Carbon Copy Rug Pulls: The New Crypto Scam Trend
As the crypto industry gains momentum, so do the sophistication levels of scams. One of the newest—and most dangerous—frauds is the “carbon copy rug pull.” Scammers create fake versions of top crypto projects, mimicking every detail to lure investors into their trap.
What Exactly Is a Carbon Copy Rug Pull?
Unlike traditional rug pulls that revolve around original but malicious token launches, carbon copy scams imitate successful, trusted platforms. They replicate everything: logos, websites, whitepapers, and tokenomics. The catch? Once you invest, they disappear with your funds.
Scammers register domains that look almost identical to the real ones—like switching from .io to .xyz—and flood social media with paid influencers, bots, and fake airdrops. It’s all designed to appear legitimate.
How the Scam Unfolds:
- Copying Branding: Scammers build near-perfect replicas of the real project.
- Launching Fake Tokens: They create fake tokens with deceptive airdrops or pre-sales.
- Social Engineering: Bots and fake influencers promote the scam across Telegram, X, and Discord.
- Exit: Once enough people invest, the fraudsters drain liquidity or execute a rug pull.
Why It Works:
Crypto’s fast-paced, FOMO-driven environment leaves little room for users to verify sources. The precision of these clones—right down to token names—makes it difficult to tell the difference. Even seasoned traders have fallen victim.
Real Examples:
- Uniswap Clones: Fraudulent Uniswap replicas on lesser-known chains trick users into connecting wallets to malicious smart contracts.
- Fake Airdrops: Bogus versions of airdrops from Arbitrum or Optimism steal wallet access.
- NFT Marketplace Clones: Scammers replicate OpenSea, leading users to approve transactions with bad actors.
How to Stay Safe:
- Double-Check URLs: Only use official links from project websites or trusted aggregators.
- Verify Token Contracts: Use sites like CoinGecko or DeFiLlama to verify contract addresses.
- Stay Wary of Promotions: Be cautious with spammy ads or unknown influencers promoting new coins.
- Check GitHub or Backend Code: Real projects have open-source footprints—clones rarely do.
Use These Security Tools:
- WalletGuard, ScamSniffer, and Pocket Universe alert you to suspicious sites.
- Use Revoke.cash to remove token permissions regularly.
- Interact with new protocols only through hardware wallets.
Conclusion:
The carbon copy rug pull is a terrifyingly effective scam that uses legitimacy as camouflage. In crypto, what looks familiar may not be safe. Trust isn’t just about visuals—it’s about verification. Always double-check and never trust blindly.
