Crypto Scam Vectors: Guides by Attack Type

Detective S, a purple duck detective with a monocle, interrogates a golden crypto coin dressed as a femme fatale in a cyberpunk interrogation room

11 documented vectors

Each guide explains one attack type and links to the documented cases where it happened, with sources.

All documented cases

Interrogation room · 03:14

Choose an attack type to understand how it works, recognize its warning signs, and read documented cases.

Open the case file Interrogate a message

Live

"Just sign to claim" — and you signed an unlimited spend approval.

Price only goes up, tokens never leave: honeypot with the sell button welded shut.

Support that messages you first isn't support.

Crypto fraud repeats with fresh costumes. Each vector maps the mechanics, the red flags, and the cases where we documented the sting.

Same cons, new costumes. Pick a vector and learn the tells.

Signals

11 of 11 vectors

Wallet drainers

One signature, empty wallet. The mechanics of drainers, poisoned addresses and tampered devices.

Signature / approvalSeed phrase & devicesImpersonationFake jobs & recruiters

Open the vector

Approval phishing

They don't want your keys. They want your permission — granted once, used forever.

Signature / approvalSeed phrase & devicesImpersonationTokens & liquidity

Open the vector

Fake tokens & honeypots

The balance is real on screen and fictional on-chain. Honeypots, flash USDT and exit rugs.

Signature / approvalTokens & liquiditySmart contract / protocolPromised profit / rewards

Open the vector

Bridge exploits

Real collateral on one side, a claim on the other. When verification breaks, the claim wins.

Tokens & liquiditySmart contract / protocolBridges & cross-chainCash-out & mixers

Open the vector

OTC & cash fraud

Big-ticket deals, private rooms, no referee. Where OTC settlement goes wrong.

ImpersonationCash & off-chainPromised profit / rewardsCash-out & mixers

Open the vector

AI-powered scams

Deepfaked founders, hallucinated audits, agents that sign for you. Fraud at machine speed.

Signature / approvalImpersonationAI & deepfakesFake jobs & recruiters

Open the vector

Showing 6 of 11

Every documented vector

Full index of the hubs, each with the guide to that attack type and the case files behind it.

Wallet Drainers & Address Poisoning — One signature, empty wallet. The mechanics of drainers, poisoned addresses and tampered devices.
Approval Phishing & Signature Traps — They don't want your keys. They want your permission — granted once, used forever.
Fake Tokens, Honeypots & Rug Pulls — The balance is real on screen and fictional on-chain. Honeypots, flash USDT and exit rugs.
Cross-Chain Bridge Exploits — Real collateral on one side, a claim on the other. When verification breaks, the claim wins.
OTC Desk & Cash Settlement Fraud — Big-ticket deals, private rooms, no referee. Where OTC settlement goes wrong.
AI-Powered Crypto Scams — Deepfaked founders, hallucinated audits, agents that sign for you. Fraud at machine speed.
Smart Contract & Protocol Exploits — The contract worked perfectly. That was the problem.
Crypto Laundering Networks — The theft is the easy part. This is the industry that turns stolen coins into spendable money.
Crypto Investment Fraud & Ponzi Schemes — Guaranteed returns are a maths problem, and the maths always resolves the same way.
Crypto Data Breaches & Vendor Leaks — The keys stay safe. The customer list does not — and that list is the next phishing campaign.
Fake Airdrops & Claim Page Scams — Free money is the bait. The signature on the claim page is the trap.

Crypto scam guides by attack type

Wallet drainers

Approval phishing

Fake tokens & honeypots

Bridge exploits

OTC & cash fraud

AI-powered scams