HOW TO protect yourself from Scammers

[airdnasxela]

I think the best way to get yourself protected from scammers is to be educated and do your research.  Try to know the project as a whole.  Its people,  mechanics,  and it legitimacy. The reason why some are getting scammed is that they always take everything without even knowing if the thing is legitimate.

[PINAGPALA]

Yey thanks for this im going to share this to my friends cause many of my friend just got hack thier eth wallet they dont know how they have been hacked

[Dark_raven007]

Less than 10% of my investments turn out to be mice or those who did not calculate their strengths and did not reach the goal. It's unavoidable. How would you not study the company, no matter what feedback you see, it's like there are errors in mathematics. The best defense is experience and work on mistakes.

[neo444]

And now in many airdrops they send an mail to fill form and require you to sign a message with and you can do that with your private key so be careful and don't give your private key to any one

[Louise0910]

I was making a list for my team on how to stay away from Crypto scammers, and thought I would just share it here as well.

Here are the type of Crypto scammers that I have encountered

Type 1. ICO as a SCAM - (More info contributed by: tosindesign)
There are ICOs that are only designed to get your money. Once the ICO is over then the pages are taken off the net and the makers of the ICO disappear with the money. The last case we reported was LoopX, but this is not the only case.

How can you protect yourself?
1. (by: tosindesign) Generally there is no 100% protection here. A good indication for a scam is there is no team mentioned on the website or whitepaper. Although everything is very superficial and promised a lot, but after reading the white paper is not clear how that should be possible.
2. (by: GeckoTrader) One of the best things to do to avoid ICO scamming is to learn and back read all information about that ICO. As they always say " More knowledge is power"
3. (by: GeckoTrader) The team should have been communicating to the community.
4. (by: GeckoTrader) Always they should have an update from their company. If you sense something fishy do not hesitate to ask question from them. In that means you can confirm whether they are legit or just a bunch of scammers.

Type 2. Scammers who sell FAKE COINS (name / coin code is same but coin generating contract is different)
How to protect yourself: Check the contract address of these coins, if it came from the same contract address

Type 3. Social media scammers - Would post like "I will send you 50 ETH if you send me 5"
How to protect yourself: This is an easy one, they all are scammers. Dont even respond.

Type 4: Identity theft scammers - These guys will contact you as CEOs of ICOs or Social celebrities, usually banking upon the names of a famous person
How to protect yourself: Try pinging them from an another ID of theirs (say if scammer pinged you from Telegram, drop them a message over their facebook ID) and ask them to check that message. This would work as a Two-Factor-Authentication for that personality.

Type 5: Malicious code Trojans - Like Wordpress or Chrome plugins, that would use your machine to mine for crypto currencies, using your machine for the same
How to protect yourself: Try not to do plugins or replace them with cloud powered services, OR, Install only trusted plugins, with loads of reviews maybe. I wont be surprised if these trojans take shape of free downloadable games or cracked softwares downloadable for desktop or your mobile.

Type 6: Online Seed Generators (contributed by: tosindesign)
For some wallets (eg the IOTA Wallet) you have to set your own seed. In the case of IOTA, this is an 81-digit password that must consist of uppercase letters and at least one 9. Since some did not want to generate a password themselves, they resorted to online seed generators. These generate you by mouse click an 81-digit seed. However, as it turns out later, a few of these seed generators also stored the generated passwords, The stored seeds were then later used to steal the assets of the investors concerned. You have to know that the seed is something like the master key that allows all credits to be transferred. A thief does not even have to have access to your computer on which the wallet is installed. The seed is enough to access your balance on another computer.

How can you protect yourself?
Never use an online seed generator! When generating an 81-digit seed, all you have to do is push 81 random keys on your keyboard.

