How to avoid P2P crypto scams

The most common P2P scams and the simple habits that protect you from fake payments, chargebacks and frozen bank accounts.

P2P trading is safe when you follow a few rules. Almost every scam relies on getting you to skip one of them.

Common tricks

• Fake payment screenshots. The buyer sends an edited screenshot or a fake bank SMS and asks you to release quickly.
• Third-party payments. The money comes from someone other than the buyer, often stolen funds. The real owner later asks the bank to reverse it, and your account can be frozen.
• Off-platform deals. "Let's trade on WhatsApp, I'll give you a better rate." Outside the exchange there is no escrow and no help.
• Fake support agents. Someone claiming to be exchange support asks you to release crypto or share a code.

Habits that protect you

1. Release crypto only after you see the money in your own banking app. Never trust screenshots or messages.
2. Check that the sender's name matches the name on the P2P order.
3. Keep every message inside the exchange chat.
4. Prefer merchants with long histories and high completion rates.
5. If anything feels rushed or strange, open an appeal instead of releasing.

Real exchange staff will never ask you to release an order, send crypto to "verify" your account, or share your password or 2FA code.