Common types of cryptocurrency fraud

The crypto-asset industry continues to grow rapidly and offers many new opportunities. Unfortunately, it also attracts fraudsters who try to take advantage of investors. Understanding the most common scam types can help you identify suspicious activity and better protect your funds.

Below is an overview of scams and fraud schemes that are frequently reported within the crypto-asset industry.

Investment scams

These scams often promise guaranteed or unusually high returns within a short period of time. Fraudsters may claim to have insider information, exclusive trading software, or access to a special investment group. They may ask you to transfer money or crypto-assets in order to participate.

Remember that no legitimate investment is risk-free. Change does not work with third parties offering investment management, trading signals, account management, or guaranteed profits.

Phishing attempts

Phishing is one of the most common online threats. Fraudsters may send emails, text messages, social media messages, or create fake websites that appear to be associated with Change.

Their goal is to trick you into revealing login credentials, recovery codes, verification codes, or personal information.

Always verify that any website you visit uses the correct domain and that communications originate from official Change channels. Do not click suspicious links or download attachments from unknown sources.

Be particularly cautious of messages claiming that your account must be urgently "secured", "verified", or "unlocked".

Impersonation and fake support scams

Fraudsters may pretend to be representatives of Change, your bank, law enforcement, or another financial institution.

They may ask you to share your screen, install software, provide remote access to your device, or disclose verification codes.

Change will never ask for your password, PIN code, recovery phrase, or two-factor authentication (2FA) codes. If someone claiming to represent Change requests this information, stop communicating immediately and contact our official support team.

Giveaway and celebrity scams

These scams are common on social media platforms and messaging applications. Fraudsters often impersonate celebrities, influencers, or well-known brands and promise free crypto-assets or investment opportunities.

They typically ask you to send crypto-assets first with the promise of receiving a larger amount in return.

Change never organises promotions that require customers to send crypto-assets in order to participate. Legitimate promotions are always announced through our official channels.

Fake exchanges and platforms

Some websites and mobile applications are designed to look like legitimate crypto-asset trading platforms. They may advertise low fees, special bonuses, or exclusive investment opportunities.

Before creating an account or transferring funds, always verify that the platform is authorised and operates under appropriate regulatory supervision.

Change Securities B.V. is authorised and regulated by the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) and operates in accordance with applicable European Union financial regulations.

Wallet ownership scams

Fraudsters may encourage you to transfer crypto-assets through wallets that are not under your control or ask you to use third-party wallets as part of an investment scheme.

Always ensure that any wallet used for deposits or withdrawals belongs to you and remains under your control.

Never send crypto-assets to a wallet controlled by another person unless you fully understand the associated risks.

What to do if you think you are a victim

If you believe you may have been targeted by a scam or have transferred crypto-assets to a fraudulent address, contact us immediately at support@changeinvest.com.

Please provide as much information as possible, including wallet addresses, transaction details, screenshots, and any communication with the suspected fraudster.

We will guide you through the next steps and help you secure your account. We also recommend reporting the incident to your local law enforcement authorities.