The rise of cryptocurrency has attracted not only legitimate investors and innovators but also cybercriminals seeking to exploit the unregulated nature of the industry. Fake crypto exchanges have become a significant threat, scamming users by luring them into depositing funds that can never be withdrawn.
These fraudulent platforms often disguise themselves with professional-looking websites, too-good-to-be-true promises, and imitation branding of trusted exchanges. In this article, we will provide a comprehensive list of known fake crypto exchanges, helping you identify and avoid these scams before they can harm your investments.
What is a Fake Crypto Exchange?
A fake crypto exchange is a fraudulent platform designed to deceive users into depositing their cryptocurrency, only to steal the funds. These exchanges mimic legitimate ones, often featuring professional-looking websites, but their primary goal is to scam unsuspecting investors.
Scammers typically create fake exchanges by using convincing interfaces that resemble real exchanges, promising high returns or favorable trading conditions. Once users deposit their funds, they often find themselves unable to withdraw, or the platform simply vanishes overnight. Fake exchanges also sometimes use phishing techniques, where they replicate well-known exchanges to steal login credentials, giving the scammers direct access to wallets.
One hallmark of a fake exchange is the offer of high returns or bonuses that seem too good to be true, paired with hidden fees or a continuous demand for more investment. Another red flag is the lack of verifiable information about the team behind the platform or its operational history.
Investors can protect themselves by sticking to reputable exchanges, verifying if the exchange is listed on trusted platforms like CoinMarketCap, and checking for user reviews and feedback before making any deposits.
List of Fake Crypto Exchanges and Scammers
- CryptoWallet.com
- CryptoJunkies
- WEX Exchange (formerly BTC-e)
- QuadrigaCX
- Thodex
- Wexly.io
- BuyBitcoinMining.io
- PoolinWallet.com
- Pines Investor Scam
- Clubillion.io Scam
- CryptoComSite.com
- BTCRevolution.cloud
- Gemcoin
- Bezop
- EtherDelta
- BitcoinPrime.io
- FXCryptoClub.com
- CryptoCoinXchange.com
- BitcoinGoldScript.com
- PlusToken
- Wotoken
- Bitconnect
- CryptoMiningMachines
- CryptoPoint.Club
- AlphaWallet.net
- Sheep Crypto Scam
- Bitcoin Revolution
- Apyeth Gifts (apyeth.gifts)
- cglobalw.com (Entity Impersonating CoinW)
- ethernet035.com
- ethereumxcorp.com
- wmt-exchange.org
- Coinegg (ceggcc.vip)
- ExNow (ExNow-Digital Currency Exchange)
- Kenskr AI (kenskrksr.com)
- MindStone Technology Ltd (mindstoneltd.org)
- Whitcoin Pro Exchange (Whitcoinpro.net)
- Coin Pro X US (coinproxus.com)
- X Coin Trading (xcoin-trading.com)
- Sundell Ltd (Sundell-fx.com)
- FX Alliance Traders (fxalliance-trader.com, fxalliance-traders.com)
- drwaps.com
- Spotalertweb.com
- FPMOTC (fpmotc.vip)
- bitcoin-win.com
- Bityard (bityardpro.com, bityardit.com)
- Moodysfx Global Limited (moodyfx.com)
- us.gocoinoptions.com
- ccy-space.com
- lidcoin.vip and h5.lidcoin.vip
- legalcryptocoinstrade.com
- vexjex.cc
- getbonusx2.com and getx2.net
- CDFXTrade.online
- bitso-crypto.top
- XHEX
- Suniths Smith Gowda
- JessicaPTrades (Jessica)
- John Joseph Travolta Imposter
- Amead Digital Currency Co. LTD (tyshw.com)
- Bytobit.com
