The "Watch Wallet" mode is a common feature of non-custodial wallets, but while the scam may seem basic, it is highly deceptive and destructive. This article will detail how to protect your cryptocurrency assets. This content originates from an article by SafePal, organized and translated by PANews. (Background: How beginners can get started with meme coins? Utilize wallet tools, select potential coins, and avoid pitfalls in one guide) (Supplementary background: Vitalik's ideal cryptocurrency wallet: cross-L2 trading experience, account privacy and security, becoming a data wallet...) The "Dark Forest," a sociological principle derived from (The Three-Body Problem), is also the most naked summary of the current Web3 security landscape: The crypto industry, especially on-chain as an emerging field, has ample room for imagination and innovative play, but it is also like a "dark forest"—whether old users or new players, familiarizing oneself with the various risks that may arise on-chain and doing one's best to avoid them is an eternal lesson we must always learn. Recently, a scam targeting non-custodial wallet users has quietly become popular. It exploits the watch wallet (wallets that support "watch mode") feature, through a fabricated trust mechanism and a carefully designed logic chain, allowing victims to fall into a trap unguarded. For ordinary users, this scam may seem basic, yet it is highly deceptive and destructive. Scammers utilize newcomers' unfamiliarity with decentralized technology and wallet operation processes to steal cryptocurrency assets. In this context, understanding and being vigilant about these common yet fatal security risks is particularly important. This article will analyze the operational model of this new type of scam in detail and provide users with a series of prevention tips. What is the "Watch Wallet" mode of non-custodial wallets? As is well known, the watch wallet mode is a feature of non-custodial cryptocurrency wallets that allows users to view the balances and transaction histories of specific wallet addresses. Due to the transparency of blockchain, all on-chain wallet addresses, corresponding balances, and transfer records are transparent and visible. Users can enter any blockchain wallet address through blockchain explorers and other tools to view its asset balance and on-chain records, including receipts, transfers, on-chain authorizations, etc. During this process, the wallet owner's identity remains anonymous unless he/she actively discloses it. SafePal, as a non-custodial wallet, also provides the watch wallet mode. For example, when users create a new wallet, they can choose to create a new wallet, restore an old wallet, or import a watch wallet mode (click here to view the official tutorial on importing watch wallet mode in SafePal). The following image is a comparison between the watch wallet mode and the normal wallet homepage, from which it can be seen that the watch wallet only allows viewing balances, but does not have options for transfers, flash exchanges, and other operations. When users import a watch wallet mode, they only need to fill in the wallet address to conveniently view this wallet's on-chain balance and transaction records. However, since the watch wallet does not represent actual ownership of the wallet, and only provides a viewing function, users cannot operate the assets in the wallet under watch wallet mode. Because of this, watch wallet mode is typically used by the public to track and monitor the on-chain funding status and trends of specific wallet addresses, such as regulatory monitoring of blockchain anti-money laundering and tracing funds from hacking incidents. However, it is essential to note that it does not support users conducting any transfer transactions on this wallet address, nor does it equate to owning that specific wallet address. Only users who possess the private key/mnemonic phrase of the wallet address can access and manage the assets in the wallet address. The scamming method we discuss today is precisely a scam designed by scammers taking advantage of users' unfamiliarity with this background knowledge. How does the "Watch Wallet" scam operate? The core operational thinking of this scam is that scammers contact and manipulate victims, making them believe they can access the funds of the wallet address (usually scammers will use wallet addresses with substantial funds) and tell the victim that they need to conduct transactions to unlock their funds. However, in reality, they can only view the wallet balance, with no access rights or ownership. Here are the typical operation methods of this scam: Scammers approach users: Scammers often impersonate wallet support personnel, contacting users via social media platforms (such as Twitter, Telegram, or Reddit) and initiating conversations by offering "help" with wallet-related issues or "investment" opportunities. Some scammers may also post "fake help requests" online, similar to "I'm having trouble accessing my funds; can anyone help me? I'm willing to pay a generous reward." Release false information: Scammers claim that the user's wallet needs to be "verified" or "upgraded" to access the funds inside. They usually guide users to download wallet applications from app stores, making it look like they are guiding users through the normal wallet setup process. Import wallet address: Then, scammers request users to import the address in watch wallet mode, allowing users to see the wallet's balance, which may contain large amounts of cryptocurrency. Scammers will continue to claim that users need to pay a Gas Fee or deposit additional cryptocurrency into a specified wallet address, which is a trick to make users believe they need to pay fees to unlock the funds in that wallet address. Stealing funds: Once users send the funds they are asked to send to the scammers' address, they will receive no return, and the scammers will disappear. In other cases, scammers may continue to use other false excuses or promises to request additional funds to be deposited or transferred to the wallet address. Why is this scam effective? This scam is effective because users often do not fully understand that, due to the transparency of the blockchain, all wallet addresses can be traced and viewed on-chain. Viewing the balance in a wallet address may lead inexperienced users to mistakenly believe that this equates to accessing or owning the wallet, while in reality, it is merely a viewing function. In this scam, scammers take advantage of victims' lack of understanding about the watch wallet mode while also stimulating victims' greed or sympathy through the chat process, creating an opportunity for exploitation. So how can you protect yourself? It's simple. If you are using SafePal or any other decentralized or non-custodial cryptocurrency wallet, please pay attention to the following safety tips to avoid falling into these scams: Do not trust messages from unknown strangers: Typically, the official wallet team will never contact users via social media or direct messages (DM). Any messages that actively offer help and investment opportunities or request personal information should be treated with extreme caution; Understand the watch mode or view on-chain wallet addresses: Whether it's SafePal or other non-custodial wallets, the watch wallet mode is a feature solely for viewing wallet balances. It allows users to track wallet balances and transaction histories but does not permit any transfers or withdrawals (actual access to a specified wallet address requires a private key or mnemonic phrase). Users cannot transfer funds from the wallet in watch mode, so if someone asks you to "unlock" or "access" the funds in watch wallet mode, do not hesitate; that is a scam; Avoid sending funds to unknown addresses: If someone asks you to send funds to an unknown address to "unseal" your cryptocurrency assets, this is a dangerous warning signal. Scammers typically require users to pay Gas Fees or other fees, but SafePal and most legitimate wallet platforms never require users to transfer to a specific address to unlock funds; Only download applications from official websites: Ensure that you...