Red Flags in Blockchain: How to Spot Scams, Dead Projects, and Fake Tokens
When you see a new blockchain, a decentralized digital ledger that records transactions across many computers project promising huge returns, pause. Not every coin is real. Not every exchange is safe. And not every airdrop is legitimate. The crypto scams, fraudulent schemes designed to trick people into sending money or private keys are everywhere—hidden behind flashy websites, fake team photos, and zero trading volume. You don’t need to be an expert to spot them. You just need to know what to look for.
One of the biggest dead crypto projects, blockchain initiatives that stopped development, lost their team, and vanished from public view look fine at first. They have whitepapers, Discord servers, and even token listings. But check the trading volume. If it’s near zero, that’s not a sign of patience—it’s a sign of abandonment. Look at Franklin (FLY), BSClaunch (BSL), or Wannaswap (WANNA). All had big launches. None had real users. All are now digital ghosts. Then there are the fake tokens, tokens that don’t exist on any blockchain or are created solely to trick investors. veDAO (WEVE) has no contract, no exchange, no history. It’s a name pulled from thin air to lure people into a trap. These aren’t bugs in the system. They’re features of the wild west.
Red flags aren’t just about dead coins. They’re in the details. No team? Big warning. No updates in a year? Even bigger. Zero liquidity? That’s not a quiet market—it’s a tomb. Even legitimate-looking exchanges like GroveX or KCEX hide risks behind low fees and no KYC. If it sounds too good to be true, it is. And if you can’t find a single real user review, that’s not an oversight—it’s a signal. The blockchain is powerful. But it doesn’t protect you from bad actors. Only your awareness does.
Below, you’ll find real breakdowns of failed tokens, sketchy exchanges, and outright scams. No fluff. No hype. Just facts from projects that looked promising but collapsed—or never existed at all. Learn what to avoid before you lose money.