=== CRYPTO SCAM & RED FLAG CHECKLIST === A beginner-friendly checklist to help crypto users identify possible warning signs before interacting with a token, airdrop, NFT project, DeFi platform, or crypto community. === TARGET USER === Beginner crypto users, Discord community members, newsletter readers, and retail investors. === EDUCATIONAL DISCLAIMER === This checklist is for educational purposes only. It is not financial, investment, legal, tax, or cybersecurity advice. It cannot prove that a project is safe or unsafe. Always verify official sources and never share your seed phrase. === QUICK HIGH-RISK WARNING SIGNS === - guaranteed returns - “risk-free” profit claims - seed phrase request - urgent wallet connection - fake airdrop claim - unknown team - no clear product - liquidity not verified - fake audit badge - fake support DMs - users cannot sell or withdraw - admins delete basic questions === PROJECT RISK CHECKLIST === Ask: 1. What problem does the project solve? 2. Is there a working product? 3. Is the roadmap realistic? 4. Are the official links consistent? 5. Does the documentation explain risks? 6. Are claims specific or vague? 7. Is the project mainly based on hype? 8. Are users pressured to buy quickly? === TOKENOMICS RED FLAGS === - unclear total supply - large insider allocation - no vesting schedule - unlimited minting permissions - high buy/sell taxes - unclear token utility - concentrated wallet ownership - no emissions schedule === LIQUIDITY / RUG PULL RISK QUESTIONS === - Is liquidity locked? - Where can the lock be verified? - How long is it locked? - Who controls LP tokens? - Can the owner change trading fees? - Are users reporting sell problems? - Has liquidity changed suddenly? === TEAM & TRANSPARENCY CHECK === - Is the team public? - Are identities verifiable? - Do they have relevant history? - Are advisors real? - Are partnerships verifiable? - Does the team answer reasonable questions? === WEBSITE / SOCIAL / COMMUNITY CHECK === - Is the domain official? - Are links consistent across official channels? - Is the Discord filled with bots? - Are critical questions deleted? - Are admins using FOMO language? - Are fake support accounts active? === WALLET SAFETY TIPS === - never share your seed phrase - never enter your seed phrase on any website - use official links only - bookmark official sites - use a burner wallet for risky interactions - do not connect your main wallet to unknown sites - review wallet approvals - revoke unnecessary approvals with trusted tools - ignore unsolicited DMs - test with small amounts when appropriate === PHISHING & FAKE AIRDROP WARNINGS === Fake airdrops often use urgency, fake eligibility messages, lookalike domains, and wallet-draining approvals. Verify every claim through official project channels before connecting a wallet. === DUE DILIGENCE TEMPLATE === Project name: Website: Official X/Twitter: Discord/Telegram: Contract address: Team: Product status: Tokenomics: Liquidity: Audit: Main claims: Red flags noticed: Questions still unanswered: Do I understand what I am signing? Am I acting from FOMO? === RISK SCORING WORKSHEET === Score each category from 0–3: 0 = no obvious concern 1 = needs verification 2 = concerning 3 = high-risk signal Categories: - unrealistic promises - team transparency - tokenomics clarity - liquidity safety - audit verification - community behavior - wallet interaction risk - phishing risk === FINAL PAUSE-BEFORE-ACTION CHECKLIST === Before buying, minting, staking, or connecting: - Did I verify the official link? - Did I check the contract address? - Did I avoid sharing my seed phrase? - Did I understand the transaction? - Did I check tokenomics? - Did I check liquidity? - Did I slow down instead of acting from FOMO?