Glossary entry
Fake Support Scam
Wallets & SecurityImpersonated help desks reached through search ads or replies to public complaints. Support never needs your recovery phrase.
Definition
A fake support scam is an impersonation of a wallet, exchange or project's help desk, reached most often by the victim rather than by the attacker. Search results, sponsored ads and replies to public complaints are the usual entry points: someone posts a problem, and a helpful account appears within minutes. The conversation moves to a private channel and arrives at one of three requests — the recovery phrase, remote access to the device, or a validation transaction to a given address. All three are the same request wearing different clothes. No legitimate support process needs a recovery phrase, because it is the account, and none needs a payment to unlock funds. The useful defence is directional: reach support only through an address you navigated to yourself, and treat anyone who contacts you first about a problem you just described in public as the problem.
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