How to spot a fake crypto exchange website

05 September 2026

Fake exchange websites are designed to look like real ones, but they exist only to steal your deposit. The single most reliable check is the domain name itself - not the page design, not the logo, not the SSL padlock.

Check the URL before you type a single coin

A fake site will use a domain that is almost correct. Common tricks:

• A letter swapped for a similar-looking one (michimeme.com vs michimeme.co or michimeme.net).
• An extra word inserted (michimeme-exchange.com, swap-michimeme.com).
• A misspelling that the eye skips (michimeme.con, michimeme.xyz).

Do not click a link from an email, a social media post, or a search ad. Type the URL yourself from a source you already trust - a bookmark you made earlier, or the address you have used before.

Verify the domain registration date

A real exchange typically has a domain that is years old. You can check any domain’s registration date with a free WHOIS lookup tool. If the domain was registered in the last three months, treat it as a red flag. Many fake sites are registered only days before they start stealing.

Look for the real exchange’s security features, not just the icon

Fake sites often copy the SSL certificate icon (the padlock in the address bar). That padlock means the connection is encrypted, not that the site is legitimate. Any scammer can buy an SSL certificate. The padlock is not a safety signal.

Real exchanges often have additional security measures: two-factor authentication during login, withdrawal whitelists, email confirmations for every action. A fake site might skip these or offer a simplified version that never actually works. Try to log out and log back in. Try to change your password. If the process feels too easy or nothing happens, that is a warning.

Test the site with a small action before depositing

If you are unsure, create an account (if the site allows it) and attempt a small withdrawal. A fake exchange may let you deposit but never allow a withdrawal. If the withdrawal button does nothing, or if support requests are ignored, you have your answer.

Check the site’s contact and legal pages

Real exchanges list a physical address, a registration number, and a working support email. Fake sites often use generic contact forms, no address, or a Gmail address. Look for a properly written terms of service and privacy policy. If the language is vague, full of errors, or copied from another site, that is a strong signal.

Search for the site name plus “scam” or “review”

A quick search can reveal warnings from other users. If you find nothing - no reviews, no mentions, no discussion - that is also suspicious. A functioning exchange will have a traceable history of user feedback, even if mixed.

What to do if you suspect a fake

• Do not send any funds.
• Close the browser tab.
• If you have already deposited, contact the real exchange’s support team through their official channels immediately. They may be able to block the transaction if it is still pending.
• Report the domain to a service like Google Safe Browsing or the exchange’s actual security team.

These checks take two minutes. They are the difference between a completed swap and a lost deposit. For the full process of verifying an address before you send, read the sibling page titled How to confirm an exchange wallet address is real. That page covers the next step after you are sure the website itself is genuine.

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