All lessons
Phishing, approvals and scams
A signature request can arrive without a visible payment. Slow down and read what permission you are giving.
Recognize requests that misuse trust or signing authority.
Phishing imitates a person or service to make you reveal secrets or authorize an unwanted action. Messages can copy logos, names and previous conversations. Verify the destination independently rather than trusting a search advertisement or a direct message.
Connecting a wallet, signing a message, approving token spending and submitting a transaction are different actions. Some signatures create valuable permissions even without an immediate network fee. Read what is being authorized, for which asset, spender, amount and duration.
Guaranteed returns, urgent rescue offers and payments required to unlock withdrawals are warning signs. A recovery scam often targets someone already distressed by a loss. Stop the interaction and consult independently verified official information; sending more money does not establish legitimacy.
Let’s use numbers · hypothetical example
Hypothetical: a 'free reward' asks permission to spend unlimited tokens. The reward's advertised value is irrelevant to the exposure created by that approval. A familiar logo does not make the spender trusted.
Keep in mind
No lesson requires connecting a funded wallet or signing an unknown message.
Your turn
Write a refusal checklist for a suspicious reward: verified domain, requested permission, spending limit and reason to stop.
A quick check before we move on
Can a signature matter without an immediate fee?
- No
- Only if a logo is missing
- Yes; it may grant authorization
Check answer
Yes; it may grant authorization Some signed permissions can be used later; absence of a fee is not proof of safety.
Sources and further reading
Content reviewed: 29 October 2026
Educational material with hypothetical examples. Trading can cause substantial losses. A course, pattern, stop order or past result cannot guarantee a profit or limit every loss. Practise in simulation and check current rules and product terms in your jurisdiction.