Main Takeaways

  • Recently, an increasing number of scammers took to impersonating Binance Angels, our community volunteers who help moderate Binance Telegram and Discord channels. 

  • Real Angels follow a strict code of conduct. They will never contact you via direct message. They cannot and will never offer to fix your account or provide customer support. 

  • Have you fallen victim to a scam? Report the incident immediately to the relevant law enforcement authority and the Binance Support team. 

There’s a new scam making the rounds. Watch out for people claiming to be Binance Angels in your direct messages. They might be imposters trying to steal your money.

Imposter scams have become increasingly prevalent in the digital world. These schemes involve malicious actors impersonating people of authority, such as police officers and government officials, to exploit unsuspecting victims. You can check out our previous article on crypto imposter scammers if you want to learn more. 

Recently, we’ve encountered a few cases of scammers impersonating Binance Angels, our dedicated community of crypto enthusiasts and volunteers who support the Binance ecosystem.

Using names and profiles of real Binance Angels, these con artists solicit money and personal information from crypto users. In this article, we’ll break down how you can identify real Binance Angels and how to avoid this scam. 

What do Real Binance Angels Look Like

Please note: The following criteria only apply to official Binance Telegram channels. You can find a full list of our official communities, and their links, at the bottom of this page. 

Keep in mind that scammers can easily create a fake Binance group and pose as Angels. Always double-check our community list before joining a new channel; avoid any channels that are not on the list. 

Binance Angels adhere to specific standards when communicating on official Binance Telegram channels. 

1. Every Angel has a unique Telegram account associated with a distinct Telegram ID. 

2. Look for a "Binance Angel" tag next to their name in the group description. Angel profiles on an official Binance Telegram group will have this tag. Don’t believe someone claiming to be an Angel if they don’t have this tag, even if they are members of an official Binance Telegram group. 

3. Angels are listed as admins with their local official Binance Telegram communities. 4. Remember, real Angels will never initiate a direct message with you. 

If in doubt, please contact Binance Support — we can help verify whether you’re in an official Telegram channel or talking to a scammer. 

What Binance Angels Will Never Do

Angels are community volunteers. Their views are personal and not reflective of Binance’s. However, when communicating with members of the community, Binance Angels abide by a strict code of conduct.

Steer clear of any self-proclaimed “Angel” who is:

1. Messaging you first privately;

2. Providing financial advice;

3. Requesting investment for a project;

4. Promoting coins or other services;

5. Offering to resolve account issues or provide customer support.

The Angels’ main role is to moderate our regional communities on Telegram and Discord. This includes directing people to appropriate resources and fostering a safe and welcoming space for new users, among other responsibilities. For more information, you can check out this article: How Binance Angels Moderate Their Local Telegram Communities.

In some cases, you might find them helping out the Binance team with events such as community meetups or Binance Blockchain Week. 

See an Example in Action

A user, whom we’ll call Mark, joins the official Binance Telegram group in his region. He’s looking for someone who can help him learn more about a particular cryptocurrency listed on Binance. Someone claiming to be a Binance Angel contacts him via direct message. 

Mark believes it’s a real Binance Angel trying to help him. The “Angel” is actually a scammer in disguise, preying on unsuspecting users. The scammer sends Mark a phishing link under the pretense of providing information about the project Mark is interested in. Mark clicks on the link and enters his details, unknowingly giving away access to his account to a scammer.

With the keys to Mark’s Binance account in hand, the scammer withdraws all the funds to their wallet address. Mark only realizes the deception after the money is long gone.

What went wrong? Here were the red flags:

  • The “Angel” contacted Mark via direct message. This was the first sign of something fishy brewing. Angels will never contact you via direct message.

  • Mark didn’t check the official Binance Telegram group description to see if the user’s profile had a “Binance Angels” tag next to their name. 

  • Mark clicked on an unknown link before verifying its authenticity. Always cross-check links on Binance Verify — our database of official Binance domains, employee names, and email addresses.

What to Do If You’ve Fallen Victim

  • If you’ve provided your personal information to a scammer, freeze your bank account and other financial accounts immediately, change your passwords, and take other immediate measures to keep your money safe. 

  • If your Binance account is compromised, disable your account and follow the steps outlined in this guide: How to Report Scams on Binance Support.

  • Report the scam to the police. Binance works closely with law enforcement agencies worldwide, and our efforts often result in successful arrests and seizures. 

  • Be cautious of “recovery services.” While some may offer legitimate assistance, many make false promises or require upfront payments. Don’t get scammed twice.

Further Reading