Discord is a popular platform for crypto communities, but it’s also a hunting ground for scammers. I recently joined a server for a new DeFi project that seemed promising, only to discover it was a setup for a fake pre-sale scam.

The server was buzzing with activity. Members were excitedly discussing the project, and the admins frequently posted updates about their plans. They announced a pre-sale where community members could buy tokens at a discount before the public sale. It sounded like a great opportunity, and the sense of urgency in the group made it hard to resist. They even shared screenshots of people who had already bought in, showing how much they stood to gain.

I sent $2,000 in Ethereum to the wallet address provided for the pre-sale, thinking I was getting in early. However, as the pre-sale deadline passed, things began to unravel. The admins started posting less frequently, and when people asked questions about their tokens, they were banned from the server. Eventually, the server disappeared entirely, along with the funds.

Looking back, there were red flags I should have noticed. The admins never provided concrete details about the project’s team or roadmap, and the wallet address used for the pre-sale wasn’t tied to a smart contract. It was a painful reminder to always verify the legitimacy of any project, especially when money is involved