you trade crypto but is actually controlled by fraudsters. Also known as rug pull exchange, it often shows fake trading numbers, hides its location, and disappears when you try to withdraw. Look at LocalTrade or Decoin—no real team, no audits, no user reviews. Just a website and a promise. Then there’s the zero supply crypto, a token that exists on price trackers but can’t be bought, sold, or used because no one actually owns it. Also known as dead coin, it’s a digital ghost—Margaritis (MARGA) is one. It has a price, but no supply. No liquidity. No future. And don’t get fooled by crypto airdrop scam, a fake free token offer that tricks you into connecting your wallet or paying a "gas fee". Also known as fake reward, it’s how scammers steal your assets without even hacking you. LEOS, BABYDB, HeroesTD—none of those airdrops were real. But the wallets they drained? Very real.

What ties all these together? Lack of transparency. No verifiable team. No real utility. No audits. If you can’t find a public GitHub, a clear roadmap, or a team with LinkedIn profiles, walk away. The crypto space is full of real innovation—DeFi tools, sidechains, privacy tech—but scammers hide in the noise. They don’t need to hack your wallet. They just need you to trust them. And that’s exactly what you shouldn’t do.

Below, you’ll find real breakdowns of projects that turned out to be scams, dead ends, or outright frauds. You’ll see how they tricked people, what signs you missed, and how to avoid the same fate. No theory. No fluff. Just what happened—and how to stay safe next time.