The world of cryptocurrency is full of exciting opportunities, but it’s also filled with dangers, especially when influencers get involved. I learned this lesson the hard way when I got caught up in a scam that was heavily promoted by someone I trusted online.

A few months back, I was following a popular crypto influencer on social media. They seemed knowledgeable, had a large following, and regularly shared insights about the market. One day, they announced a new crypto project that they claimed was a “game-changer.” The influencer went on and on about how this project was backed by a strong team, had revolutionary technology, and would skyrocket in value once it hit the market. Like many of their followers, I was convinced that this was a rare opportunity to get in early.

I didn’t hesitate to invest. I put in $2,000, believing that it would pay off in the long run. Over the next few days, the influencer continued to hype up the project, sharing supposed updates from the development team and screenshots of their own investments. But just as quickly as the hype built up, things started to unravel. The project’s website went down without explanation, and the influencer’s posts about the project disappeared. They claimed their account had been hacked and denied any involvement with the project. I tried reaching out to the project’s team, but they were nowhere to be found.

It wasn’t until I joined a few crypto forums that I realized how widespread this type of scam was. Scammers often pay or impersonate influencers to promote their fake projects, and when people start to invest, they disappear with all the funds. It’s a classic “pump and dump” tactic, but with a twist—leveraging the trust people have in influencers.

The lesson I learned is simple: don’t trust a project just because an influencer says it’s good. Always do your own research and be skeptical of any claims that seem too good to be true. Influencers might not always have malicious intent, but they can still be used as tools by scammers. If you see others talking about a similar project, warn them before they become victims. Sometimes, all it takes is a comment to prevent someone else from making the same mistake.