- Julysil (julysil-support.com, julysil-bit.com, julysil-coin.com, julysil-pro.com, julysilcoin.com, julysilpro.com, juzhiju.com)
- MT7 Coin (mt7coin.com)
- Pinance.io
- Entity Impersonating Radiant Capital (appradiantcapital.com, appradiant-capital.org)
- Dahua Top VIP (dahuatop.com, uobvip.com, dahuagvip.com)
- Bitcoin Vest Cloud (bitcoinvestcloud.com, Cryptovestcloud)
- Unix FX Trades (unifxtrades.live)
- bybpoz.com and imxofz.vip
- Aspro ex (asproex.com)
- 88 Trading LLC (Impersonating DBS Banking app)
- Energise Trade (energisetrade.com)
- LIQULDOHN.COM
- Bitcoin Bonus (pro-btmining.site, MineSlot.site, RedParNet.site)
- A16Zcrypto (a16zcrypto.cc, a16zcrypto.buzz, a16zcrypto.com)
- BC Group (bcgros.vip, bcgmnt.vip, bcgmts.vip)
- Changellytrade.com (Impersonating Changelly exchange)
- ICEX/ICEAX (icexas.com, iceax.com, icextee.top, icetrad.cc)
- user.fcrown.info
- Foundry Pro Node Mining (foundrypro.net)
- OpenSoil / Open Soil X (h5.opensoilx.com)
- 247 Trade Growth (247tradegrowth.net)
- Entity impersonating Prosperous Group Ltd (prospers.business, profintech.live)
- HOO.com (HOO Tech Ltd)
- NYMEX (Impersonating New York Mercantile Exchange)
- BakerySwap (bac-snx.com/bakery/BAKEV2/SNX)
- AnaBrokersTrade / Becky Bitcoin Analyst Trader
- Entity impersonating Benito Revilla (benitorevilla.com)
- Rapid Forex Trade (RapidForexTrade.com)
- Dapps-eth.io
- Crystal Linkz FX (crystallinkzen.com)
- Coinrus.com (Entity impersonating Korean Crypto Exchange Coinone.co.kr)
- CME Coin VIP (cmecoinvip.com, fileserverj.com)
- Bitglobal (Bit Global Options, bitglobaloptn.com, bitglobaloptions.com)
- Entity Impersonating Kuna.io (www.kubhc.vip, www.kubkhy.vip/download)
- Entity Impersonating Coinhako (coinhakoxds.com)
- Hong Kong Selead Group Limited (hkselead.com)
- Copper Crypto (Entity Impersonating Copper Technologies)
- File Coins Foundation (File-coinfo.com)
- Win Coining (wincoining.com)
- Defi Protocol (defi.wallet-usdt-eth.com, defi.wallet-usdt-erc20.com)
- The Big Mars (thebigmars.com)
- Mana Pool (manapool-eth.com, www.manapool-eth.info)
- Entity impersonating legitimate platforms (Coinbase, Crypto.com)
- ETH Finance (ETH-Finance.io)
- Hydefieco (hydefieco.com)
- OS Option Exchange (osoptionexchange.com)
- Tahoe Digital Exchange (Tahoe-dex.com)
- Uniswap.LLC (uniswap.llc)
- VoyanX.com
- Penzo Limited (penzolead.com)
- Wintermute impersonation (eth-wintermute.net)
- Unison FX Limited (unisonfx.com)
- Reliable Option Trade (reliableoptiontrade.com)
- RB Hood (rbhoodc.com, rbhoodz.com, rbhoodd.xyz)
- Dilong Trading Limited / Affirm Rich Trading Company Limited
- Infinity Option (infinityoption.net)
- GE Chains (gechains.com)
- Tony Alin Trading Firm (tonyalinberker.com)
- MUFG Pro (mu-fgpro.info, Mufg-Pro.com)
- Trade 1960 (trade1960.com)
Common Characteristics of Fake Crypto Exchanges
Fake cryptocurrency exchanges have distinct characteristics designed to deceive users and steal their funds. Being able to recognize these traits can help you avoid falling victim to scams. Here are some of the most common features of fraudulent crypto exchanges:
1. Lack of Regulatory Compliance: Legitimate exchanges are often registered with financial authorities and provide clear information about their compliance with regulatory standards. Fake exchanges, on the other hand, tend to avoid transparency, often omitting important legal details or providing false information.
