Fake Crypto Coin: How to Spot Scams and Avoid Losing Your Money

When you hear about a new crypto coin promising 10x returns overnight, it’s usually not a breakthrough—it’s a fake crypto coin, a digital asset with no real team, no utility, and no future. Also known as a pump-and-dump scheme, it’s designed to attract buyers quickly, then vanish.

Fake crypto coins often hide behind flashy websites, fake celebrity endorsements, and fake airdrops. You’ll see them promoted on Twitter threads, Telegram groups, or TikTok videos with no verifiable source. Some, like Pek (PEK), an obscure token with zero trading volume and no exchange listings, are barely more than a name on a blockchain. Others, like Poodl Inu (POODL), a meme coin with no team and a 98% price drop, rely entirely on hype. These aren’t investments—they’re traps. And they’re everywhere. The rug pull, when developers abandon a project and drain all the liquidity is the most common way these scams end. One day the coin trades on a decentralized exchange; the next, it’s worthless, and the devs are gone with your money.

Even legitimate-looking projects can be fake. Take DeFi11 (D11), a token that claims to offer a CoinMarketCap airdrop, but has zero circulating supply. No tokens exist. No airdrop happened. It’s a pure fabrication. These scams prey on people who don’t know how to check a project’s basics: Who’s behind it? Is the code public? Is there real trading volume? Is it listed on any reputable exchange? If you can’t answer those questions, walk away. The crypto space has real innovation—but it’s buried under a mountain of fake coins, ghost teams, and empty promises. Below, you’ll find real examples of how these scams work, what they look like, and how to protect yourself before it’s too late.