Collection of comprehensive guides on identify and avoid scam projects

[OasisDre]

Thanks for this good info about scam ICO projects,this will come in handy

[dkbit98]

Nice guide, and you are doing great work helping people to avoid scam

[Furryball]

You should add it to your collection, in my opinion.
Telegram Scams
Another guy describe simple steps to disable Telegram group invitations from strangers
Do this if you don't want to be dragged to different telegram ICOs
It is very simple but I don't think everyone know how to do it.

I also got dragged into different type of scam ICO Channels but what about private messages from unknown telegram users? is there anyway to block them as well,like only receive messages from friends

[tbct_mt2]

I also got dragged into different type of scam ICO Channels but what about private messages from unknown telegram users? is there anyway to block them as well,like only receive messages from friends

There are two ways to contact others in Telegram: username or phone number.
To disable phone number display:
Settings ---> Privacy and Security ---> Phone number (Who can see my phone number). Choose Nobody.

To prevent strangers adding you into strange groups:
You can got to Settings -----> Groups ------> My contacts (choose this option).
This option means only people in your phone contacts can add you to group chats.

To disable your Telegram username
By deleting your Telegram username, no one can search you, but if you join group chats for bounties, you can not apply this, because managers will not find you to check your activity, and you might be unqualified.
In case you are in bounty group chats as bounty participants, only thing you can do is reporting scammers to group chat's administrators.

For increasing the security in Telegram I would advise to have a look at the settings. Personally, I disliked the standard settings of Telegram and I've changed most of them:

In Privacy and Security I would recommend to chose:

- Phone number (who can see my phone number) => my contacts
- Calls (who can call me) => my contacts
- Groups (who can add me to group chats) => my contacts

And of course it's important in Telegram that you don't use your real name and your real photo. There are too many scammers and I'm sure you don't want that a picture of you is used by scammers.

Also in the settings, in Data and Storage I've switched off everything to avoid downloading every bullshit automatically. In most cases the GIFs and pictures are only wasting storage of your device but in some cases (malware) I would rather be safe than sorry and advise everyone to switch off automated downloads:

- Automatic media download
   - when using mobile data => off
   - when connected on Wi-Fi => off
   - When roaming => off

- Automatic media play
    - GIFs => off
    - Videos => off

- Streaming
    - Stream videos and audio files => off

Telegram has many features but they can also be abused by scammers. So better take care and adjust your settings. 

[tbct_mt2]

The sign of scam, mosprognoz. This one is a newest good thread on scam fightings.

[dkbit98]

Thanks for making a nice collection of posts that can help members.
If you want, you can add one of my post related to Bitcointalk accounts:
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5173531.msg52094372#msg52094372

[tbct_mt2]

Thanks for making a nice collection of posts that can help members.
If you want, you can add one of my post related to Bitcointalk accounts:
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5173531.msg52094372#msg52094372

Tips:
Hover mouse on links, then you will see real links behind.
For example: I put the hidden link to my post (this one), but I hide it as https://coinmarketcap.com/. If you hove mouse on the link, you will see full link that direct you to this post, not coinmarketcap.com

[Polina_21]

I found this article written about How to identify Crypto Scams? by @Henri Cartier. You may add it here.

[tbct_mt2]

Bump to announce that today, OP has been updated with this topic.
When you see this bump and watch scam videos on that scam channel, please report that Youtube channel and that ETH address.

Scammers on Youtube. Don't fall into this scam trap and lose money, guys (tbct_mt2)

[agentx44]

COLLECTION OF GUIDES ON IDENTIFY AND AVOID SCAM PROJECTS

Translations:

• Filipino: Collection of comprehensive guides on identify and avoid scam projects (Tagalog) (yazher)

Welcome to my collection.

In reality, investments into scam projects usually result in big losses or even totally losses of all capital if price fall into nearly zero and if investors don't determinantly enough to get out when they see bad signals of scam projects.
If they made decisions too late, they might don't have chances to get out and get back small part of their capital.
Therefore, it is the best if investors can prepare their knowledge well enough to avoid making wrong decisions to invest in scam projects.
Today, I show crypto newbies my collection on guides published by forum users to help both identifying and avoiding scam projects.
Those topics and websites should be considered as unofficialy prerequisite courses for crypto newbies.
They should read them all carefully to catch ideas, knowledge, and practice those skills for their future fortune in crypto.

