Crypto Scams in Southeast Asia: How to Spot and Avoid Them

When you hear about crypto scams in Southeast Asia, fraudulent schemes targeting crypto users in countries like Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand. Also known as crypto fraud, these scams thrive because many new investors lack basic security knowledge and trust flashy promises. The region has one of the fastest-growing crypto user bases in the world, and scammers know it. They don’t need to hack wallets—they just need you to click a link, send funds to a fake exchange, or join a fake airdrop that looks real.

These scams come in many forms. Some mimic real platforms like Binance or Coinbase, using fake websites and social media accounts to trick you into depositing crypto. Others push fake airdrops—like a "KALA 3rd Round" or "SWAPP Protocol" giveaway—that don’t exist, but have convincing landing pages. Then there are the ghost projects: tokens like Videocoin by Drakula, a fake token copying a real project’s name to steal attention, or WaterMinder (WMDR), a Solana token tied to a hydration app that never launched. These have zero development, zero trading volume, and zero chance of recovery. And when you lose money to them, there’s no customer service, no legal recourse, and no refund.

What makes these scams dangerous is how they exploit trust. They use Telegram groups, TikTok influencers, and even fake YouTube tutorials to build credibility. You’re not just losing coins—you’re losing time, confidence, and sometimes your entire savings. The good news? You don’t need to be an expert to avoid them. If a project has no team, no audit, no real website, and no community activity, walk away. If an airdrop asks for your private key, it’s a scam. If a platform has no reviews, no support, and no verified volume—like DogeSwap, a tiny DEX with no liquidity and no security checks—it’s not worth the risk. The posts below show you exactly how these scams work, who’s behind them, and how to protect yourself before it’s too late.