How do you avoid scammers?

[DPHOR]

I am new to Bitcointalk and I have been around my local board since from my sign up yesterday, I wanted to asked this question over there but need a general knowledge from the community at large not only from my locals. Just as what I have used on my title I want to know the possible ways to avoid scammer and phishing sites because I have came to understand that for one to excel in this forum and in bitcoin investment / holding at large, one needs to be very mindful with the ways we click on sites, where we store our funds and the techniques scammers often use to scam beginners like us.

I think security should be my number one priority as a fresher or newbies, although with time I will gets acquainted with the relevant information across the forum, I know that here is a lovable and a dedicated community that focuses on full discussion about bitcoin and its related cryptocurrencies which I can't easily outline all but I know you people knows about them taking a picture from coimmarketcapitalization (CMC).

Please we can share and discuss responsibly without any forms of comments.

[1714560247]

1714560247

[ImThour]

There is no free money. If someone offers you something which feels like a huge profit, that's most likely a scam.
When I was a beginner, I was introduced to Pump and Dump groups by one of my friend. What they do is pump a coin and they share which coin they will pump in the group with thousands of people.

What exactly they do is:
- Find a low Mcap coin with very less volume
- Buy that coin before announcing
- Once bought,  they announce  it in the group
- People start buying, they dump on them

It's almost free money for them. So, do not join groups like these. Stay away from Telegram.
If you find something suspicious, always make a post here and get feedback from the community.

[GiftedMAN]

Congratulations op on finding your way to the forum. From you explanation it seems you have answered some part of the questions you asked because you pointed out some ways of avoiding being scammed which is very correct. Another ways you need to look at for so that you won't be scammed is giverways and airdrops, alot of people has been scammed because of free gift which sometimes comes in form of BTC, avoid opening site where you see free giveaways of btc they are all scam and as a newbie, do not go about asking strangers for help because most people you meet online will pretend to help you but at the end all they want to do is to take all your funds.

[EL MOHA]

The first and most important thing in this space is security, from scammers and from one’s own negligence. My first tip in avoid scammers from getting to you either by fake projects, promises or exposing your keys is to never be greedy thinking that here is a get rich quick scheme, scammers easily exploit those people and lure them to fake projects or get their keys from them. Nobody is generous enough to give you a lot of money so be wary of fake promises.

Secondly is to use a secure wallet for bitcoin and cryptocurrencies hodling, a good wallet is an open source, non-custodian and offline wallet. Make sure to download from the right source to avoid phishing or fake wallet or you can verify them.

You can read on other threads to learn about security, here is a compilation by OcTradism on security and privacy

[Fiatless]

I am new to Bitcointalk and I have been around my local board since from my sign up yesterday, I wanted to asked this question over there but need a general knowledge from the community at large not only from my locals. Just as what I have used on my title I want to know the possible ways to avoid scammer and phishing sites because I have came to understand that for one to excel in this forum and in bitcoin investment / holding at large, one needs to be very mindful with the ways we click on sites, where we store our funds and the techniques scammers often use to scam beginners like us.

I think security should be my number one priority as a fresher or newbies, although with time I will gets acquainted with the relevant information across the forum, I know that here is a lovable and a dedicated community that focuses on full discussion about bitcoin and its related cryptocurrencies which I can't easily outline all but I know you people knows about them taking a picture from coimmarketcapitalization (CMC).

Please we can share and discuss responsibly without any forms of comments.

Scammers will always look for loopholes to gain access to your funds, so you have to prevent them from gaining access. Social media is the main breeding ground for scammers. They will always present deals that are attractive and difficult to resist. Don't be greedy to accept these deals because they can be baits to steal from you. Avoid clicking on any link you see on the internet because they might not be safe. Do your research on any project before investing because it is important to verify everything information we come across in the crypto space.

But my advice to newbies is to focus on only Bitcoin because it is the most reliable cryptocurrency. Consider keeping your coin in a trustworthy decentralized wallet preferably an air-gapped electrum wallet or a hardware wallet. Also, ensure that you download the Electrum wallet from the Electrum website to avoid falling victim to scammers. 

[Cantsay]

For you to be able to avoid scammers you should learn to not be greedy; that’s one of the main reasons why scammers are able to lure people into their trap and also the reason why people still fall for scams that are obvious. If you’re able to avoided being greedy when it comes to free money online and bonuses you should be able to do well coupled with being security conscious, i.e know when not to download files from unknown sources and also when to avoid even clicking links as a while those could help you from hackers and scammers as well.

But if by any chance you’re referring to altcoin scams then you can take the advice of the posts above mine.

[BIT-BENDER]

Welcome to the forum and congratulations for Finding the forum, you asked a very reasonable question, one of the biggest reason why scammers thrive is because their victims are ignorant, greedy and just completely careless.
Scams are not of same category, we have the social media scam, hacking, ICO or project scams where scammers organises a project with the aim of scamming their investors.

Joining this forum does not make you immune from scams and scammers can be found even here in this forum.
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=137288.0
This is a good thread that can help you have an idea of spotting a scam and also pay attention to the scam acquisition board so you get new update about scams acquisitions.

