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Guide

Is this crypto address a scam? Check before you send

Crypto payments can't be reversed, so the minute before you press send is the one that counts. Here is what to check, from quickest to most thorough.

Updated 14 Oct 2026

The one-minute checklist

  1. Where did you get the address? From the person or company directly (invoice, their deposit screen, a call), or from an email, chat message or your transaction history? Messages can be spoofed and history can be poisoned. If in doubt, ask again through a different channel.
  2. Paste it into a checker. VerifiedWallet's check tells you if the owner proved they control it, whether it's a listed company's wallet, and warns if it only looks like a verified one.
  3. Compare the whole address, including the middle, not only the first and last characters.
  4. Check the network. USDT on Tron and USDT on Ethereum use different addresses. Sending on the wrong network can lose the funds.
  5. For anything large, send a small test and have the recipient confirm it before you send the rest.

Signs something is wrong

  • The address changed at the last minute ("we've updated our wallet, please use this one").
  • Pressure to pay quickly, or a reason you can't call to confirm.
  • An offer that only works if you pay in crypto first.
  • The address appears in your history from a transfer you didn't expect.

Ask the recipient to prove it

The strongest check is proof from the recipient: a signature made with the wallet's key on a message you chose, or a VerifiedWallet certificate you can open as a link. Proving ownership is free and moves no money, so an honest recipient has no reason to refuse. Businesses can send their customers a Verification Link in the other direction too.

Sanctions and risky funds

Some addresses are on official sanctions lists, and others have handled stolen or laundered funds. Paying them can get your own wallet or exchange account frozen. VerifiedWallet's AML-screened certificates show the result of a screening across those lists and risk categories; businesses can screen any address through the API.

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What is address poisoning, and how do you avoid it?

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Crypto proof of funds: how to prove you hold it

A balance anyone can see, plus a signature only you can make.

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Questions

Can I get my crypto back if I sent it to a scammer?

Usually not: blockchain payments can't be reversed. Report it to your exchange (if the funds went through one) and to the police or Action Fraud in the UK, but prevention is what actually works.

Does 'not verified' mean an address is a scam?

No. Most addresses belong to people who simply haven't verified them anywhere. It means you should confirm the address with the recipient through a channel you trust.

Is the address check free?

Yes. verifiedwallet.io/check and the browser extension are free and need no account.