Crypto Scams 2025: How to Spot Fake Coins, Fake Exchanges, and Rogue Airdrops

When you hear crypto scams 2025, fraudulent schemes designed to steal your cryptocurrency through fake projects, fake platforms, or fake promises. Also known as crypto fraud, these scams don’t need fancy tech—just your trust and your keys. Last year, over $3.5 billion vanished in crypto scams, and 2025 is shaping up to be worse. The tools haven’t changed much, but the lies have gotten more convincing.

One big category is fake crypto coins, tokens with no code, no team, and no future—just a flashy website and a pump-and-dump plan. Also known as micro-cap scams, they often copy real names like Starlink or DOGS to trick you into thinking they’re legit. Starlink (STARL) isn’t tied to Elon Musk’s satellite project—it’s a zero-product token that dropped 99.48% in weeks. DOGS Solana? 100 quadrillion tokens, zero utility, and a 99.9% chance of going to zero. These aren’t investments. They’re digital slot machines. Then there’s scam exchanges, fake platforms that look real but vanish with your funds. Rokes Commons Exchange? No regulators, no reviews, no history. ZBG? Suspicious volume, hidden fees, no clear ownership. Bitpin? Only trusted in Iran, nowhere else. If you can’t find a company registration, a team photo, or a single independent review, walk away. And don’t fall for crypto airdrop scams, fake free token offers that ask for your wallet password or seed phrase. SoccerHub (SCH) and VerseWar (VERSE) are real projects, but scammers copy their names to run phishing sites. If someone says "claim your free token now" and asks you to connect your wallet, it’s a trap.

These scams thrive on hype, urgency, and FOMO. They don’t need to fool everyone—just enough people to make a profit. The good news? You don’t need to be a tech expert to avoid them. Check for real teams, real code on GitHub, real volume on DEX Screener, and real user feedback. If it sounds too good to be true, it is. If you can’t find a single credible source talking about it, it’s probably fake. The crypto space is full of real innovation—but it’s also full of people trying to steal from you. Stay sharp. Stay skeptical. And don’t let a slick website or a trending tweet make you forget the most basic rule: if you didn’t create it, verify it.

Below, you’ll find real-world breakdowns of the most dangerous scams of 2025—fake coins, fake exchanges, and fake airdrops—so you know exactly what to avoid before you lose your money.