Types of Crypto Scams and How to Avoid Them
Most crypto scams are not sophisticated — they repeat a handful of patterns and rely on people not running one check. Here are the main types in 2026 and the specific thing that stops each one.
Rug pulls
The team removes liquidity or dumps a retained supply, and the token goes to zero. The check: confirm liquidity is locked or burned and that mint authority is renounced before buying. A rug checker does this in seconds.
Honeypots
The contract lets you buy but blocks selling, so only the deployer can exit. The check: run a sell simulation (honeypot check) before buying. If it fails, walk away.
Wallet drainers and fake sites
A fake mint, airdrop or bridge site tricks you into signing a transaction that drains your wallet. The check: only reach a site from a source you already trust (never a DM or ad), and never sign a transaction or approval you do not understand. Check an address or contract before you interact with it.
Impersonation and fake support
Someone poses as a founder, admin or "support" and DMs you to "help" — then asks for your seed phrase or a signature. The check: real support never DMs first and never needs your seed phrase. Anyone asking for it is a scammer, full stop.
Pump-and-dumps
A group hypes a token to draw in buyers, then the insiders sell into the demand. The check: look at holder concentration — if a few wallets hold most of the supply, you are exit liquidity. Size tiny and never chase a vertical candle.
The universal checklist (and where AI fits)
Before you buy a token: sellable (honeypot), liquidity locked, mint/freeze renounced, holders not concentrated. Before you interact with a site or address: trusted source, and check the address. Autonomous Intelligence puts these into free tools — a rug checker, honeypot checker, scam/address checker and wallet scan, no wallet connection needed — and its AI Gem Radar rug-gates new tokens before you see them. Powered by the $JARVIS token on Solana.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common types of crypto scams?
The most common are rug pulls, honeypots, wallet drainers and fake sites, impersonation and fake support, and pump-and-dumps. Each has a specific defence: liquidity and authority checks for rugs, sell simulations for honeypots, trusted sources for fake sites, never sharing your seed phrase for impersonation, and holder-distribution checks for pump-and-dumps.
How can I avoid crypto scams?
Before buying a token, verify it is sellable, its liquidity is locked, its authorities are renounced, and its holders are not concentrated. Before interacting with a site, only reach it from a trusted source and never sign what you do not understand. Free tools like rug, honeypot and scam checkers automate the token checks.
What is a wallet drainer?
A wallet drainer is a malicious site or transaction that, once you sign it, transfers out your tokens or grants an approval that lets the attacker take them. Avoid it by only reaching sites from trusted sources and never signing approvals or transactions you do not understand.
Someone from "support" DMed me — is it a scam?
Almost certainly. Legitimate support does not DM you first and never needs your seed phrase or private key. Anyone who asks for your seed phrase is a scammer. Do not reply, and never share it.
How do I check if a token or address is a scam?
Use a scam/address checker and a rug/honeypot checker. They inspect the contract and address for the mechanical signs of a scam. Autonomous Intelligence offers all of these free, with no wallet connection needed.
Can a tool detect every crypto scam?
No. Tools reliably catch mechanical scams (honeypots, unlocked liquidity, retained authorities, concentrated supply), but they cannot detect a determined social-engineering attack or guarantee a token will succeed. Checks lower your risk; they do not remove it.
This article is for general information only and is not financial advice. Trading and launching crypto tokens carries risk. Always do your own research and verify any contract yourself.