GUIDES
🌍 Guidelines, how to spot a scam ICO & report effectively. ✔, (Coolcryptovator)
🌍[Guide] Prevent scam!!! Some useful tools for find scam / fake ICO team 🌍, (Coolcryptovator)
[Guide] How to detect fake token and spot scammers., (Coolcryptovator)
🔴 Ongoing exposed scam ICO list, must read to save money; Update: 03/09/18 🔴?, (Coolcryptovator)
Safeguard your crypto investment and avoid getting scammed., (r1s2g3)
How to avoid ICO scam by following very easy step., (r1s2g3)
[GUIDE] Use this for identifying Scam/Phishing/ websites & exchanges in crypto (GreatArkansas)
HOW TO protect yourself from Scammers, (redpillorblue)
Ponzi Scheme 101, (xha-256)
[Guide] Identify scam projects by hidden premined coin indicator via explorer. (tranthidung)
Cloudmining 101 (ponzi risk assessment),(Puppet), outdated but you can find something still valueable.
MLM – a dangerous marketing strategy, (1miau)
[GUIDE]How to avoid scam?, (Daboy_Lyle)
Guide - Some useful additional tools for SCAM ICO detection, (Hellmouth42)
[Guide] Using Google Alerts to avoid getting scammed, (whotookmycrypto)
The sign of scam, mosprognoz.
⚠️ How Scammer tried to Hack my Bitcointalk and how to Protect yourself?⚠️ (dkbit98)
List of (un)known methods scammers user to scam users with honorable mention, (Royse777)
[EDU] How to spot a scammer (Read this before doing any transactions!), (Tomatocage)
Scammers on Youtube. Don't fall into this scam trap and lose money, guys (tbct_mt2)

LIST OF SCAMS
⚠ List of SCAM ICO! [PROVED], (bL4nkcode)
ICOEthics - scam list 2018-2019, (ICOEthics)
👉 [ List ] Exposed scam ICO list by Coolcryptovator. Updated: 04-02-2019 🔴, (Coolcryptovator)

Posts
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3613776.msg36570772#msg36570772

Websites
https://icoethics.com/
The 4 Traits of a Successful Masternode Project

Articles:
7 Ways to Spot a Scam ICO

Telegram
Telegram Scams , (dasunlanka)
Do this if you don't want to be dragged to different telegram ICOs, (Bttzed03)

Suggestions from community about new tools or features to avoid scam in the forum
[SCAM PREVENTION]Remove self-moderation for topics within the marketplace!, (MiLkz)

This is a very useful tool for the beginners. We all started clueless about the things happening in here that's why we end up making mistakes leading to great loss of money. I couldn't add much but for me, some of the most important tips needed by the newbies are learning to be careful and mindful on choosing a certain project and always make sure you read the whole whitepaper and check the team to make sure that it's worth the trust and time.

[tbct_mt2]

This is a very useful tool for the beginners. We all started clueless about the things happening in here that's why we end up making mistakes leading to great loss of money. I couldn't add much but for me, some of the most important tips needed by the newbies are learning to be careful and mindful on choosing a certain project and always make sure you read the whole whitepaper and check the team to make sure that it's worth the trust and time.

I don't think what you did is correct (quoting my OP entirely like this). Please read my another guide: [TIPS] to avoid pyramid quotes (for Newbies)
By the way, I saw an interesting topic that also added into OP.
[Tutorial] How To Report Phishing Email & Create Auto Delete Filter - Gmail User
A new guide found on 11 Nov. 2019
Some Telegram tips for newcomers in the crypto community, (TheFuzzStone)

[conex]

Great compilation. Started with a click and then i read it for almost an hour haha..the point is, everyone should educate itself properly before entering the market. There are countless cool sources to learn from soo. Recommend this collection to anyone just starting out.

[2double0]

Have you added information about users messaging you on telegram asking you to do a withdrawal for them from a 'phishing scam Exchange-type website' where they pretend to send you some BTC and ask you to withdraw, but then the exchange blocks your account. I also encountered another scam where someone came to me asking to do a task but they were not interested in paying upfront. I worked for them and did as they asked me to do, then they blocked me and left empty-handed. It is better to have an escrow even if you are doing a task for anybody who is unknown to you and this community.

[Pmalek]

I also encountered another scam where someone came to me asking to do a task but they were not interested in paying upfront. I worked for them and did as they asked me to do, then they blocked me and left empty-handed. It is better to have an escrow even if you are doing a task for anybody who is unknown to you and this community.

Who is that person who scammed you? You should definitely open a scam accusation against that person which could get him tagged and that will serve as a warning for other members not to deal with him.

Your rank is legendary, don't just randomly trust anyone. Rank is not equal to trust but if a newbie asks a Legendary to go first I would be cautious.
There is even free escrow service on the forum. Browse through the services board, I am sure you will find the correct thread. 

