Scammers have a playbook. Once you know it, the red flags are obvious. Here’s what’s hitting beginners hardest this year — and how to spot it before you lose money.
Know the Playbook Before a “Trader” DMs You
Group-IB’s list of the top 10 crypto scams of 2026 reads like a greatest hits of greed and fear: fake investment apps, “guaranteed returns”, romance scams that pivot to crypto, and impersonators posing as support staff. Every single one preys on the same two emotions — the fear of missing out, and the hope of easy money.
Lion’s take: If someone promises you a return, it’s a scam. Bitcoin doesn’t pay interest. Real bitcoin is something you hold, not something that “earns” by handing it to a stranger.
The Crypto ATM Trap
The FBI and DFPI are warning about crypto ATM scams — fraudsters who pressure victims to feed cash into a Bitcoin ATM to “protect” their funds. No government agency, bank, or exchange ever asks you to do this. Once cash goes into that ATM, it’s gone and unrecoverable.
Lion’s take: Legitimate businesses don’t call you and demand bitcoin payments. Hang up. Verify through official channels. And never send crypto to “recover” crypto you already lost — that’s the second scam, not the rescue.