Highlights:

  • Recently, an increasing number of scammers have been posing as Binance Angels, our community volunteers who help moderate Binance channels on Telegram and Discord.

  • Royal angels follow a strict code of conduct. They will never contact you by direct or private messages. They cannot and never offer to troubleshoot your account or provide customer support.

  • Were you a victim of a scam? Report the incident immediately to the relevant authorities and Binance Customer Support team.

A new type of scam is emerging. Be wary of people claiming to be Binance Angels in your direct messages. They could be impostors trying to steal money from you.

Impostor scams have become increasingly common in the digital world. In these scams, malicious actors pose as people in authority, such as police and government officials, to exploit unsuspecting victims. You can check out our previous article on cryptocurrency imposter scammers if you want to know more.

Recently, we have come across a few cases of scammers impersonating Binance Angels, our dedicated community of cryptocurrency enthusiasts and volunteers who support the Binance ecosystem.

Using names and profiles of real Binance Angels, these scammers ask cryptocurrency users for money and personal information. In this article, we will break down how you can identify real Binance Angels and how to avoid this scam.

What are real Binance Angels like?

Note: The following criteria only apply to official Binance channels on Telegram. 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 check our community list before joining a new channel; avoid any channel that is not on the list.

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

1. Each angel has a unique Telegram account associated with a different Telegram ID.

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

3. Angels appear as administrators of their local official Binance communities on Telegram. 4. Remember, true angels will never initiate a direct conversation with you privately.

If you have any questions, please contact Binance Customer Support; we can help you verify if you are on an official Telegram channel or talking to a scammer.

What Binance Angels will never do

Angels are community volunteers. His views are personal and do not reflect those of Binance. However, when communicating with community members, Binance Angels abide by a strict code of conduct.

Stay away from any self-proclaimed “Angel” who:

1. Send you a private message

2. Provide you financial advice

3. Ask you to invest in a project

4. Promote coins or other services

5. Offer to resolve account issues or provide customer support

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

In some cases, you might find them helping the Binance team with events like town halls or a Binance Blockchain Week.

Let's look at a practical example

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

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

With Mark's Binance account keys in his possession, the scammer withdraws all funds to his wallet address. Mark only realizes the deception when the money has already disappeared.

What went wrong? These are the warning signs:

  • A real Angel will never contact Mark via direct message. This was the first sign that something suspicious was brewing. The Angels will never contact you via direct message.

  • Mark did not check the official description of the Binance group on Telegram to see if the user's profile had a “Binance Angel” tag next to their name.

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

What to do if you have been a victim

  • If you gave your personal information to a scammer, freeze your bank and other financial accounts immediately, change your passwords, and take other steps to protect your money.

  • If your Binance account is compromised, disable your account and follow the steps outlined in this guide: How to report scams to Binance Customer Support.

  • Make a report of the scam to the police. Binance works closely with authorities around the world and our efforts often result in arrests and seizures.

  • Be cautious with "recovery services." Although some may offer legitimate assistance, many often make false promises or require upfront payments. Don't let them scam you twice.

You might also be interested…

  • Learn about scams: warning signs to recognize impostors

  • Join the Binance community

  • How to become a Binance Angel

  • Six years of Binance: Retrospective with the Binance Angels