Fake Crypto Exchange: How to Spot and Avoid Scam Platforms

When you hear about a new fake crypto exchange, a platform that pretends to let you trade crypto but is designed to steal your money. Also known as scam exchange, it often looks professional—clean website, fake testimonials, even fake customer support—but it’s built to vanish with your assets. These aren’t just bad apps. They’re criminal operations that target people who don’t know how to check legitimacy.

Real exchanges like AltcoinTrader, a regulated South African platform for ZAR trading or Ju.com, a global exchange with transparent fees and U.S. access have clear teams, audits, and regulatory compliance. Fake ones? No team. No license. No history. Look at AUX Exchange or MoraSwap—both barely function, have zero users, and no security. If a platform has fewer than five trading pairs, no KYC, and no public audit reports, it’s not just risky—it’s likely a trap.

Scammers copy real names. They steal logos. They use fake Twitter accounts to push hype. You’ll see ads for "ThetaSwap" or "FAN8 airdrop," but those don’t exist. The real THETA is traded on SimpleSwap and Godex. FAN8 has no team, no trading volume, and zero official announcements. If you’re being told to send crypto to claim free tokens, you’re being scammed. The same goes for platforms promising 500% APY with no risk. That’s not finance—it’s a Ponzi.

Always check: Is there a real team with LinkedIn profiles? Are there third-party audits? Is the exchange listed on CoinGecko or CoinMarketCap with real volume? Or is it just a domain bought yesterday with a flashy homepage? Fake crypto exchanges rely on speed and confusion. They don’t want you to ask questions. They want you to click, deposit, and forget.

Below, you’ll find real reviews of platforms that either got exposed as scams or are so poorly built they’re not worth your time. We’ve dug into AUX Exchange, MoraSwap, ThetaSwap, FAN8, and more—not to list them, but to warn you. You’ll also see how legitimate platforms like Agni Finance and Perpetual Protocol operate with transparency. This isn’t about fear. It’s about knowing what to look for before you send your first dollar.