In 2023, U.S. investors lost over $5.6 billion to crypto scams — a 45% increase from the previous year.

In 2024, this number soared to $9.3 billion, up another 66%.

In Q1 2025 alone, over $1.77 billion was stolen through crypto-related fraud and theft.

Real Cases:

  • $7M lost in the blockchain game Fintoch, a Ponzi scheme disguised as a DeFi app. The team promised “1% per day” returns — then vanished with the bridge and website.

  • $12,000 stolen from a retail investor through a fake “ICO” in Telegram — complete with a lookalike website and a fake “urgent KYC request.”

  • In 2024, dozens of projects popped up on Telegram promising high APYs. None had public smart contracts, audits, or disclosed legal structures.

🧠 10 Signs You’re About to Be Scammed

📉 Opaque Tokenomics

If there’s no clear breakdown of token allocation — especially for team, investors, and liquidity — something’s off. Real projects have nothing to hide.

💰 Unrealistic APY Promises (1000%+ returns)

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Promising massive returns with no mechanism behind it is a hallmark of Ponzi or pump-and-dump schemes.

👻 No Team, No GitHub

If there’s no sign of a dev team and the GitHub is empty — that’s a phantom project. Real builders leave digital footprints.

🌐 No Legal Documents on Website

No privacy policy, no Terms of Use, no disclaimer = no accountability.

❗ Projects with a real Legal Opinion often publish it or provide it on request. The legal structure (LLC, Foundation, etc.) should be public.

🧪 No Smart Contract Audit

Legit DeFi protocols usually have at least one audit (e.g., Certik, Hacken, Trail of Bits). No audit = no go.

⏳ FOMO Tactics & Urgency

“Only 2 hours left,” “private round closes tonight,” “act now or miss out” — these are manipulation tools. Good projects don’t need a countdown clock.

📲 Telegram-Only “Project”

If the entire “project” lives in Telegram, with no site, dashboard, or metrics — it’s probably just a donation box with a chat room.

❌ Not Listed on CoinMarketCap or CoinGecko

If it doesn’t show up even after weeks, the team is either hiding or lazy. Neither is a good sign.

📉 No DEX Liquidity

Less than $20k TVL or no real trading volume on Uniswap? That’s not a real token — just a honeypot.

🎭 Impersonating Big Brands

Fake “Binance staking pools,” “official TON channels,” and Telegram groups with copycat logos are everywhere. Double check everything. Every time.

💡 Final Thoughts:

You don’t have to be a developer or a lawyer to stay safe.

You just need to ask:

  • Who’s behind this project?

  • Where are the legal docs and structure?

  • Why are the returns so high?

💼 A Legal Opinion is a document serious projects publish to prove compliance. If there’s no mention of one — that’s a red flag. No responsible party = no safety net.

🧷 Remember: While you’re dreaming of passive income, someone else is actually earning it — on your money.

They’re already driving the Lambo.

You’re just checking your empty wallet in MetaMask.

Stay skeptical. Check twice. Share once.

Disclaimer:

This material is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal, financial, or investment advice. Always conduct your own due diligence and consult qualified professionals before making any financial decisions. Mentioned cases and examples are provided for illustrative purposes — they do not imply endorsement or accusation.