Key takeaways
Binance will never use WhatsApp to communicate with its users.
You can verify the legitimacy of a so-called Binance representative at any time using the Binance Verify tool.
Scammers often run their phishing scams on WhatsApp and other messaging platforms, where they will try to gain your trust and then ask you to send them information or funds.
We will never send you a message on WhatsApp. Stay vigilant and follow our official communication channels.
Your online security is important to us. Before going into details, we have an important message to convey:
Binance does not use WhatsApp, has not created any official groups there and will never contact you through this platform.
Anyone claiming to represent Binance on WhatsApp is trying to mislead or scam you.
Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for criminals to contact Internet users pretending to be our employees or representatives with the aim of asking you for money. We recently learned that scammers had pretended to belong to the French and Italian Binance teams in WhatsApp groups in order to extort money from our community.
Educating yourself is one of the best ways to protect yourself from these scams, and that is the precise purpose of this article. Let’s all stay vigilant!
How does Binance communicate with you?
Binance may contact you, and you may contact us, in several ways:
Through Binance's customer service team available 24/7 from our customer service portal.
On our official X account (formerly Twitter): @binance.
On Telegram: However, verify the identity of your interlocutor with the Binance Verify service, a tool that allows you to enter a website address, email address, Telegram ID or other point of contact for you ensure its legitimacy.
Also take a close look at any community groups you belong to: our Protecting Yourself from Community Group Scams guide can help with this.
By Email: Again, be sure to use Binance Verify to confirm that the sender address is indeed Binance.
The danger of fraudulent messages
These deceptive messages are the start of a phishing attempt, a type of scam that involves convincing the victim to send funds or disclose confidential information to the fraudster. Phishing usually occurs through fake emails, websites, or messages that closely resemble those from real crypto platforms. The scammer thus attempts to take advantage of the user’s trust before asking for information or assets.
Phishing on WhatsApp
As cryptocurrencies and social media grow, malicious actors who attempt to exploit the naivety of Internet users are also developing new tactics. WhatsApp is one of the most popular communications apps in the world, and its millions of users are potential victims for scammers.
Here's how phishing scams on WhatsApp can work:
Identity theft: The scammer creates a fake WhatsApp profile resembling that of a Binance representative.
Urgent problem: The criminal claims that there is a problem with your Binance account, for example, suspicious activity, and that it urgently needs to be fixed.
Request for information or funds: The scammer asks you for sensitive information like your account credentials and two-factor authentication (2FA) codes, or asks for cryptocurrencies.
False sense of trust: The malicious actor reveals certain details that seem credible, sometimes from public sources.
Isolation, then disappearance: your contact insists on the confidentiality of your exchanges and discourages you from discussing it with anyone else, including a member of Binance customer service, because he claims it is about 'a delicate situation which must be managed with the greatest discretion. It ends up disappearing as soon as you transfer cryptocurrencies or send information, leaving you completely helpless.
Stay vigilant and stay informed to fight against scams
Understanding the mechanics of this scam helps you notice its telltale signs. Information is your best protection: remember that we will never message you on WhatsApp, and anyone who tries to contact you on our behalf on this platform is a scammer. Stay vigilant and limit yourself to our official communication channels.
For more information
Managing Risk: Binance’s Fight Against Social Engineering
Protect yourself from group scams within communities
Identifying Fake Binance Angels
