Staying safe
Bitcoin itself is secure — but newcomers are the favourite target of scammers, and simple mistakes can't be undone. A few minutes here will protect you for years.
The golden rule
Never share your recovery phrase (also called a seed phrase) — the list of 12 or 24 words that backs up your wallet. Anyone who has it can take everything. No real company, app, or "support agent" will ever ask for it. Write it on paper, keep it offline, and never share it with anyone. Protecting those 12 or 24 words is the single most important part of securing your Bitcoin.
A few simple rules
Real support won't message you first
Unsolicited messages offering help, tips or deals — on X, Instagram, Telegram, WhatsApp — are scams, full stop. No genuine company or support team will ever slide into your DMs first.
"Double your Bitcoin" is always fake
Any "send 1 and get 2 back," celebrity giveaway, or guaranteed-returns offer is a scam, 100% of the time. Bitcoin payments can't be reversed, so once it reaches a scammer it's gone — no bank, no chargeback, no undo.
Check you're on the real site
Scammers clone exchanges and wallets, buy lookalike web addresses, and even pay for sponsored search ads. Reach sites from a saved bookmark rather than an ad or search result, and only download wallet apps from the official site or app store — fakes are everywhere.
Slow down — urgency is the tell
"Act now," "limited spots," "your account will be locked" — pressure is how scams work. Nothing in Bitcoin requires you to rush. When in doubt, stop and ask someone you trust.
Use reputable apps, turn on 2FA
Stick to well-known, regulated exchanges and wallets. Switch on two-factor authentication (an app like Google Authenticator beats text messages) and use a strong, unique password.
Start small, learn by doing
Your first goal isn't profit — it's not getting burned. Move a tiny amount first, practise sending and backing up, and only scale up once it all feels familiar.
Looking after your own Bitcoin
Once you move beyond buying on an exchange and start holding Bitcoin yourself, a few simple habits keep it safe — for years, not just today.
An exchange isn't a long-term vault
Exchanges are handy for buying, but they're not built to be your savings account — if the company fails or is hacked, your coins can go with it. For anything you mean to hold for years, learn to use your own wallet and control your own recovery phrase.
Send a small test first
Before moving a large amount, send a tiny test payment and check it lands where you expect. A few minutes and a few pennies in fees can save you from an irreversible mistake.
Check your backup actually works
After writing down your recovery phrase, confirm every word is correct — most wallets ask you to verify it during setup. A phrase copied down wrong is no backup at all, and you'd only find out when it's too late.
Guard the phrase from fire, water & theft
Those words are the only key to your Bitcoin, so store them where only you (or people you trust) can reach them. Many long-term holders keep more than one backup, in more than one safe place.
Check the address before you send
Glance at the first and last few characters of the receiving address before confirming. Malware can quietly swap a copied address for a scammer's — a two-second check is your safety net.
Keep your wallet up to date
Install updates for your wallet app and any hardware wallet — they often carry important security fixes. Just be sure to update only from the official website or app store, never a link someone sends you.
Scams worth recognising
Fake "support"
Someone posing as your exchange or wallet's help desk, asking for your password, recovery phrase, or remote access to "fix" a problem. Real support never needs those.
Giveaways & impersonators
Fake Elon Musk / celebrity / company accounts running "giveaways." If you have to send Bitcoin to receive Bitcoin, it's theft.
Romance & "pig butchering"
A new friend or partner online slowly steers you toward a "great investment" or trading app. The relationship is the bait; the platform is fake. Never invest because someone you met online told you to.
Recovery scams
After you've lost money, a second scammer offers to "recover" it for a fee. Once a Bitcoin payment is confirmed it can't be reversed, so no one can claw it back — anyone promising to is simply running a second scam.
One thing to remember
Bitcoin payments can't be undone. There's no "forgot password," no bank to call, and no chargebacks — that's the trade-off for being your own bank. So take your time, double-check everything, and never let anyone rush or pressure you into a decision.
Safe and ready to learn?
Now the fun part. Work through the basics, or browse the questions newcomers ask most.