Type 7: Phishing website attempts (contributed by: tosindesign)
Scammers would copy exact replica of the websites (wallets, exchanges) and try to get you to login, thereby recording you password. For example, the page Blockchain.info was copied to get the logins. You have to know that Blockchain.info also offers a wallet service where Wallet could save your bitcoins. If Google users searched for “Blockchain info” in some countries, they ran a Google ad that led to Blockchaina.info, a cheat site that has nothing to do with Blockchain.info. The site was a 1: 1 copy of Blockchain.info and was only designed to get login information from users. There are also similar attempts to MyEtherwallet.com and other sites.

How can you protect yourself?
Never click anywhere on a link to a page where you want to log in. The best way is to bookmark the pages and just go over the web pages. In addition, you should always look for the SSL encryption. There will not be a page that stores important data from you and is located at http: //. All pages should now be encrypted SSL and have a https: // domain (although the pages can also be accessed at http: // they will redirect to https: //). The SSL certificates will also show you every browser, for example by a small lock symbol.


Type 9: Used Ledger Nano (contributed by: tosindesign)
At ebay and in other marketplaces there are always offers to buy the Ledger Nano a bit cheaper. This is particularly interesting now, where the Ledger Nano S is sold out and will be available again in one month. There have been cases in the past when users bought a used ledger on ebay and the seed from the ledger was already filled out. Anyone who has not owned a ledger to date will hardly register the difference. Of course, the previous owners have also noted the seed in these cases, which then allows them to get access to the crypto currencies that the new owner stores on the Ledger Nano S.  

How can you protect yourself?
If you want to use a hardware wallet like the Ledger Nano S, buy it directly from the manufacturer and make sure that it is still original packed. The enclosed note on which you can write down the seed should never be filled.

Type 10: Airdrops that ask for personal information (contributed by: StarKay)
There are hyped up airdrops that may ask for KYC information, that may end up being used by scammers / hackers.

How to protect yourself:
Think of your personal information as an investment as well. Research who you are giving your information to and why that ICO will need it

Type 11: Identity theft via Social Media - (contributed by: darkangel11)
You have to realize what they want from you. In the end it's always your money, while in the process they may want some personal data, a phone number, whatever they can get into.

How to protect yourself: Never willingly give anything. Don't share your real social media accounts with random people, keep your email addresses to yourself and if you have to use them make sure to have burner emails. What are burners? Not necessarily emails created for every forum and project. Just emails that don't contain your personal data and that you're not using for online shopping, banking and so on.

Please add more below, or share your story.

Donot share your private key or wallet seed, self-drop asking to send the amount of bitcoin or ETH in return of their ICO. most of the scam happen during ICO some DM introduce His/her self as an admin.

[ansarose1]

In this world of bitcoins, we should be aware of scammers such that some ico's are not paying your job, but at the first place we have nothing to lose. I mean we dont lose money for this investment, but only our time and effort whenever we are scammed. We shall aware of scammers.bounty campaigns posted by the one who has minus trust may lead to scam.

[shimbark123]

It's really hard to protect ourselves from scammers. It's being part of our society of having these kind of people. And best way to protect ourselves from it is to use our own common sense which is not common .

[charlemagne_15]

You've listed most points but I'll still add mine:
1. Beware of offers that are too good to be true, most are ponzi schemes.
2. Safeguard your personal information and beware of Airdrops that collects personal data.

Since bitcoin is becoming larger and larger, the scammers are scattered around. In order to protect yourself to this, I agree on the statememts above. I would also like to add the following: Know the background of the campaign you're going to join by asking the opinions of others. Listen to your guts. If you feel that it is so good to be true  or having hesitation then don't try it out. Be wise in making decisions. Plan everything before taking an action.

[fishball]

I was making a list for my team on how to stay away from Crypto scammers, and thought I would just share it here as well.

Here are the type of Crypto scammers that I have encountered

Type 1. ICO as a SCAM - (More info contributed by: tosindesign)
There are ICOs that are only designed to get your money. Once the ICO is over then the pages are taken off the net and the makers of the ICO disappear with the money. The last case we reported was LoopX, but this is not the only case.

