Crypto Scams: What They Are and How to Guard Against Them

When navigating crypto scams, fraudulent schemes designed to steal digital assets or trick investors. Also known as cryptocurrency fraud, they come in many flavors. One common flavor is rug pull, a sudden project abandonment that leaves investors with worthless tokens, another is airdrop scam, fake free‑token offers that harvest private keys or personal data. You’ll also see pump‑and‑dump, coordinated price spikes followed by rapid sell‑offs to profit at others’ expense, and broader DeFi fraud, any deceptive practice targeting decentralized finance platforms. Together, these threats crypto scams encompass a wide range of tactics that require constant vigilance.

Why These Scams Keep Growing

Every new blockchain tool lowers the barrier for innovators—and for scammers alike. Rug pulls thrive because developers can launch a token, raise funds, and disappear within hours, leaving a traceable but untraceable blockchain record. Airdrop scams exploit the hype around free tokens; they mimic legit campaigns, tricking users into sharing wallet seeds. Pump‑and‑dump schemes rely on social media hype, leveraging bots and influencers to inflate prices before dumping holdings. DeFi fraud often hides behind complex smart contracts, making it hard for ordinary users to spot hidden backdoors. The common thread is that each scam leverages a different technical feature—smart contracts, token distribution, or market manipulation—yet all share the goal of stealing value.

Below you’ll find a curated list of articles that dig into these topics in depth. From detailed breakdowns of famous rug‑pull cases to step‑by‑step guides on spotting airdrop scams, the collection gives you practical tools to recognize and avoid the most common crypto fraud tactics. Use these insights to strengthen your own security habits and stay ahead of the next deceptive scheme.