In my time in the crypto market, I’ve come across several shitcoins, and early on, it was hard to tell the difference between promising projects and scams. I ended up investing in a few that completely vanished, causing me to lose a significant amount of money. But after going through those experiences, I learned how to spot the red flags, like vague whitepapers, anonymous teams, and exaggerated promises.

Now, I want to share what I’ve learned to help others avoid falling into the same trap.

One of the first red flags I’ve learned to spot is when a project promises unrealistic returns on investment (ROI). When I see guarantees of 1000x profits, it immediately makes me skeptical. I know now that no legitimate project can make such promises, so I’ve learned to walk away from anything that sounds too good to be true.

Another thing I’ve learned to avoid are projects that have closed-off social media groups. Early on, I got caught up in a few projects where only admins could post in the community groups, and that was a huge mistake. Legitimate projects always encourage open discussions, so now, I avoid anything that lacks transparency.

I’ve also realized how important it is to check the project’s website and branding. A poorly designed website with vague content and no information about the developers? That’s a red flag I no longer ignore. Authentic projects invest in quality branding and offer transparent, detailed whitepapers. I also make sure to check if the code is open-source, as that adds a level of trust.

Education has been one of my best defenses. I’ve relied on resources from platforms like Bybit, WhiteBIT, OKX, and Kraken to help me navigate the market. WhiteBIT’s blog, for example, has been invaluable with its deep dives into how to evaluate crypto projects. Their Halloween campaign, highlighting common crypto fears, made me even more aware of the risks out there. Staying informed has helped me avoid scams.

Lastly, I always look for a demo or beta version of a product during a presale. If there’s no demo, I’ve learned to be suspicious. In my experience, scammers often avoid creating any real product and focus solely on generating hype to attract investors.

By following these steps, I’ve been able to avoid many potential shitcoins. These strategies have kept me from making the same mistakes, and I hope they help you navigate the crypto world with more confidence and protect your investments.