How to Spot a Crypto Scam Call

Cryptocurrency related phone scams are steadily on the rise as blockchain technologies increase in popularity. This is post 1 of 3 of a series, detailing ways you can identify a scam, protect yourself from getting defrauded, and what you can do if you believe you have fallen victim.

This post is part one out of three (1/3) of our series on crypto scam phone calls.

1 - How to Spot a Crypto Scam Call

2 - What to Do if You Get a Suspicious Call

3 - Actions to Take if You've Been Scammed

How to Spot a Scam Call

Scammers rely on deception, urgency, and emotional manipulation to bypass your critical thinking. Here’s how to recognize when a call might be fraudulent:

1. Is the caller a stranger?

Scammers typically have no prior relationship with their targets. That’s a disadvantage they try to overcome by sounding authoritative or helpful. Trust your instincts—there’s no reason to trust a stranger just because they’re on the phone.

2. Are they using urgency to pressure you?

“You’ll lose your Social Insurance Number!”“Authorities are on their way!”“You must act now or lose your money!”

These are classic scare tactics. Scammers want to short-circuit your ability to think critically by creating panic. They’ll often cite vague threats or offer unsolicited investment advice to push you into quick decisions.

3. Listen to the background and tone.

Many scam calls originate from noisy call centers abroad. While background noise or a foreign accent alone doesn’t confirm a scam, it can be a clue—especially if paired with scripted or robotic speech. If something feels off, trust your gut and end the call.

Bottom line - If something feels off, it probably is. Trust your instincts and don't become a victim.

Stay tuned for parts 2 and 3 soon!