Crypto scam & safety guides

SimpleSwap Safety Academy

Learn how crypto scams work, where they can reach you, and what to check before a transaction becomes final.

The only official SimpleSwap website is simpleswap.io. Be aware of lookalike domains and accounts claiming to represent SimpleSwap.

Know the service

What to know about SimpleSwap

Operating since 2018

SimpleSwap has been operating since 2018, with more than 20M swaps processed for 10M+ users.

Self-custodial model

SimpleSwap does not maintain a permanent customer balance between swaps. Funds move wallet-to-wallet.

Private credentials

SimpleSwap never asks for your seed phrase or private keys. Never share them with anyone claiming to be support.

Official website

simpleswap.io is the only official SimpleSwap domain. Check the full address before starting an exchange.

**Stefan Lauer**, Head of Infrastructure, SimpleSwap

Here's the scale of it, and where the risk actually concentrates.

$11.37B

reported to the FBI in 2025 – the highest total on record

~2/3

of crypto theft cases involved social engineering, not hacking

attack patterns documented in this Academy

Scam or hack: what’s the difference?

Scam

Deception manipulates you into sending funds, revealing sensitive information, or granting permissions.

Hack

An attacker exploits code or gains unauthorized access so funds move without your intended action.

A hack is a technical failure – there is little for you to watch for. A scam is different: it depends on you taking an action, which means it also leaves signals before it works. Learning how to avoid crypto scams comes down to a handful of signals that repeat across almost every pattern in this Academy:

Red flags that repeat across scams

Urgency
Guaranteed returns
Requests for a seed phrase or private key
Unsolicited contact
Pressure to move the conversation elsewhere
A fee to unlock money that is supposedly already yours

Any one of these is a reason to stop and check.

Explore the Safety Academy

Thirteen attack patterns, one place to learn how each one works.

Spot a Fake SimpleSwap in 10 Seconds

Clone sites can copy a logo, design and exchange form. Learn the quickest way to tell simpleswap.io from a lookalike.

Run the 10-second check

Crypto Phishing in 2026: The Tells You Were Taught Are Gone

Bad grammar and suspicious links no longer give it away. Learn what actually works now – and the one thing attackers still can't fake.

See what still holds up

Pig Butchering: The Scam That Starts With a Friendly Message

A long-con fraud that builds trust for weeks or months before introducing a fake investment and asking for real crypto.

See how it works

Fake Giveaways & Deepfake Impersonation: “Send 1, Get 2 Back”

A familiar face can now be faked convincingly. The request is easier to check: if you have to send crypto first, it is not a giveaway.

Know the warning signs

Approval Phishing & Wallet Drainers: How One Signature Can Put Your Tokens at Risk

How malicious approvals and signatures can give attackers access to tokens without ever asking for your seed phrase.

Understand wallet drainers

MEV & Sandwich Attacks: How Bots Skim On-Chain Trades

How bots can extract value from public DEX trades – and how fake “MEV bot” schemes use the same concept to steal deposits.

See how it works

Address Poisoning: The Copy-Paste Trap

How attackers plant lookalike wallet addresses in transaction history and wait for you to copy the wrong one.

Avoid the copy-paste trap

Clipboard Hijackers: The Malware That Swaps Your Address

Malware on your device can swap a copied wallet address in the half-second before you paste it – and your saved address book won't catch it.

See why the usual advice fails

Honeypot Tokens & Rug Pulls: When You Can Buy but Cannot Sell

Some tokens let you buy freely and block the sell by design. Learn the one-minute check that catches both before you buy.

Run the one-minute check

The Fake “SimpleSwap Bonus” Script Making the Rounds

A script promising a hidden 25–32% loyalty tier actually swaps your deposit address. Here's what the real Loyalty Program offers instead.

Check the real numbers

Fake Support: How Crypto Impersonation Scams Catch People Looking for Help

A convincing DM right after you ask for help feels like a response, not an attack. Learn why a fast reply is never proof of identity.

See the rules that hold up

Fake Airdrops & Drainer dApps: The Cost of “Free” Tokens

A claim page promising free tokens doesn't send you anything – it asks you to approve moving assets you already hold.

See the six checks

Recovery Scams: The Second Scam After the First

Someone contacts you knowing exactly what you lost, offering to get it back for an upfront fee. No private company can reverse a confirmed transfer.

See why it doesn't work

Run the 8-question check

One quarter of this whole series, condensed into eight questions you can run in your head before the next transfer – no technical knowledge required.

Take the scam check

Key takeaways

A confirmed on-chain transfer can't be reversed – not by SimpleSwap, not by anyone.
Only simpleswap.io is the real domain. Type it once, bookmark it, use the bookmark.
No legitimate service, support agent or recovery firm ever needs your seed phrase.
If receiving money requires sending money first, it's not a reward – it's the scam.
If someone contacted you first, verify them through a channel you opened yourself.

Safety FAQ

SimpleSwap Safety FAQ

SimpleSwap has been operating since 2018 and has processed 20M+ swaps across different market cycles.

For most crypto-to-crypto exchanges, you do not need to create an account or keep funds on the platform after the transaction is complete. Each swap is processed as a separate transaction, and you can track its status with a unique exchange ID.

SimpleSwap is also trusted by thousands of crypto partners and wallet products, including Exodus, Tangem, Cake Wallet and Tonkeeper. The SimpleSwap mobile apps have reached 100,000+ installs across iOS and Android.

If you need help during the exchange process, 24/7 human support is available via live chat on the website and in the app.

You can also check customer reviews on Trustpilot to see real user experiences with SimpleSwap.

SimpleSwap uses a self-custodial swap model, so there is no permanent customer balance held on the platform between swaps. A standard swap also does not require you to connect a wallet or sign a token approval. What still needs your attention is the receiving address, network and transaction details – confirmed on-chain transfers generally cannot be recalled.

SimpleSwap has operated since 2018 and has processed more than 20M swaps for 10M+ users. More than 6,000+ partner products use SimpleSwap infrastructure, including Exodus, Monad, CakeWallet, Near Intents and Tangem

No. SimpleSwap is a self-custodial crypto swap service operating since 2018. Two risks can create confusion: scammers may impersonate SimpleSwap with cloned sites or fake support accounts, and legitimate crypto services can also appear in fraud routes when a victim is instructed to buy crypto before sending it to a scammer. In both cases, the scam happens around the service rather than being the service itself.

Check the address bar, not the design. The only official SimpleSwap website is simpleswap.io; a logo, familiar interface or HTTPS padlock is not proof of ownership. A page claiming to be SimpleSwap that asks for your seed phrase is also a clear reason to stop.

Run the full 10-second check

Catch the scam before you send

Confirmed on-chain transfers generally cannot be recalled. A few seconds of checking is the strongest safety step you have.

Explore the Scam Types Go to simpleswap.io