This article describes ways to prevent you from becoming a victim of the most common scam attempts.1- Fake Websites
Be cautious if there is no small lock icon next to the URL bar that points to security, and the site address does not contain “https”.
Even if the site looks exactly the same as the site you think you’re visiting, you may be redirected to another platform for payment. For example, you click on a link that looks like a legitimate site, but the attackers created a fake URL that contained a zero instead of the letter “o.” Falling into a momentary distraction can cause all your efforts to disappear. To avoid this situation, type the full URL carefully into your browser.2- Fake Mobile Apps
Another common method that scammers use to trick cryptocurrency investors is through fake apps that can be downloaded from Google Play and the Apple App Store. Thousands of people have already downloaded fake cryptocurrency apps.
While this poses a greater risk to Android users, every investor should be aware of this possibility. Are there obvious typos in the text of the app or even in the name of the app? Does the brand seem to be unoriginal, with an odd color or an erroneous logo? Pay attention to these and re-evaluate the download decision.
These days, on platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, everyone seems to be extremely generous. If you look at the replies to a tweet that sees high engagement, you can definitely see that one of your favorite crypto money companies or influencers is distributing gifts. If you only send them cryptocurrency, they promise to send you 5-10 times that amount seems too good to be true, right? Unfortunately, this is because it’s not real.
It’s highly unlikely that someone is making a legitimate gift delivery that requires you to send money first. You need to be careful about these types of messages on social media. While the messages come from accounts that look exactly like the ones you know and love, they’re actually part of the game. The same is true for the dozens of replies thanking the gift-issuing account for its generosity, as they are fake accounts or bots used as part of a giveaway scam.
You should ignore these messages. If you are really convinced that they are real, when you examine the profiles closely, you can see the difference and realize that the Twitter account, Instagram account or Facebook profile is fake.
And if reliable cryptocurrency exchanges decide to arrange gift distribution, they will never ask you to send fees in the first place.
In the cybersecurity lexicon, what is called phishing involves the scammer impersonating a person or company to steal victims’ personal data. It can be applied in many different media, such as phone, email, fake website or messaging application.
Scammers don’t rely on a single method to get their hands on personal information. You may receive an email saying that there is a problem with your exchange account and requires you to click on the link to resolve the issue. This link will redirect you to a fake website that looks like the original site, where you’ll be asked to log in. If successful, the attacker will steal your credentials and cryptocurrencies.
If someone gives you access to how you recover your account, they’ll also have access to it. Under no circumstances should this information be shared with others, not even cryptocurrency exchanges. It is not necessary to know the words of recovery in order to solve problems with wallets, so you can understand that a person who asked you for this information is a scammer.
Exchange organizations (Binance, huobi, etc.) will never ask you for your password. This condition applies to all services.
Some other safety tips include:
3- Fraudulent Emails
Even if the email looks exactly like an email you received from a legitimate cryptocurrency company, be careful before depositing your digital currency. Are the email, logo, and brand exactly the same? Can you verify that the email address is legitimately linked to the company? The fact that this is controllable is one of the reasons why it is important to choose a company that employs real people. If you’re in doubt about an email, ask someone who works at that company. Also, never click on a link in a message to go to a site.
Scammers often announce fake ICOs or initial coin offers to steal large sums of funds. Don’t believe these fake email and website opportunities. Study all the details without haste.
Unfortunately, there are many ways that some internet users can take advantage of unsecured computing systems to mine or steal cryptocurrency. Before you start investing in cryptocurrency, learn more about staying safe and protecting yourself in this bullish market.
