This section explains how crypto scams actually work, how to check a platform before you send it a dollar, and what US rules currently apply to exchanges, stablecoins and investors. It is written for people who hold or are considering crypto and want to avoid losing money to fraud, bad platforms or a misunderstanding of the law.
How do I know if a crypto platform is a scam?
Start from the assumption that any crypto transfer is final. Unlike a card payment, a blockchain transaction cannot be charged back, so the checks have to happen before you deposit. Legitimate exchanges serving US customers register with FinCEN as money services businesses and hold state licenses, and you can look up both. A platform that only exists as an app link sent by someone you met online, promises fixed daily returns, or pressures you to add funds before you can withdraw is almost always fraud. Our Buying & Selling section walks through choosing a registered exchange, and Wallets & Security covers keeping coins out of reach once you own them.
On regulation, the picture changes fast. The GENIUS Act, signed in July 2025, is real federal law governing stablecoin issuers. The CLARITY Act market structure bill passed the House but remained unfinished in the Senate, so it is not law. Laws & Your Rights explains what protections you actually have, and Crypto Basics covers the vocabulary scammers love to misuse.
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