Bitcoin has become the most popular token on the market, but it’s not without controversy. Scams are everywhere within the cryptocurrency world, with many coming in the form of phishing sites that steal personal information. There are also ways to get bitcoins for free, which is just as risky when you’re investing your hard-earned cash into it. If you’re looking for a way to become a bitcoin trader, these bitcoin scams are the ones to watch out for.
What is Bitcoin?
Bitcoin is a digital asset and peer-to-peer payment system. It was designed to operate without any central authority, meaning the currency is not issued by any government or bank. This means that bitcoin transactions are verified by network nodes via cryptography, with each transaction recorded in a public ledger.
The cryptocurrency gained popularity in 2009 and has become increasingly popular as an investment ever since. As of 2019, there are more than 17 million bitcoins in circulation, with many people purchasing them due to the recent spike in value.
Bitcoin can be divided into smaller units called satoshis, named after the creator, Satoshi Nakamoto. One bitcoin equals 100 million satoshis.
The Risks Involved with Bitcoin
When it comes to bitcoin, there are three primary risks to watch out for. The first is the chance of getting scammed. There are many ways that your wallet could be hacked and your bitcoins stolen. Another risk is losing money due to a price crash. If the cryptocurrency market has a bad day, you could get caught up in the falling prices and lose some of your investment. Lastly, there is the risk of losing money by investing in a scammer or fake website.
If you want to become a successful Bitcoin trader, you need to be aware of these risks and know what you’re doing before jumping into the cryptocurrency industry.
How to Avoid Bitcoin Scams
Bitcoin is an inherently digital token, so it’s easy to see why people would want to invest in it. It’s also a security risk because of the number of scams users have to watch out for.
In order to protect yourself from scammers and phishing sites, there are some simple precautions you can take. Firstly, never give out your personal information like your address or email. It’s not worth the risk if someone else can use that information against you.
Another way to avoid scams is by only buying bitcoin through reputable websites and exchanges. Look for official logos and make sure that everything on the site looks professional. If you want an easier way to find legitimate companies selling bitcoin, use a service like a Google Chrome extension called Changelly which searches trusted websites with a single click!
Finally, never invest more than what you’re willing to lose in bitcoin because it’s not worth it if you don’t see any returns on your investment. You could end up losing access to your funds because they were stolen or hacked!
Basic Scams
Phishing scams are a common way to steal personal information, so it’s important to be aware of this scam. The idea is to get you to visit a “legitimate” website that looks like an exchange or service where you can trade bitcoin for other currencies. Once there, the site will ask for you to enter personal information, such as your email address and password.
The fake website then sends an email with a link that also contains your personal information. This gives cybercriminals access to your bank account, social media passwords, or any other sensitive information that can be used in identity theft schemes.
If you want to trade bitcoins for cash, make sure you use trustworthy sources such as local co-ops or exchanges where the staff can vouch for their legitimacy.
Phishing Sites
One of the most prevalent scams on the market is a bitcoin phishing site. These websites are designed to steal your personal information and then use it to take advantage of you.
Some phishing sites will ask you for your username, password, or even credit card information to sign-up for an account. Once you give them this information, they’ll just steal it and run away with it.
The best way to avoid these scams is by knowing how they operate and avoiding going near them. If you see someone asking for your login information, stop and think about what they could be doing with that data before giving it out.
Free Bitcoins
Many people think that they can get free bitcoins. However, in order to do so, it’s important to look out for fake sites. These sites often use “Bitcoins” or “bitcoin” in their domain name, but they aren’t actually related to digital currencies and won’t provide the user with anything of value.
Be careful when visiting these sites as they may lead you to a phishing site that will steal your personal information and then send the information on to hackers. If you’re looking for a legitimate way of getting bitcoins for free, check out our list of places where you can earn bitcoin without investing any money!
Advanced Scams
Bitcoin scams come in various forms, but the most common types are phishing sites that steal personal information. The scammers can get your personal information like your email, name and phone number to gain access to your account and send you a fake password.
Many people don’t even realize they’ve been scammed until it’s too late. These scams are tough because they’re so convincing and hard to identify. The best way to avoid these scams is by using two-factor authentication (2FA) on all of your accounts.
To stay safe, only trade with reputable traders or exchanges that have an established reputation for safety.
Spoof Emails
The most common way for scammers to steal your bitcoins is through spoof emails. These emails are fake, with the intention of fooling you into giving away your personal information. The best way to prevent this is by being skeptical of emails that seem suspicious and asking for personal information.
As always, be careful when installing software on your computer or phone and be especially careful when clicking links in emails. This will help protect your account against a scammer’s phishing attack.
Another common bitcoin scam is a fake wallet site that looks like an official wallet but really isn’t. These wallets are often designed to steal personal data like login credentials and send it back to the attacker’s website so they can more easily hack into your account.
If you’re going to invest in bitcoins, make sure you do it safely, by following these tips!
Fake Exchanges/Wallets
One of the most common scams on popular exchanges like Coinbase or Kraken is a fake exchange. These fake exchanges often ask you to send bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies to them and then never give it back. They also typically require you to provide your personal information, which can be used for phishing.
Another common scam is fake wallets. These scams will ask you for your password and private key so that they can make a copy of it and steal your bitcoins. When you get an email about a new wallet, just be sure to check the URL to make sure that it’s not being hosted on a fake domain before giving out any personal information.