🧵Thread: The Dark Side of Crypto Scams 
Crypto’s promise of wealth attracts dreamers, but also scammers. From influencers to founders, here’s how scams unfold across the ecosystem, with a spotlight on pumpdotfun meme coins. Buckle up.

2/ VCs: The Puppet Masters
Venture Capitalists aren’t always the good guys. Some fund dubious projects, knowing they’ll dump on retail.  
They secure early tokens at dirt-cheap prices, then exit during presales or IDOs.  

Their “backing” is used as a trust signal, but it’s often just a cash grab.  

Check tokenomics: if VCs hold huge allocations with short lockups, red flags.

3/ CEXes: The Enablers
Centralized Exchanges (CEXes) like Binance or KuCoin can list shady tokens for hefty fees.  
Listing doesn’t mean vetting. Some CEXes prioritize profits over due diligence.  

Scammy projects gain credibility once listed, luring more victims.  

Insider trading by CEX staff has been alleged in some cases, front-running pumps or dumps.

4/ Founders: The Charismatic Conmen
Crypto founders are often the face of scams. They pitch revolutionary tech or “community-driven” projects, but:  
Many lack real tech—just whitepapers and promises.  

Some rugpull by draining liquidity pools or selling off their massive token allocations.  

Anon teams are a huge risk. No accountability, no recourse. Always DYOR on the team’s history.

5/ Airdrops: The Bait
Airdrops sound like free money, but they’re often traps.  
Scammers use airdrops to harvest wallet data or push malicious smart contracts.  

Some require you to hold worthless tokens, inflating their price before the team dumps.  

Legit airdrops exist, but if it’s too good to be true, it probably is. Check contract addresses on Etherscan or solscan. Use tokensniffer to check also.

6/ Pumpdotfun Meme Coins: The Wild West
Pumpdotfun, a Solana-based platform, lets anyone launch meme coins for cheap. It’s a breeding ground for scams:  
Rugpulls: Devs abandon projects after hyping, draining liquidity. 80%+ of pumpdotfun coins die within days.  

Snipers & Bots: Insiders use bots to snipe tokens at launch, dumping on retail.  

Fake Hype: Devs pay KOLs to shill, creating FOMO before vanishing.  

Tokenomics are often predatory: huge dev wallets, no utility, and unlocked supply.  

Data: In 2024, over $50M was lost to pumpdotfun rugpulls (per on-chain analysis).

7/ How It All Ties Together
The scam ecosystem is interconnected:  
Founders create junk tokens on pumpdotfun.  

KOLs and influencers shill them to their followers.  

VCs or whales fund the hype for early profits.  

CEXes list the token, giving it a veneer of legitimacy.  

Airdrops lure in more victims.  

Then, the rugpull: liquidity drained, price tanks, and the team ghosts.

8/ Protect Yourself  
DYOR: Check team backgrounds, tokenomics, and community vibe.  

Use Tools: Etherscan, RugDoc, or TokenSniffer to audit contracts.  

Avoid FOMO: If it’s being hyped everywhere, it’s probably too late.  

Wallet Security: Never share seed phrases; use hardware wallets for big holdings.  

Skepticism: If a meme coin promises the moon, it’s likely a scam.

9/ The Sad Reality
Crypto scams thrive because of greed and naivety. Pumpdotfun’s low barrier to entry makes it a scammer’s paradise. Billions are lost yearly, and retail investors suffer most. Regulators are slow, and the space is still the Wild West.

1/ Influencers & KOLs: The Hype Machines
Influencers and Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) are often the first hook. Paid shills with massive followings pump tokens on X, Telegram, or TikTok, promising 100x gains. They rarely disclose their bags or paid promos.  
Many flaunt luxury lifestyles to sell the dream.  

Some vanish after the token dumps, leaving retail investors rekt.  

Watch for vague “this isn’t financial advice” disclaimers while they hype sketchy projects.