The Dark Side of Crypto: Scams, Hacks & How to Protect Yourself

I love crypto. But let’s be real: it has a dark side.
For every legit project, there are scammers waiting to steal your coins.
For every bull run, there’s a hacker looking for weak wallets.

If you’re new to crypto, you need to know the dangers — and how to protect yourself.

🪤 1. Scam Projects & Rug Pulls

Fake coins or tokens that vanish after launch

Projects promising “guaranteed 100x”

Teams with no history, no transparency

How to protect yourself:

Research the team and project

If it sounds too good to be true, it is

Stick to trusted platforms

📩 2. Phishing & Fake Links

Emails or DMs pretending to be from “support”

Fake websites that look like exchanges or wallets

Telegram & Discord scams everywhere

How to protect yourself:

Never click random links

Bookmark official sites

Double-check URLs before logging in

👀 3. Fake Influencers & Pump Groups

“Buy this coin now!” hype accounts

Private groups promising insider info

Paid signals with no real value

How to protect yourself:

Don’t follow hype blindly

Do your own research (DYOR)

Remember: if they’re selling you signals, they’re making money off you

💻 4. Hacks & Exchange Risks

Exchanges getting hacked (Mt. Gox, FTX collapse)

Wallets compromised through weak passwords

Malware stealing seed phrases

How to protect yourself:

Never leave large amounts on exchanges

Use hardware wallets (Trezor)

Use strong passwords + 2FA

🤝 5. Real-World Threats

Crypto crime isn’t always online:

People have been targeted after bragging about their gains

Some got robbed during peer-to-peer trades

How to protect yourself:

Don’t tell everyone about your holdings

Stay humble online

Meet in public places if trading in person

🧠 Final Thoughts

Crypto is powerful — but it’s not risk-free.
Stay sharp. Stay humble. Protect your keys, your coins, and your privacy.

Remember: it’s easier to avoid losing money than to make it back.

💬 Have you ever seen or experienced a crypto scam? Share your story in the comments so we can all learn.
Follow @andytherbg — I’ll keep giving you the real side of crypto: the wins and the warnings.