One evening, I was watching crypto tutorials on YouTube when I came across a live stream featuring a well-known blockchain expert. The stream had thousands of viewers, and the chat was filled with excitement about a “giveaway” being promoted during the session. The host was supposedly celebrating a milestone and offering to double any cryptocurrency sent to their wallet.

The wallet address was displayed prominently on the screen, and users in the chat claimed they had already received their doubled funds. The energy was contagious, and it felt like a genuine celebration. I was about to send $2,000 worth of Bitcoin when I decided to check the expert’s official social media pages.

To my surprise, there was no mention of any giveaway. A quick search revealed that the live stream was a scam. Scammers had used old footage of the expert to create a fake live stream and trick viewers into sending their funds. The chat was filled with bots, programmed to create the illusion of legitimacy.

This incident taught me to always verify giveaways or promotions independently, especially those advertised during live streams. Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, using technology to create convincing scenarios. Don’t let excitement cloud your judgment—always pause, research, and verify.