I woke up to a surprise WhatsApp notification. It was odd, since I rarely use it. Upon checking, I found that I had been added to the “Binance Academy” group. According to the group description, it was a “special anniversary event” where Binance would randomly award prizes to team members. At first, the concept seemed appealing, but it didn’t take long for the red flags to start popping up.
Soon after, the group admin sent out more messages, explaining what Binance was and sharing statistics about its global popularity. They even introduced a so-called “senior analyst” from Binance, who promised to share daily crypto tips and news about Bitcoin and Ethereum. The analyst claimed to have achieved a whopping 90% return on investment. Sounds impressive, right?
While some members responded to the message with laughing emojis, no real discussion took place. Then a final message from the admin appeared: user messaging had been disabled to “keep the conversation organized,” but you could contact the admin privately. How convenient.
Let's analyze the obvious warning signs and learn how to identify scams like this.
WhatsApp group? Really?
First of all, if Binance is hosting an official event or academy, why would they use WhatsApp instead of their own app or website? A quick Google search revealed Binance's official stance: "Binance will never contact users in WhatsApp groups for investment advice, purchase discussions, or sponsorship requests." So, why the sudden invitation to WhatsApp? Because encrypted messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram are playgrounds for scammers!
Another sign that this is not a legitimate Binance team: there was no announcement of this event anywhere else – no announcement in the Binance app, no official announcement. Just a random, unsolicited invite. That is not how a big company like Binance operates.
Who Are These People?
The admin has a generic name, making it impossible to verify whether they actually work for Binance. However, what is surprising is that the "expert" they are inviting seems to exist - I see his blog and LinkedIn profile are linked to Binance. So, maybe this group is legit?
Not really.
The key is the phone numbers. Each admin has a phone number registered in a different country than mine, and what's more suspicious is that all the numbers are almost identical, only the last digit changes. What are the odds?
Speaking of phone numbers, did you know you can actually verify them with Binance? They provide a page where you can check if a phone number, email, or social media account is associated with them. Unsurprisingly, none of the numbers in the group were recognized.
You may not be the first – Google it!
A key element of this scam is the inability to communicate with other members of the group because messaging has been turned off “to prevent spam.” Convenient, right? This setup prevents others from alerting you that the group might be shady. But, as usual, there are other ways around it.
A quick Google search revealed Reddit threads where users shared similar experiences. It turned out that many people had been added to WhatsApp groups just like this one, with identical stories. Reading through these discussions confirmed the scam model: after luring people in, they eventually ask you to deposit money into a wallet, promising daily returns. Sound familiar?
What to do when this happens
This scam is easy to spot, thanks to Binance's official statements and verification tools. However, not all scams are so obvious, especially if you're not vigilant. Here are some practical steps to protect yourself:
Encrypted chat groups are a red flag. Legitimate companies rarely use apps like WhatsApp or Telegram for official events.
Who is in charge? Can you verify the manager or expert on the team? Do they have traceable credentials?
Are other users allowed to communicate? If the group is silencing members, that's a bad sign. Scammers often block communication to prevent warnings from spreading.
Google the situation. Scams tend to repeat themselves. If you can't find information right away, post about your experience on Reddit or another forum for advice.
Trust your instincts. If something doesn't feel right, it probably is. Remember: money doesn't just fall into your lap from anonymous online groups.