[Nwada001]

Sinec, you are concerned about security. I think you have an open mind to learn and to be safe in the crypto space, as there are a lot of scammers who are even more than the genuine crypto investors right now in the crypto community.
 
One thing you need to bear in mind, as the first commenter took out his time to explain, is that there is no free money anywhere, and you should be mindful of airdrops and fake promises from influencers and other scammers on different social media. If you must invest in altcoins, always be careful and don't rely on what you read online about a particular coin, which might not end well for you.
 
For security purposes, always download your wallet application directly from the wallet provider's website, using the link they provide. There are many cloned apps on the internet, so be sure to get the right one. New users may have trouble identifying which apps are authentic and which are not.
 
For a bitcoin online wallet, you can make use of BlueWallet and Electrum, which are both among the best online wallets.
Electrum official link: https://electrum.org/#home
Download link: https://electrum.org/#download
Blue wallet: https://bluewallet.io/

For altcoin, you can make use of Unstoppable Wallet:
Official links:
https://www.unstoppable.money/https://github.com/horizontalsystems/
You can read more about it in this topic by Husires . Unstoppable wallet {User experiences}
 
If you are a computer user, the best way to avoid being scammed without knowing is to avoid using pirated software, and OS always makes sure you get your software from licenced distributors to avoid buying already affected software, as clipboard viruses and other unidentified viruses are sweeping off users holdings without their knowledge.
 
And if you plan to buy and hold a large amount of bitcoin or any other crypto, an online wallet is not the best choice; you will need to get yourself a hardware wallet, as it's more secure when used carefully.

[Stalker22]

I am new to Bitcointalk ~

Hey there, DPHOR ! Welcome to the BitcoinTalk forum.

I get why you are worried about scams and phishing.  That stuff can get pretty tricky.  My advice? Be super careful with any links people send you.  Double and triple check those URLs so you know where you are really going and  stick to the well-known and reputable exchanges and wallets, those are usually safest.  Oh, and watch out for random messages from people you dont know.  Make sure to check any info yourself before trusting it.  The folks here probably have some other good tips too.  Never be shy about asking around if you are unsure about something.  Thats one of the best things about this community - we have so much collective knowledge to draw from.

I think security should be my number one priority as a fresher or newbies
~

Absolutely! Security should definitely be a big concern when you are just starting out.  You gotta keep your stuff and personal info safe, thats crucial.  A few things I would recommend are using wallets that are open source and have good reviews, turning on two-factor authentication wherever you can and being real suspicious of any messages that seem sketchy or too good to be true.  Getting into crypto is exciting, no doubt, but staying safe will make the ride smoother.  i know it's a lot to take in when you're just starting out.  So if you ever need any tips on staying secure or have questions, dont be afraid to ask! We are always happy to help folks just getting into crypto do it the safe way.

[Stepstowealth]

I wanted to asked this question over there but need a general knowledge from the community at large not only from my locals. Just as what I have used on my title I want to know the possible ways to avoid scammer and phishing sites because I have came to understand that for one to excel in this forum and in bitcoin investment / holding at large, one needs to be very mindful with the ways we click on sites, where we store our funds and the techniques scammers often use to scam beginners like us.

To avoid scammers and other cybercriminals, you have to know that you cannot be caught slipping. You need to always maintain consciousness about your security and ensure that you do not let your guard down even for a small moment. Scammers are using new ways and means to deceive people into clicking phishing links, so you have to maintain awareness and not be in a rush to click any links sent to you either by someone you know or someone you do not know. It can be bad to get scammed, it can lead to depression and loss of determination to want to continue investing, it is not something that you as an investor in bitcoins will like to happen to you.

[DPHOR]

There is no free money. If someone offers you something which feels like a huge profit, that's most likely a scam.
When I was a beginner, I was introduced to Pump and Dump groups by one of my friend. What they do is pump a coin and they share which coin they will pump in the group with thousands of people.

What exactly they do is:
- Find a low Mcap coin with very less volume
- Buy that coin before announcing
- Once bought,  they announce  it in the group
- People start buying, they dump on them

It's almost free money for them. So, do not join groups like these. Stay away from Telegram.
If you find something suspicious, always make a post here and get feedback from the community.

Thank you for your guidance and I know you all are experienced members that's why I am sticking to this forum, actually my Major concerns was about some news I do hear over the internet how people get hacked and their funds got stolen or even how some groups of people do launched project at the ends they dump empty tokens on their investors, just similar to what you explained above so I am trying my possible best to make sure I didn't experience any difficulty or even as a victim because I know it's very hard to save money to invest in digital asset especially the sudden rise of dollars against our local currency.

So it's very difficult for one to raise money and convert them to dollars before buying bitcoin, I want to make sure all my money spent are in a better place rather than going to waste it in unknown place or to the hand of scammers these are what propelled me to create this topic in other to be guided with my investment.

In the country where I came from its very hard for an average man to survive especially our government not doing with her citizens I wouldn't want anything to attributes to our predicaments which might possibly cause a serious damage to my life and that of my family because to anything I does I easily relate with one person in my family.