[2double0]

Who is that person who scammed you? You should definitely open a scam accusation against that person which could get him tagged and that will serve as a warning for other members not to deal with him.

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5136940.msg50803111#msg50803111
That's the thread I was talking about, and I couldn't report because she is/was not a part of this forum at that time.

Your rank is legendary, don't just randomly trust anyone. Rank is not equal to trust but if a newbie asks a Legendary to go first I would be cautious.
There is even free escrow service on the forum. Browse through the services board, I am sure you will find the correct thread. 

It wasn't like I went first alone, but I did it after seeing many users here giving her good reviews that she pays, it was a matter of $20 and she didn't come online later and a red tag was also added to her profile, so I didn't bother opening a scam accusation.

[tbct_mt2]

Have you added information about users messaging you on telegram asking you to do a withdrawal for them from a 'phishing scam Exchange-type website' where they pretend to send you some BTC and ask you to withdraw, but then the exchange blocks your account. I also encountered another scam where someone came to me asking to do a task but they were not interested in paying upfront. I worked for them and did as they asked me to do, then they blocked me and left empty-handed. It is better to have an escrow even if you are doing a task for anybody who is unknown to you and this community.

I don't remember but months ago I saw a case with a scammer who ask for any help from community members to help him withdraw money from exchange (5 BTC, I remembered so), but helper has to go first to send some amount of bitcoin, and the rewards for helper will be some amount of bitcoin (20%, as I remembered) when that withdrawal finished.

Instantly when I saw it, I realized it is a scam. There is nothing reasonable and logical to ask for help from stranger when you have 5 or 10 BTC stucked on one exchange. There are many better people who you can know better, relatives, best friends, why not ask them to help? Look at it and if you are not greedy, you will instanly aware it is a scam attack.

That case is not a loan as yours but the scam method is the same. Scammers ask potential viticms to go first and accounts they use mostly lower ranks, from Brandnew, newbie, Jr. Member to member only. But higher ranks, Full member and above, are not guarentee for their legitimacy and trust.

[2double0]

...snip...

That case is not a loan as yours but the scam method is the same. Scammers ask potential viticms to go first and accounts they use mostly lower ranks, from Brandnew, newbie, Jr. Member to member only. But higher ranks, Full member and above, are not guarentee for their legitimacy and trust.

Listening to this, I would also like to add that these people mostly try to trap those who belong to third world countries and are jobless, because scammers know that these people may go for big and will even spend money if they don't have knowledge about what is going on in this world. The email blasters send lots of fake 'Congratulations' emails where you are shown that you are being awarded some $$ out of Bill Gates', Microsoft's, Coca Cola's, etc. lucky draw share or lottery, and ask you to send your details to them. If you send these details, you cut your arms and give them as a gift because they now have all your information, they will start asking money from you to 'verify your bank account'. If you do it, you are scammed at phase 1, then they ask you for more money as they say that your details were not ok and if you want the funds, you need to deposit at least 0.1% 'an example' of your winnings to their bank account. Being helpless and having no knowledge of what's going on with you, you just keep getting dragged and trapped by them in their scam and lose a lot of money and till you become aware about their scam and report it to your local police, they run away with your money and you cannot even trace them as you don't know their real identity.

[Sanugarid]

Nice guide, and you are doing great work helping people to avoid scam

This is indeed an awesome guide to everyone especially to a newbie who wants to start their journey by supporting a particular project.

I also encountered another scam where someone came to me asking to do a task but they were not interested in paying upfront. I worked for them and did as they asked me to do, then they blocked me and left empty-handed. It is better to have an escrow even if you are doing a task for anybody who is unknown to you and this community.

Who is that person who scammed you? You should definitely open a scam accusation against that person which could get him tagged and that will serve as a warning for other members not to deal with him.

Your rank is legendary, don't just randomly trust anyone. Rank is not equal to trust but if a newbie asks a Legendary to go first I would be cautious.
There is even free escrow service on the forum. Browse through the services board, I am sure you will find the correct thread. 

The story you have shared is maybe common but it has a great impact on you because it is your own money. The idea is that it is not based on your ranking because as of now there are still some higher ranks who are really taking advantage of other people who really do not know every important information. But that should not be just ignored, just like what you have said, you must report that particular project or person who really scammed you by opening some topic to report your particular subject, to prevent them from doing it again to other people. Sharing and reporting are caring also, you are not just reporting them because they scammed you, but you are reporting them because you do not want that to happen again. This thread might help anyone here, reading this is a great help.

[Lordhermes]

bump because of new scam wave when crypto market is up.

Thank you so much for the collection of guidance on avoiding scam projects and also you updating the thread for newer scam waves now. Your endeavors are regarded. Thank you.