Avoiding Scams

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<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">You check your email and find this:</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/pJ0172pRvN1L1Zxx0MuQ" alt="undefined"></span></p>
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<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Heart racing, you call back and give customer support your secret recovery phrase. Luckily, you caught the problem early! Your account is safe. </span><br><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">After a few minutes, you hang up and sign back in. </span><br><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Your jaw drops.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Zero balances across the board. </span><br><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Suddenly you realize: the worst has happened. You got scammed.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Scams like the one above cost users of crypto products billions of dollars each year, and new scams pop up every day. Keeping your funds out of the hands of cyber criminals can feel like a full-time job considering new scams pop up every day.</span></p>
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<h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Impersonation</span></h2>
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<li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Someone claiming to be a Blockchain.com employee may contact you via email, phone, or social media and ask for your recovery phrase, private key, or login information.</span></li>
<li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Blockchain.com (and most crypto companies) will not call you.</span></li>
<li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Unsure whether a request is legitimate? Open a Support Center Ticket.</span></li>
</ul>
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<h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Phishing Emails or Websites</span></h2>
<ul>
<li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">An email asks you to go to a website and reset your password or provide your private key. These sites often look identical to the sites they impersonate and can have a similar URL like b1ockchain.com, bl0ckchain.com or blockchain.io.</span></li>
<li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">These scams often result in a malicious third party recording your login details and stealing your funds.</span></li>
<li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Always double-check the URL of websites you visit.</span></li>
</ul>
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<h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Fake Investment Proposals</span></h2>
<ul>
<li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">This type of scam may ask you to &ldquo;pay a fee&rdquo; or &ldquo;pay a tax&rdquo; in order to release a bigger amount of funds to you.</span></li>
<li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Scammers usually impersonate official authorities such as the SEC or other financial institutions.</span></li>
<li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Fraudsters can go as far as to forge official-looking documents or fake ID cards.</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">And remember: never perform money transfers on behalf of another individual, either for them or by giving them your login details.</span></p>
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Learn how to protect your crypto from common scams like impersonation, phishing, and fake investments. Blockchain.com will never ask for your private info. 

3 Common Scams and How to Avoid Them

Common Scams

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<p><span style="color: #000000;">Social media is a great way to connect with others, stay informed and express yourself. But like everything in life, there are those out there who will try to use it to their advantage. In the past few weeks there&rsquo;s been an increase in bad actors on social media, sometimes impersonating Blockchain.com accounts. We want to make sure our community is as safe and informed as possible.</span></p>
<h2><span style="color: #000000;">Firstly, we will never initiate contact to ask you...</span></h2>
<ul>
<li style="color: #000000;"><span style="color: #000000;">To send us money</span></li>
<li style="color: #000000;"><span style="color: #000000;">To provide a password OR your 12 word recovery phrase</span></li>
<li style="color: #000000;"><span style="color: #000000;">For a fee to upgrade your account</span></li>
</ul>
<h2><span style="color: #000000;">Blockchain.com User Support</span></h2>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">Our support team conducts all customer communication through our <a href="https://support.blockchain.com/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank" style="color: #000000;">Support Center</a> and will only respond to you on our verified social media accounts. Be wary of anyone claiming otherwise &mdash; they&rsquo;re probably not a Blockchain.com representative. We will never ask you for your recovery phrase or passwords.</span></p>
<h2><span style="color: #000000;">If It Feels too Good to be True, It Probably Is</span></h2>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">Caution is the name of the game. Treat all offers of investment advice, mining opportunities, giveaway chances or any &lsquo;get rich quick&rsquo; scheme with the utmost caution. Blockchain.com will never offer these &lsquo;opportunities&rsquo;. Any airdrops will occur directly in the Blockchain.com Wallet or Exchange.</span></p>
<h2><span style="color: #000000;">Keep Yourself + Others Safe</span></h2>
<ul>
<li style="color: #000000;"><span style="color: #000000;">Never share your recovery phrase with anyone &mdash; especially over social media</span></li>
<li style="color: #000000;"><span style="color: #000000;">Avoid contact with any Facebook group, page, or profile claiming to represent Blockchain.com or our support team</span></li>
<li style="color: #000000;"><span style="color: #000000;">Report any suspicious activity to our Support Center, as well as the social media platforms themselves (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube).</span></li>
</ul>
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Protect Yourself on Social Media. Be wary of fake Blockchain.com accounts. We'll never ask for your money, password, or recovery phrase. Report suspicious activity and learn how to stay safe on social media.

