Fraud with Bitcoin and cryptos: how you can protect yourself

5 Min.
Bitcoin Fraud
Quick summary

We want you to make your investments in cryptocurrencies successful and secure. That's why we'll show you how to recognize and avoid scams. Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum and other altcoins offer many opportunities, but also risks. We have also put together a checklist to help you invest safely and protect your digital assets. Our checklist contains important tips for finding secure trading platforms, recognizing suspicious activity and managing your cryptocurrency wallet securely.

Bitcoin and other cryptos are spreading rapidly and becoming increasingly popular, offering investors the opportunity to invest in a promising future technology. Unfortunately, as their popularity has grown, cryptocurrency scammers have stepped up their activities and are trying to scam innocent people out of their money. In this article, we show you how you can protect yourself from scams and what you should look out for in order to invest safely in cryptocurrencies.

Illustration of a Bitcoin surrounded by a house, heart, and snake
In a nutshell: common scams

Here are the most common tricks used by crypto scammers:

A heavy heart to carry
The illusion of true love

Be wary of scammers who use fake online profiles to gain the trust of others. Be skeptical when someone is quick to show love and affection and ask for money. Never send money to people you don't know.

Illustration of a trophy filled with snakes
The dream of winning big

Scammers also lure their victims with promises of big winnings or gifts, often using celebrity names to make their offers seem more credible. Be suspicious of unrealistic promises of winnings and always check the background of the people or companies involved.

Illustration of a villain doing the splits (caught between schemes)
The scam with fake officials

Beware of fake officials: they may claim that you urgently need to pay customs duties, taxes or other charges. Always use the official website and the contact information provided there to check whether the request is legitimate. Make sure you don't fall for a scam. Never rely on unsolicited emails or phone numbers provided by the caller.

Homeownership as shackles around her legs
The chance of a huge investment opportunity

Be wary of investment scammers who promise high returns without risk. Be skeptical of websites or providers that advertise unrealistic returns or investment opportunities. Always carry out thorough research and don't be tempted by pressure tactics or offers that seem "too good to be true". Only transfer cryptocurrencies to trustworthy recipients and platforms that are well-known and reputable. Ensure the legitimacy of any investment opportunity before making transfers.

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Bitcoin and crypto scams: these are the tricks

The illusion of great love

Criminals use fake online profiles to gain the sympathy and trust of their victims. They quickly feign love and affection, pretend to be from the same country or to be abroad on business or as a member of the military. The fraudster needs money because of an emergency, to pay a hospital bill or for an urgent trip. To protect yourself from this, you should be suspicious if someone quickly shows love and affection and asks for money. You should never be tempted to send money to someone you don't know personally. Be wary if someone is quick to give out personal information online or pressures you to provide financial help. Trust your gut instinct and do your research before making any decisions.

The dream of a big win

Behind this scam lies the prospect of enormous wealth or generous gifts, sometimes even touted by celebrities. Victims are lured and tricked into giving up their money or personal information with the promise of a substantial windfall. To protect yourself from this scam, be wary of unrealistic promises of winnings. It is advisable to carefully check the background of the person or team, in particular the domain name and e-mail traffic. Be skeptical of offers that seem too good to be true and do thorough research before disclosing personal information or money. Trust reputable sources and obtain information from reliable sources to avoid falling victim to scams.

The scam with false officials

Fraudsters pretend to be officials, such as employees of the immigration authorities, the tax office or even a police investigation authority. They claim that the victim's bank account has been blocked and the money needs to be transferred to a crypto account. Or they claim that notary fees or customs duties need to be paid urgently. To protect yourself from this, you should contact state authorities directly. These authorities will almost never contact you directly by phone, text message or email. Hang up and use the official contact information that can be found on the public website of the respective authority. Be especially careful if someone pressures or threatens you to make an immediate payment. Always verify the identity of the caller and the legitimacy of the claims before carrying out any financial transactions.

The chance of a huge investment opportunity

Investment fraudsters advertise investment opportunities with supposedly high returns that allegedly involve little or no risk of loss. To protect yourself from this, you should be particularly skeptical of websites or providers that promise high returns or unrealistic investment opportunities. Only send cryptocurrencies to trustworthy recipients and look for publicly verifiable reviews or articles about the recipient in reputable sources. Check the credibility of the platform or provider by reading reviews and experiences of other users. Trust your instincts and be wary of offers that seem too good to be true. It's better to play it safe and research thoroughly before making an investment.

How to protect yourself from crypto fraud: a checklist

You can pay attention to these points if you are unsure:

Check the provider's website and contact information: Make sure the website is legitimate and has accurate contact information, including phone number, email address and physical address. Check the details carefully and don't hesitate to contact customer service to confirm the authenticity of the information. Look for signs of professionalism, such as an SSL-encrypted connection (recognizable by "https" in the URL) and an imprint with complete details. Be particularly careful with websites that do not provide such information transparently or where the contact details are difficult to find. By taking these measures, you can minimize the risk of becoming a victim of fraud.

Research the company: Check the company in online databases by typing the name or cryptocurrency into a search engine. You can also search reviews, forums and social media for more information. Pay attention to what other users are saying about their experiences and be particularly vigilant about negative reviews or warnings. This thorough research will give you a better idea of whether the company is trustworthy and whether the investment is safe.

Watch out for unrealistic returns: If very high returns are promised that sound too good to be true, it's probably a scam. Be skeptical of offers that guarantee unrealistic returns and stick to investments that are based on realistic and understandable expected returns. It's better to be careful and avoid potential scams than to suffer the loss later.

Be wary of unexpected calls or emails: Keep in mind that reputable companies will not contact you unexpectedly to offer you investment opportunities. Therefore, be wary of unsolicited calls, emails or messages that promise you high returns. Trustworthy companies usually offer their services in a transparent manner and respect your privacy. If you are contacted by a company you don't know or weren't expecting, you should be extra careful and investigate the matter carefully before acting.

If something sounds too good to be true, it's probably a scam: Trust your gut and be wary of anything that sounds too good to be true. If something seems too good to be true, there is often a risk that it is a scam. Listen to your intuition and take time to thoroughly research and check all aspects of an investment before you act. It's better to be safe than to trust blindly and potentially fall victim to scammers.

Now you are equipped with the tips and tricks to protect yourself from fraud with Bitcoin and co. Keep in mind, however, that scammers are always developing new tactics to trick people and steal their money. If you are unsure whether an offer you have received is legitimate, do not hesitate to contact our support staff. We will be happy to help you to protect yourself from fraud. Your safety is our top priority and we are ready to support you and answer your questions.

This article does not constitute investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell digital assets or other financial instruments or to enter into any other financial transaction. The main purpose of this article is to provide general information. No representations or warranties, express or implied, are made regarding the fairness, accuracy, completeness, or correctness of this article or the opinions contained therein. Therefore, it is advisable not to rely on the fairness, accuracy, completeness, or correctness of this article or the opinions contained herein. Some statements in this article may contain forward-looking expectations based on our current views and assumptions. These statements are subject to uncertainties and may lead to actual results, performance, or events differing from the statements made in this article.

The Cryptonow Group and its subsidiaries, as well as any advisory or representative persons, cannot be held liable in any way for this article.

It is important to note that investing in digital assets carries risks as well as potential gains.