Crypto is all about freedom. But with freedom comes risk — and the number one way beginners get rekt isn’t from volatility, it’s from phishing attacks.
Phishing = when scammers trick you into giving away your own keys, passwords, or coins. It’s sneaky, it’s everywhere, and it’s cost crypto users billions of dollars over the years.
Here’s how to spot phishing before it drains your bag.
What Does a Phishing Attack Look Like?
Phishing scams usually come disguised as something familiar:
- Fake Websites: Look almost identical to Binance, MetaMask, or Etherscan.
- Fake Wallet Popups: A browser extension pops up, asking for your seed phrase.
- Fake Emails: “Security alert! Verify your account now.”
- Fake Support: Random “admins” in Telegram asking for your wallet.
- Fake Airdrops: Free tokens, but you have to “connect your wallet” to a shady site.
👉 The goal is always the same: make you type your seed phrase or sign a malicious transaction.
Real-World Examples
- In 2022, OpenSea phishing emails stole NFTs worth over $1.7M.
- Fake “MetaMask support” sites drained thousands of wallets by tricking users into typing seed phrases.
- In 2023, Twitter phishing links promising PEPE airdrops led to honeypot contracts.
Red Flags to Watch
- Misspelled URLs →
binànce.cominstead ofbinance.com. - Too Good to Be True → free ETH or guaranteed profits.
- Urgency → “Your account will be closed in 24h unless you verify.”
- DMs from Strangers → legit projects never DM first.
- Seed Phrase Requests → no real site or wallet ever asks for it.
How to Protect Yourself
- Bookmark the Real Sites → always click your bookmark, not Google ads.
- Check SSL Certificates → real sites have
https://+ a padlock. - Use a Hardware Wallet → Ledger/Trezor will show what you’re signing. If it looks wrong, reject it.
- Enable 2FA → even if they get your password, they can’t log in without the second factor.
- Stay Skeptical → if something feels off, it probably is.
Tools That Help
- Etherscan Token Approval Checker → see which sites you’ve given permission to.
- Revoke.cash → remove risky approvals.
- Phishing DBs like MetaMask’s warning system block known scam domains.
Quick Stats
- Chainalysis reported $1.3B lost to phishing scams in 2022 alone.
- Most victims were retail investors (beginners chasing airdrops).
- Phishing remains the #1 crypto scam tactic worldwide.
Final Word
Phishing attacks don’t hack blockchains — they hack people.
If you never type your seed phrase, never trust random DMs, and only use bookmarked official links, you’ll avoid 90% of scams.
The difference between a pro degen and a rekt newbie isn’t luck — it’s knowing when someone’s trying to bait you.
Stay sharp, protect your bag, and don’t let scammers win.
Wagmi 🚀