How can you protect yourself?
1. (by: tosindesign) Generally there is no 100% protection here. A good indication for a scam is there is no team mentioned on the website or whitepaper. Although everything is very superficial and promised a lot, but after reading the white paper is not clear how that should be possible.
2. (by: GeckoTrader) One of the best things to do to avoid ICO scamming is to learn and back read all information about that ICO. As they always say " More knowledge is power"
3. (by: GeckoTrader) The team should have been communicating to the community.
4. (by: GeckoTrader) Always they should have an update from their company. If you sense something fishy do not hesitate to ask question from them. In that means you can confirm whether they are legit or just a bunch of scammers.

Type 2. Scammers who sell FAKE COINS (name / coin code is same but coin generating contract is different)
How to protect yourself: Check the contract address of these coins, if it came from the same contract address

Type 3. Social media scammers - Would post like "I will send you 50 ETH if you send me 5"
How to protect yourself: This is an easy one, they all are scammers. Dont even respond.

Type 4: Identity theft scammers - These guys will contact you as CEOs of ICOs or Social celebrities, usually banking upon the names of a famous person
How to protect yourself: Try pinging them from an another ID of theirs (say if scammer pinged you from Telegram, drop them a message over their facebook ID) and ask them to check that message. This would work as a Two-Factor-Authentication for that personality.

Type 5: Malicious code Trojans - Like Wordpress or Chrome plugins, that would use your machine to mine for crypto currencies, using your machine for the same
How to protect yourself: Try not to do plugins or replace them with cloud powered services, OR, Install only trusted plugins, with loads of reviews maybe. I wont be surprised if these trojans take shape of free downloadable games or cracked softwares downloadable for desktop or your mobile.

Type 6: Online Seed Generators (contributed by: tosindesign)
For some wallets (eg the IOTA Wallet) you have to set your own seed. In the case of IOTA, this is an 81-digit password that must consist of uppercase letters and at least one 9. Since some did not want to generate a password themselves, they resorted to online seed generators. These generate you by mouse click an 81-digit seed. However, as it turns out later, a few of these seed generators also stored the generated passwords, The stored seeds were then later used to steal the assets of the investors concerned. You have to know that the seed is something like the master key that allows all credits to be transferred. A thief does not even have to have access to your computer on which the wallet is installed. The seed is enough to access your balance on another computer.

How can you protect yourself?
Never use an online seed generator! When generating an 81-digit seed, all you have to do is push 81 random keys on your keyboard.

Type 7: Phishing website attempts (contributed by: tosindesign)
Scammers would copy exact replica of the websites (wallets, exchanges) and try to get you to login, thereby recording you password. For example, the page Blockchain.info was copied to get the logins. You have to know that Blockchain.info also offers a wallet service where Wallet could save your bitcoins. If Google users searched for “Blockchain info” in some countries, they ran a Google ad that led to Blockchaina.info, a cheat site that has nothing to do with Blockchain.info. The site was a 1: 1 copy of Blockchain.info and was only designed to get login information from users. There are also similar attempts to MyEtherwallet.com and other sites.

How can you protect yourself?
Never click anywhere on a link to a page where you want to log in. The best way is to bookmark the pages and just go over the web pages. In addition, you should always look for the SSL encryption. There will not be a page that stores important data from you and is located at http: //. All pages should now be encrypted SSL and have a https: // domain (although the pages can also be accessed at http: // they will redirect to https: //). The SSL certificates will also show you every browser, for example by a small lock symbol.


Type 9: Used Ledger Nano (contributed by: tosindesign)
At ebay and in other marketplaces there are always offers to buy the Ledger Nano a bit cheaper. This is particularly interesting now, where the Ledger Nano S is sold out and will be available again in one month. There have been cases in the past when users bought a used ledger on ebay and the seed from the ledger was already filled out. Anyone who has not owned a ledger to date will hardly register the difference. Of course, the previous owners have also noted the seed in these cases, which then allows them to get access to the crypto currencies that the new owner stores on the Ledger Nano S.  

