Most P2P crypto scams try to make you release crypto before you are paid, or pay someone outside the protection of escrow. Here are the seven we see most, and how to stay safe from each.
1. The fake payment screenshot
A buyer sends a screenshot or a forwarded SMS showing a payment that never happened. Fix: check the money in your own bank or wallet app. A screenshot is never proof.
2. A payment that isn’t final
The money shows as pending, on hold or “processing”, and can still be pulled back. Fix: release only when the money has fully arrived in your own bank or wallet app. If it’s still pending, wait, and open a dispute if it doesn’t arrive.
3. “Let’s trade outside Peerlyx”
Someone offers a better price if you pay or chat on another app. Outside Peerlyx there is no escrow and no way to get your money back. Fix: keep every message and payment inside the trade. Report the offer from the trade page.
4. The rushed release
The buyer pressures you: “I’m in a hurry, release now, the money is coming.” Fix: never release before the money is in your account. Escrow holds the crypto safely while you check.
5. Fake Peerlyx support
Someone claiming to be support asks for your password, 2FA code or recovery details, or asks you to “verify” by sending crypto. Fix: Peerlyx staff never ask for these. Real support only talks to you in Messages › Support on Peerlyx.
6. The wrong amount
You receive less than the trade amount, or more with a request to “send back the difference”. Fix: the amount must match exactly. Don’t send anything back outside the trade; open a dispute instead.
7. The changed payment details
A seller sends new bank or UPI details in the chat. Fix: pay only to the details shown in the trade itself.
Habits that keep you safe
- Trade only inside Peerlyx. Offers, chat and payment details all stay in the trade.
- Check before you act. Buyers: check the payment details in the trade before you pay. Sellers: check your own account before you release.
- Slow down. Scammers rely on urgency. A real trader can wait a few minutes while you check.
- Protect your account. Use a strong, unique password and turn on two-factor authentication.
- Report problems. Use the report option on the trade page when someone breaks the rules. It helps keep the marketplace safe for everyone.
If you think you’ve been targeted
If a trade is still open, don’t release, and open a dispute. If someone contacted you pretending to be Peerlyx, don’t reply: talk to the real support team in Messages › Support. Read what to do if a trade goes wrong.
How escrow protects you
When a trade starts, the seller’s crypto is locked in escrow. It can only be released to the buyer by the seller, or returned to the seller if the trade is cancelled or a dispute is decided that way. If anything goes wrong after the buyer marks the trade as paid, either side can open a dispute and support reviews the chat and the evidence. Read how escrow works.