Some scam sites copy a real exchange down to the logo and colours. Others invent an exchange that looks just as polished. Either way, the result is the same: you deposit, you trade, and you cannot get your money out. Here is how to spot a fake crypto exchange before it costs you anything.
Two kinds of fake exchange
| Clone | Copies a real exchange name and design, on a look alike address |
|---|---|
| Invented exchange | A new brand with a professional site and fake trading data |
Check the address first
Clones depend on small differences: an extra letter, a hyphen, a different ending such as .net or .co, or a word like pro, global or app added to the name. Type the address of any exchange yourself, or use a bookmark. Do not follow links from ads, messages or search results you did not check.
Deposited on an exchange you now doubt?
Report it to Cyanosoft for a free review.
Signs of an invented exchange
- ✗ No named company, address or regulator
- ✗ Very high returns on staking or savings products
- ✗ Customer support only on Telegram or WhatsApp
- ✗ Deposits only in crypto, no bank options
- ✗ The coin list includes tokens you cannot find anywhere else
- ✗ You were introduced to it by someone you met online
Test before you trust
- Search the name with the word scam on Google and Bing.
- Look for the exchange on independent data sites that list real trading volume.
- Check the regulator lists such as the FCA Warning List and the IOSCO I-SCAN.
- Look up the domain age with a WHOIS search.
- Make a tiny deposit and withdraw it before adding more.
The fake price trick
Some fake exchanges show prices that move like the real market, copied from a real data feed. Your trades seem to work and your balance grows. But nothing is real. The balance is only a number in their database. The test is always the same: can you withdraw, without paying a new fee first?
fake crypto exchange: If you already deposited
- ✗ Stop depositing and refuse any withdrawal fees
- ✗ Screenshot your balance, history and the site address
- ✗ Save the deposit addresses and transaction hashes
- ✗ Report to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), Action Fraud or your local police
- ✗ Report the site to Google Safe Browsing so browsers can warn others
Using real exchanges safely
Even on a genuine exchange, use a bookmark, an authenticator app and withdrawal address whitelisting. Many big exchanges also offer an anti phishing code that appears in their real emails. These small steps protect you from clones and from fake support messages.
Can a fake exchange have an app?
Yes. Some offer web apps or downloads from their own site.
Is a high trading volume proof it is real?
No. Volume shown on the site itself can be invented.
A real example of a clone
One victim searched for a well known exchange and clicked the first result, which was a paid advert. The page looked identical, accepted his login and asked him to deposit to verify his account. The address in the browser had one extra letter. His real account was never touched, but the deposit went straight to the scammers. Since then he only opens the exchange through its official app or a saved bookmark, never through search results or adverts.
Search adverts are a common route for clones, so treat any sponsored result with extra care.
fake crypto exchange: The short version
- Type exchange addresses yourself.
- Check regulators and domain age.
- Withdraw a small test amount first.
- Never pay a fee to withdraw.
fake crypto exchange: More help from Cyanosoft
- Seed Phrase Stolen? Move Your Crypto Now
- Wallet Drainer Scams: Fake Airdrops and Approvals
- Crypto Giveaway Scams: Why Doubling Offers Are Fake
- Fake Binance Emails and Texts: How to Check
- How Stolen Crypto Is Traced on the Blockchain
Search Cyanosoft fake crypto exchange on Google, Bing, YouTube, TikTok or ask ChatGPT.
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General information only. Cyanosoft does not promise any recovery outcome.