How can you protect yourself?
If you want to use a hardware wallet like the Ledger Nano S, buy it directly from the manufacturer and make sure that it is still original packed. The enclosed note on which you can write down the seed should never be filled.

Type 10: Airdrops that ask for personal information (contributed by: StarKay)
There are hyped up airdrops that may ask for KYC information, that may end up being used by scammers / hackers.

How to protect yourself:
Think of your personal information as an investment as well. Research who you are giving your information to and why that ICO will need it

Type 11: Identity theft via Social Media - (contributed by: darkangel11)
You have to realize what they want from you. In the end it's always your money, while in the process they may want some personal data, a phone number, whatever they can get into.

How to protect yourself: Never willingly give anything. Don't share your real social media accounts with random people, keep your email addresses to yourself and if you have to use them make sure to have burner emails. What are burners? Not necessarily emails created for every forum and project. Just emails that don't contain your personal data and that you're not using for online shopping, banking and so on.

Please add more below, or share your story.

I think the most formidable enemy of scammers would be you being knowledgeable. Scammers can not fool you if you have the necessary learnings about bitcoin.

[grabpopcorn536]

You're right. But remember, professional fraud, you are still the victim. Phishing is not just one person but one team. They are more sophisticated and dangerous than you think. Only you can hold yourself. Be more discerning

[vhroen]

That's a load of information that everyone should take a break and read. The best way to avoid scammer is to equip ourselves with enough knowledge like what op stated here, use our common sense at all times and always be vigilant on what is happening around us.

[King money]

damned scammers shit
must always be alert never sleep

I think do not be easily fooled by the big rewards, and see also the participants, lots or no followers, last do not forget to join the telegram group.
when will join bounty campaign and also ico project, try to find your own, not a recommendation from person. even if it is a recommendation, we should know for sure the truth of ico, not just ico pictures only, but the whole ico project. I say this because sometimes people are sharing info about ico, they do not include in detail the project from ico.

[mindfly09]

I can manage to protect myself against  scammers through wise thinking, not giving too much trust in their famous line, "invest, earn double". Through searching and verifying if you are joining a legit group and most important of all is they can prove whatever they are proposing.

Well that is the first thing you do, i think you don't believe it immediately if what they says. First you need to research if its true or think well before you will decide, you must aware and be careful in your decision. If you really doubt so don't continue  and avoid it. Don't talk if you are not sure. Being wise is better so that you will not victim of scammers.

[Jimrch]

That's a lot of ways to prevent scammers fooled you. This will be useful for newbies like me in cryptocurrency technology. Hope that i will not become a victim of those scammers.

[BellamyWilliams]

Scammers comes in mysterious ways, they are extend from asking for donations, account managers and to Huge frauds like ICO frauds. Nowadays not only the investors are being scammed but the bounty hunters has been scammed by scam ICO.

[deadpool02]

You should not make hasty decisions. Think twice before investing in any project. You should not click on phishing links and protect your confidential information. Use only genuine software and keep it up to date. To truly protect yourself , play it safe

[Le Van Cuong]

You may be scammed by new entrants to the Bitcoin market who have not had much experience or new investments in the first time led by bad guys. I think we should equip ourselves with strong knowledge to be confident in dealing

[criss ronaldo]

I can protect it by for not talking on strangers in social media or other website. And protect my wallet using hardware. And you need to be knowledgeable

[AltCoinBuddah]

Choose the best project before doing an investment. It is so important to research first and check the updates if it is real or just a Scam ICO. We cannot identify it easily but by monitoring the project we can surely identify it.

[kb24mvp]

I once encountered a scammer last week and guess what, he failed. Thank you for the tips you have posted, I read it thoroughly, it really helps me, and i owe you