[Renampun]

I am new to Bitcointalk and I have been around my local board since from my sign up yesterday, I wanted to asked this question over there but need a general knowledge from the community at large not only from my locals. Just as what I have used on my title I want to know the possible ways to avoid scammer and phishing sites because I have came to understand that for one to excel in this forum and in bitcoin investment / holding at large, one needs to be very mindful with the ways we click on sites, where we store our funds and the techniques scammers often use to scam beginners like us.

I think security should be my number one priority as a fresher or newbies, although with time I will gets acquainted with the relevant information across the forum, I know that here is a lovable and a dedicated community that focuses on full discussion about bitcoin and its related cryptocurrencies which I can't easily outline all but I know you people knows about them taking a picture from coimmarketcapitalization (CMC).

Please we can share and discuss responsibly without any forms of comments.

I appreciate your question, my advice for you to avoid fraudsters on the internet is don't be easily tempted by anything on the internet, there are many fraudsters who take advantage of people's greed to make a profit for themselves, besides that, don't be too friendly with people you just met on the internet, there are many fraudsters who pretend to be friends or good people on the internet, even though in fact they are trying to find a way to trick you, the internet world is full of deception, always verify whatever you find on the Internet first.

[Dunamisx]

I want to know the possible ways to avoid scammer and phishing sites

Scam is not what can just come to you like that without you being involved in the process that aid them to attack you, make sure you avoid any unnecessary downloads from unsolicited website or link address, don't expose your private keys to the public and avoid any third party from having access to any of your devices used.

because I have came to understand that for one to excel in this forum and in bitcoin investment / holding at large, one needs to be very mindful with the ways we click on sites, where we store our funds and the techniques scammers often use to scam beginners like us.

After you might have done this, you also need to know the kind of wallets that are expected of you to use, not every wallet is safe for you, there are some already recommended by members here which most of us are familiar with and used, avoid centralized exchanges lastly.

[Tuturtinular]

~snip~

Basically it is very difficult to identify a scam before it occurs. However, to avoid this, it's a good idea to visit trusted and well-known sites. To avoid phishing, don't install applications carelessly, always make sure what you install is official.

I generally avoid offers that are too good or unreasonable. This model is commonly used by spammers. For example, there is an investment offer with a profit of 50% per month, to me that doesn't make sense and is most likely a scam.

[Distinctin]

Educate yourself on the latest forms of scamming. Scammers might be smart but we can always be a lot wiser to them if we chose to educate ourselves on how to protect our private keys to its utmost security and be more aware on the latest trends on how these type of people scam the innocent people. If we do things at a high caution, surely we will learn to avoid them as much as possible.

The crypto market at some point becomes the playground of scammers already. With this, we need not to trust others but only ourselves. Learn to be suspicious most of the time. Educate yourself by conducting continuous research as much as possible. And lastly, never fall on too good to be true offers, and never open those random links that you don't even know who the sender is or is the sender can be reliable or not.

[nakamura12]

The cause of getting scammed is when a person is being greedy and when someone or a group of people send that person a message then that person is most likely getting scammed because of being greedy. When a person visit a website and got free money but requires to deposit first before he/she can withdraw the amount is a scam. In these times, there's no such thing as free money (all the time) although there are some cases or times where there's a free money but you can hardly find other so that's why we still believe that there's no such thing as free money. Be knowledgeable on what scammers do to scam people.

[Marvelman]

Good call reaching out for tips on steering clear of scams and phishing in crypto.  It's still kind of like the Wild West here, so keeping your guard up about where you click and how you store your coins is critical.  I think knowledge is the key. The more you know, the less chance you have of falling for a scam. Don't be shy asking around either - folks here have got some serious experience navigating the crypto space safely.  They can definitely drop some useful tips to avoid getting hacked in this digital jungle.

[Myleschetty]

I am new to Bitcointalk

Welcome on board.

Just as what I have used on my title I want to know the possible ways to avoid scammer and phishing sites

Careful of what you click is not enough to keep you safe from phishing attacks if you don't familiarize yourself with the real website. Another thing you should emails mimicking.

[nakamura12]

Careful of what you click is not enough to keep you safe from phishing attacks if you don't familiarize yourself with the real website. Another thing you should emails mimicking.

when I read your post I understand the first one but the second is I don't. Well, the thing is it's about being cautious about receiving emails as it might be a fake email sent by scammers pretending to be the original website or as you said mimicking the original. You should complete your post mate so that OP would also understand what you mean because there are parts of your post that isn't complete like the one I pointed out. Anyway, if you suggest to OP using bookmark for the legit website is helpful and yes it is helpful but still it isn't secured 100% as it could also be compromised. Well, bookmarking the legit or real website is surely helpful but it is much better if you typed it yourself and triple check first before pressing enter.

[tabas]

When someone messages or emails you that you've won big money but you can't remember that you have joined any promo then that's an obvious scam.
Another scenario is when someone wants to give you money out of nowhere and you are just randomly picked, there's no free money anymore coming from a stranger nowadays unless that person is a content creator but usually they do it in person. So, going back with these unusual messages to you that they're generously going to give you $xxxxx money, that's already a sign that you have to ignore and delete their message and never respond to any of them.