How to avoid crypto scams on social media

Social Media Scams

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<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">We&rsquo;ve all received strange emails, an unexpected message from an unknown sender requesting funds or an unsolicited password reset. These emails look genuine, but should we trust them?</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Phishing (pronounced &ldquo;fishing&rdquo;) is an online attack that attempts to steal your money or identity, by getting you to reveal personal information.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">At Blockchain.com we&rsquo;re committed to help keep you safe online, so in this article we dissect an actual phishing attempt email, highlighting the tactics used.</span></p>
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<h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Tactic 1: &ldquo;From&rdquo; address impersonation</span></h2>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/ImrGtmIiQHeMyMmJEDi8" alt="undefined"></span></p>
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<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">In this example, the scammer has sent this email from an email address which is similar to our official email address: notify@wallet-tx.blockchain.com</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Be vigilant about possible omissions or incorrect characters in email addresses. You can also check our <a href="https://support.blockchain.com/hc/en-us/articles/4413805384852-What-are-the-most-common-scams" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">official email communications address</a> here.</span></p>
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<h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Tactic 2: Log-in information requests</span></h2>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/Z5lpd2eqQom1NtozIP6n" alt="undefined"></span></p>
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<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">If you get an email or text message (SMS) asking for your Blockchain.com account email, phone, password, or Private Key it most likely is a scam.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">We&rsquo;ll never ask you for login information or recovery phrases in a text or email. This includes:</span></p>
<ul>
<li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Credit or debit card number</span></li>
<li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Bank account detail</span></li>
<li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Account password</span></li>
<li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Blockchain.com Private Key</span></li>
<li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Blockchain.com Secret Recovery Phrase</span></li>
</ul>
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<h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Tactic 3: &ldquo;Appearing&rdquo; helpful</span></h2>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/vsWmFfjrS7aMASN7aSmo" alt="undefined"></span></p>
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<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">See here, the scammer is advising to use 2FA in order to increase security.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">We often see scammers sprinkling through what appears to be &ldquo;helpful&rdquo; hints and tips as a decoy tactic.</span></p>
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<h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Tactic 4: Using official logos and links</span></h2>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/So7EWljZTrKYoPal6JYq" alt="undefined"></span></p>
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<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Many phishing emails will consist of standard company logos and official sounding language to make it appear to be real.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">While there is no clear way to check if the logo is being used genuinely, it&rsquo;s important to remain vigilant that scammers will try their best to make the email look as professional as possible.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Phishing attacks are getting more and more sophisticated, with new tactics emerging all the time. The most important thing to remember is that at Blockchain.com, we will never ask for your login information, through any form of communication.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">If you have any doubt, open a <a href="https://support.blockchain.com/hc/en-us/requests/new" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">Support Center Ticket here</a> to confirm the validity of a request.</span></p>
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Learn how to spot email scams targeting your Blockchain.com account. We'll never ask for your password or recovery phrase. Watch out for spoofed sender addresses, login requests, fake urgency, and even helpful-sounding tactics.

Email Phishing: How to Spot a Scammer

Email Phishing

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<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Have you ever received a scam phone call or message? Crypto scams are on the rise and the tactics used are getting more and more sophisticated.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The Blockchain.com Security team has put together a cheat sheet to help you recognize the telltale signs of fraud and avoid risking your account or funds.</span></p>
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<h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Stay extra cautious on email</span></h2>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Email is one of the most common ways that a hacker can access your account. Always double check the sender email address before clicking on any links or attachments.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">We will never contact you from any other email address other than <a href="https://support.blockchain.com/hc/en-us/articles/4413805384852-What-are-the-most-common-scams" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">our official verified contact details.</a></span></p>
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<h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Top tip: Verify an email sender</span></h2>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Sometimes fraudsters can mask their actual email addresses to look like one of ours. To verify the actual email address that you are in contact with, check the email&rsquo;s headers..</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Here&rsquo;s how to find email headers:</span></p>
<ul>
<li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Gmail: <a href="https://support.google.com/mail/answer/29436?hl=en-GB#zippy=%2Cgmail" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Trace an email with its full headers</a></span></li>
<li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Outlook: <a href="https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/view-internet-message-headers-in-outlook-cd039382-dc6e-4264-ac74-c048563d212c#tab=Web" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">View internet message headers in Outlook</a></span></li>
<li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Others providers: <a href="https://support.google.com/mail/answer/29436?hl=en-GB#zippy=%2Cother-email-services" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Trace an email with its full headers</a></span></li>
</ul>
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<h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Use official Blockchain.com apps</span></h2>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Download our Blockchain.com mobile apps from the official store pages only.</span></p>
<h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Be wary of fake social media accounts</span></h2>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">We often see fake Blockchain.com social media accounts being created, make sure you follow and interact with our official pages only</span></p>
<ul>
<li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Facebook &mdash;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/blockchain" rel="follow" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">https://www.facebook.com/blockchain</a>&nbsp;</span></li>
<li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Twitter &mdash; <a href="https://twitter.com/Blockchain" rel="follow" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">https://twitter.com/Blockchain</a></span></li>
<li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Instagram &mdash; <a href="https://www.instagram.com/blockchainofficial" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">https://www.instagram.com/blockchainofficial</a></span></li>
<li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Twitter Support &mdash;&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/AskBlockchain" rel="follow" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">https://twitter.com/AskBlockchain</a>&nbsp;</span></li>
<li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">LinkedIn &mdash; <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/blockchain" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">www.linkedin.com/company/blockchain</a></span></li>
</ul>
<h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Recognize the tactics</span></h2>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">New tactics are being developed all the time but some of the most common scams that our customers have faced are detailed below:</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/iwLp5Lo8TSGPUk4oFnTM" alt="undefined"></span></p>
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Don't Fall Victim to Phishing & Fake Accounts. Blockchain.com's security guide teaches you how to spot common scams. Be wary of suspicious emails, download apps only from official stores, and follow our verified social media accounts.

Avoiding Scams

Avoiding Scams

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