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"Is this a scam?" self-check

Lumen editorial team· Runs in your browser · no data collected

Did someone message you offering to help you make money? Does a platform want you to deposit before you can withdraw? Answer the questions below and we'll help you see how strong the warning signs really are. This is an aid to judgment, not a substitute for your own caution.

Question 1 / 6
Who told you about this "opportunity"?
Question 2 / 6
Has it promised you any returns?
Question 3 / 6
Where does it want you to act or deposit?
Question 4 / 6
Has anyone asked you for any of these?
Question 5 / 6
Is it creating a sense of urgency?
Question 6 / 6
Can you verify it independently?
0
Whatever the result, remember this iron rule The moment someone asks you to send money, hand over a seed phrase or verification code, download an off-site app, or pay a fee before withdrawing — no matter how good it sounds — stop. Keeping your money on a regulated, high-volume exchange you signed up for yourself, and trading it yourself, is the simplest protection there is.
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This tool only gives a guideline based on your answers and is not a promise or legal opinion. Make the final call based on your actual situation and stay alert.

The 7 warning signs of a scam (expand)

Crypto scams come in many shapes, but the core playbook is remarkably consistent. Keep these seven signs in mind and you'll recognize the vast majority of them:

1. They come to you

A stranger adds you and eagerly offers to "help you make money," or someone claiming to be support reaches out and tells you what to do — that's the classic opening of romance-investment scams and support impersonation. A real platform doesn't approach you like this.

2. Promises of guaranteed or fixed high returns

Crypto is wildly volatile, and no legitimate entity can promise "sure profit," "capital protected" or a "fixed annual yield." That promise itself is the biggest warning sign.

3. Pulling you off official channels

Getting you to download an app you've never heard of, click a strange link, or act through some "private channel" — the goal is to drag you away from the regulated platform that would protect you.

4. Asking for your seed phrase, private key or codes

Anyone who asks for these is a scammer. A real exchange or wallet will never ask you for your seed phrase or verification code.

5. A fee before you can withdraw

"Pay a margin / unfreezing fee / tax first to withdraw" is a classic trick. Pay it and there's always another fee — the money never comes out.

6. Manufactured urgency

"Limited spots," "closing soon" — pressure designed to stop you thinking. A genuine opportunity isn't afraid of you verifying it slowly.

7. Impossible to verify independently

An "insider tip" you can only take their word for, that doesn't check out on any official channel — don't trust it.

For a deeper look, read our field guide to romance-investment scams and how to tell real apps and support from fakes.