Every day, someone loses their funds to a preventable scam. A bad link, a spoofed site, a fake promise. It happens fast. No undo button.

But most scams follow patterns. If you know what to watch for, you can stay ahead.

Here’s how onchain scams work, and what to do to protect yourself — especially if you’re new.

The Most Common Wallet Scams

1. Fake Links and Spoofed Sites
   Scammers are good at making fake websites that look real. You might see a post or get a DM that says, “Claim your airdrop!” or “Connect to mint this token.” If you click and connect your wallet, you could end up signing a transaction that drains your funds.

Tip: Only interact with official links. Bookmark trusted sites. Don’t trust random DMs.

1. "Send ETH, Get More Back"
   A classic scam: someone says if you send them a small amount of crypto, they’ll send back more. They might even fake screenshots or use bots to make it look real. But once you send your funds, they’re gone.

Tip: If it sounds too good to be true, it is. Nobody gives away free ETH.

1. Malicious Sign Requests
   Sometimes you’re not asked to send anything. Just to “sign” a message. It might look harmless, but signing certain messages can give the scammer full control of your wallet.

Tip: If you don’t understand what a signature does, don’t sign it. Use tools that explain it first.

1. Fake Support Accounts
   You post a question in a crypto group. Someone DMs you pretending to be support. They’re helpful — then they ask for your seed phrase or a screen share. Suddenly, your wallet is empty.

Tip: Real teams will never DM first. Don’t share sensitive info over private messages.

Wallet Hygiene 101: Clean Habits = Safe Wallets

• Use a Reputable Wallet: Apps like MetaMask, Rabby, Rainbow, or Coinbase Wallet are widely used and trusted. Don’t download wallets from unofficial sources.

• Turn Off Auto-Approve: Some wallets can auto-approve certain transactions. Always check what you’re signing.

• Use Wallet Protection Tools: Browser extensions like Pocket Universe or Wallet Guard help flag risky transactions. Think of them like antivirus for your wallet.

• Revoke Old Permissions: Over time, you give sites access to your wallet. Check in regularly on sites like revoke.cash to remove access from apps you no longer use.

Protecting Your Funds: Diversify and Store Safely

• Use Multiple Wallets: Think of wallets like email accounts. Use one for browsing or minting, another for holding. That way, if one gets compromised, your main funds are safe.

• Use Cold Storage: For large amounts or long-term savings, use a hardware wallet like Ledger or Trezor. These devices store your keys offline, keeping them safe from online threats.

• Don’t Store Seed Phrases Online: Never save your seed phrase in your email, notes app, or cloud storage. Write it down and store it securely offline.

• Test First: When setting up a new wallet, send a small test transaction before moving large amounts. Make sure everything works as expected.

Stay Paranoid. It Helps.

Onchain transactions are permanent. There’s no “cancel” or “support hotline” to reverse a bad decision. Base is helping bring millions onchain, but we all need to stay alert.

So:

• Triple-check URLs.

• Never rush.

• Ask before acting.

• Keep learning.

With good habits and the right tools, you can stay safe and build with confidence.

PBTC x Base

Helping builders stay safe, onchain.

Every day, someone loses their funds to a preventable scam. A bad link, a spoofed site, a fake promise. It happens fast. No undo button.

But most scams follow patterns. If you know what to watch for, you can stay ahead.

Here’s how onchain scams work, and what to do to protect yourself — especially if you’re new.

The Most Common Wallet Scams

1. Fake Links and Spoofed Sites
   Scammers are good at making fake websites that look real. You might see a post or get a DM that says, “Claim your airdrop!” or “Connect to mint this token.” If you click and connect your wallet, you could end up signing a transaction that drains your funds.

Tip: Only interact with official links. Bookmark trusted sites. Don’t trust random DMs.

1. "Send ETH, Get More Back"
   A classic scam: someone says if you send them a small amount of crypto, they’ll send back more. They might even fake screenshots or use bots to make it look real. But once you send your funds, they’re gone.

Tip: If it sounds too good to be true, it is. Nobody gives away free ETH.

1. Malicious Sign Requests
   Sometimes you’re not asked to send anything. Just to “sign” a message. It might look harmless, but signing certain messages can give the scammer full control of your wallet.

Tip: If you don’t understand what a signature does, don’t sign it. Use tools that explain it first.

1. Fake Support Accounts
   You post a question in a crypto group. Someone DMs you pretending to be support. They’re helpful — then they ask for your seed phrase or a screen share. Suddenly, your wallet is empty.

Tip: Real teams will never DM first. Don’t share sensitive info over private messages.

Wallet Hygiene 101: Clean Habits = Safe Wallets

• Use a Reputable Wallet: Apps like MetaMask, Rabby, Rainbow, or Coinbase Wallet are widely used and trusted. Don’t download wallets from unofficial sources.

• Turn Off Auto-Approve: Some wallets can auto-approve certain transactions. Always check what you’re signing.

• Use Wallet Protection Tools: Browser extensions like Pocket Universe or Wallet Guard help flag risky transactions. Think of them like antivirus for your wallet.

• Revoke Old Permissions: Over time, you give sites access to your wallet. Check in regularly on sites like revoke.cash to remove access from apps you no longer use.

Protecting Your Funds: Diversify and Store Safely

• Use Multiple Wallets: Think of wallets like email accounts. Use one for browsing or minting, another for holding. That way, if one gets compromised, your main funds are safe.

• Use Cold Storage: For large amounts or long-term savings, use a hardware wallet like Ledger or Trezor. These devices store your keys offline, keeping them safe from online threats.

• Don’t Store Seed Phrases Online: Never save your seed phrase in your email, notes app, or cloud storage. Write it down and store it securely offline.

• Test First: When setting up a new wallet, send a small test transaction before moving large amounts. Make sure everything works as expected.

Stay Paranoid. It Helps.

Onchain transactions are permanent. There’s no “cancel” or “support hotline” to reverse a bad decision. Base is helping bring millions onchain, but we all need to stay alert.

So:

• Triple-check URLs.

• Never rush.

• Ask before acting.

• Keep learning.

With good habits and the right tools, you can stay safe and build with confidence.

PBTC x Base

Helping builders stay safe, onchain.