Common warning signs
The FTC warns that scammers may pose as an investment opportunity, business, government agency, or someone you know. They may direct you to buy cryptocurrency and send it to a wallet they control. Once sent, a crypto payment may be difficult to reverse or recover.
Search for the company or person independently, including complaints, before trusting a pitch. Do not use a link sent by the person making the claim as your only verification. Never share a wallet recovery phrase or private key.
If you suspect fraud
Stop communicating with the person, preserve the messages and transaction details, and report the incident through official channels. The FTC accepts reports at ReportFraud.ftc.gov; the CFPB also points people to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center for online scams.
PSM’s educational community can help beginners learn warning signs, but it cannot verify an individual investment or recover lost funds. Do not post private account or wallet information in any public group.