Tool

Is this a crypto scam? 10-question checklist

Got a message, call or offer involving crypto? Tick every statement that fits. Each one is a warning sign from the FBI, FTC or SEC. It runs in your browser, and nothing you tick is sent anywhere.

• Are they asking you to pay in crypto, gift cards or a wire transfer?
  The FTC says never pay anyone who insists on crypto, a wire transfer or a gift card. Only scammers demand payment in crypto.
• Do they promise guaranteed or very high returns?
  The FTC says only scammers guarantee profits or big returns. The SEC says there is no such thing as a guaranteed high return.
• Did someone you met online, on a dating site or app, bring up crypto investing?
  The FTC says if someone you meet on a dating site or app wants to show you how to invest in crypto, that’s a scam.
• Do you have to pay a fee, tax or deposit to withdraw your “profits”?
  The SEC says scammers show fake profits, then demand a fee, tax or deposit to release them.
• Is someone offering to get lost money back for a fee?
  The FBI says it never asks for payment to recover lost funds and never refers people to companies that charge.
• Did they contact you first, out of the blue, or add you to a group chat?
  The FTC says scammers reach out by call, text, email or social media. The SEC warns that group chats are a common way investment scams begin.
• Do they say they’re from the government, your bank, tech support or a company you know?
  The FTC says scammers pretend to be organizations you know and can fake the name and number on caller ID.
• Are they rushing you, or asking you to keep it secret?
  The FTC says scammers pressure you to act immediately and may ask you not to tell anyone. Honest businesses give you time.
• Did they send you a link or tell you to use a particular app or website?
  The SEC says being in a well-known app store doesn’t make an app, or the profits shown in it, real.
• Did they ask for personal or account details you didn’t expect to give?
  The FTC says don’t give personal or financial information in response to a request you didn’t expect.

Clear all

Your result

A checklist, not a verdict. It can’t catch every scam, and it isn’t legal or financial advice. Questions checked against the sources below on 3 November 2026.

Where the questions come from

• FTC — How To Avoid a Scam
• FTC — What To Know About Cryptocurrency and Scams
• FTC — Avoiding and Reporting Gift Card Scams
• SEC Investor.gov — Group Chats as a Gateway to Investment Scams
• FBI IC3 — FBI Warns of Scammers Impersonating the IC3 (20 Jul 2026)

More help

• AI crypto scams: how they work and how to report one.
• Crypto scams targeting older parents: how to help a family member.
• Crypto wallet drainers: what to do if you signed something.

FAQ

Is this checklist saved or sent anywhere?

No. It runs in your browser. Nothing you tick leaves your device, and the page doesn’t store it.

Does a low score mean it’s safe?

No. The checklist covers common warning signs from the FBI, FTC and SEC, not every scam. If something still feels wrong, wait, and talk it over with someone you trust before you pay.

Why does one tick give a high-risk result?

Some signs are so strongly linked to scams that one is enough. The FTC says only scammers demand payment in crypto or guarantee big returns, and the FBI says it never charges to recover lost money.

Where do I report a crypto scam?

To the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and the FBI at ic3.gov. Also tell the exchange, crypto ATM operator, bank or gift card company you paid through, as soon as you can.