2. Unrealistic Returns and Promises: One of the most glaring red flags is the promise of exceptionally high returns with minimal risk. Fake exchanges use this tactic to lure inexperienced users by advertising guaranteed profits or exclusive deals that seem too good to be true.
3. Suspicious Website Design: While many fake exchanges attempt to mimic the design of legitimate platforms, there are often small giveaways, such as poor grammar, broken links, and inconsistencies in branding or functionality. Some platforms may also use cloned domains that resemble well-known exchanges but with minor differences in the URL.
4. Difficulty Withdrawing Funds: One of the most common tactics used by fake exchanges is blocking users from withdrawing their funds. They might impose unexpected fees, claim additional deposits are needed for verification, or even freeze accounts indefinitely under false pretenses.
5. Lack of Customer Support: Scammers behind fake exchanges rarely offer reliable customer support. While legitimate exchanges provide multiple channels for user assistance, fake platforms tend to offer only vague or automated responses, if any at all.
6. Aggressive Marketing Tactics: Many fake exchanges rely on aggressive online marketing, including social media ads, email campaigns, and endorsements from fake or stolen identities. These platforms create a sense of urgency, pushing users to invest quickly without adequate research.
7. No External Reviews or Independent Verification: Fake exchanges rarely have credible reviews from independent platforms. They may showcase fake testimonials or reviews on their own site but lack any legitimate feedback from real users or third-party review platforms.
By keeping an eye out for these warning signs, investors can better protect themselves from falling victim to fraudulent exchanges.
How Can You Spot a Fake Crypto Exchange?
To spot a fake crypto exchange, you need to be aware of several key warning signs that scammers typically use to deceive users. Here’s how to identify such platforms:
1. Unrealistic Promises: If an exchange offers guaranteed returns, high-yield investments, or “too good to be true” deals, it’s likely a scam. Scammers lure people in by promising substantial profits with minimal risk, a tactic often used in fake exchanges and Ponzi schemes.
2. Lack of Transparency: Legitimate exchanges provide clear information about their team, governance, and business operations. If a platform lacks these details or has vague explanations, that’s a red flag.
3. Poor Website and App Quality: Fake exchanges often mimic legitimate platforms but might have noticeable flaws, like grammatical errors, poorly designed websites, or inconsistencies in their branding. These subtle cues can indicate a fake.
4. Pressure Tactics: Fraudulent exchanges may push users to act quickly, using urgent calls to action like limited-time offers to make people deposit funds before fully evaluating the platform.
5. Fake Social Media Presence: Be cautious of exchanges heavily promoted on social media through unsolicited messages or promises of giveaways. Scammers often use these methods to build trust and mislead users into investing.
6. No Real Reviews: Always check reviews and ratings on independent websites. A fake exchange will often lack genuine reviews or might have overwhelmingly positive but generic reviews, which are often fabricated.
7. Lack of Regulation or Registration: Ensure that the exchange is registered with regulatory bodies in its operating country. Scammers often run unlicensed platforms, which is a clear sign of fraud.
By keeping an eye out for these warning signs and verifying information through trusted sources, you can protect yourself from falling victim to fake crypto exchanges.
Final Thought
In the rapidly evolving world of cryptocurrency, staying vigilant is crucial to avoid falling prey to fake exchanges. By recognizing the red flags—such as unrealistic promises, lack of regulation, and poor transparency—you can safeguard your assets and trust only legitimate platforms.
While the number of scam exchanges continues to grow, taking the time to research and verify a platform before depositing funds can save you from significant financial loss. Remember, if something seems too good to be true, it likely is. Stay informed and cautious to protect your investments in the crypto space.
