Slow down the scam before it becomes a transaction.

Look for pressure, authority, and isolation

Many scams create an urgent problem, present the scammer as the only authority who can solve it, and keep the target inside an attacker-controlled channel. The details may involve an airdrop, account suspension, tax bill, romance, investment group, job, giveaway, or recovery service. The safe response is structurally similar: stop, leave the channel, and verify independently.

Real support does not need your recovery phrase

Scammers monitor public posts for words such as “wallet,” “stuck,” and “support.” They may contact you within minutes using copied logos and convincing account names. Navigate to the provider through a saved bookmark or manually typed domain. Open a new support case there. Do not use the link or phone number supplied by the person who contacted you.

A familiar page can still request dangerous authority

Wallet-draining sites may imitate a legitimate mint, exchange, bridge, or support portal. The visible button can say “verify” while the wallet prompt requests a token approval, permit signature, or transaction. Read the wallet’s signing view. If the action does not match your purpose, reject it. A signature is not harmless merely because no network fee appears.

Loss-recovery offers often target victims twice

After a public complaint, “recovery experts” may promise to retrieve funds for an advance fee, special software purchase, tax, or validator payment. Blockchain tracing may document movement, but nobody can guarantee reversal of a completed permissionless transfer. Preserve evidence and contact the relevant exchange, wallet provider, law enforcement, or consumer agency through official channels.

Guaranteed returns are not a risk disclosure

Claims of fixed daily profit, secret arbitrage, automated income, or guaranteed principal deserve skepticism. Ask how revenue is produced, who holds assets, where the operator is registered, what can be independently verified, and how withdrawals work. Screenshots and on-platform balances are not proof that funds can be withdrawn.

If you suspect a scam

1. Stop communicating and do not send another payment.
2. Disconnect the affected wallet from the site and review approvals.
3. If a seed phrase was exposed, create a new wallet on a clean device and seek network-specific guidance before moving remaining assets.
4. Preserve URLs, transaction hashes, messages, timestamps, usernames, and screenshots.
5. Contact providers through independently located official channels.
6. Report the incident to appropriate authorities; in the United States, official starting points include the FTC and FBI IC3.