Fake Crypto Airdrop Scams Requiring Wise Fee Payments
Fraudulent airdrop claims instruct victims to pay 'verification' or 'processing' fees via Wise before receiving tokens that do not exist.
Part of: Fake Airdrop Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Some fake airdrop scams operate outside the on-chain environment, targeting holders of cryptocurrency accounts who are less technically sophisticated. These scams claim that the victim has qualified for a token airdrop but must pay a Wise transfer fee to 'verify their identity' or 'cover gas costs' before the tokens can be sent.
Wise is used because it allows quick international transfers without the regulatory scrutiny of a bank wire, and because the request appears more credible than a gift card or cash demand.
How this scam works on Wise
An email claims the recipient's wallet address has been selected for a token distribution. To claim, they must pay a verification fee of a fixed amount via Wise to a named company account. After the Wise payment is confirmed, the tokens will be sent to their wallet within a specified time period. No tokens are ever sent.
Phone-based variants involve a caller from a 'blockchain rewards team' explaining that a Wise payment is the only mechanism available because their platform does not integrate with card payments. The caller remains helpful and patient to overcome the victim's hesitation.
Some scammers request a Wise payment explicitly for 'gas fees' to fund on-chain transactions, exploiting a real concept to make the request seem technically legitimate.
Common red flags
- Airdrop claim requires an upfront Wise payment of any kind
- Notification received for a project you do not use or have not heard of
- Company account receiving the Wise payment has no public registration or web presence
- Gas fees charged off-chain via Wise rather than on-chain — this is not how gas works
- Urgency: claim expires within 24-48 hours
- Communication came via email or phone rather than the project's official app or website
How to protect yourself
- Legitimate airdrops never require an off-chain fee payment of any kind
- Verify any airdrop claim through the project's official website and verified social media accounts
- Never pay Wise fees to access a cryptocurrency reward
- Check whether the project's official community forums confirm the airdrop before taking any action
- Report suspicious airdrop notifications to the impersonated project's security team
- Block the sender and report any email or call matching this pattern to your national cybercrime authority
How to report it
- Report the scam communication to your national cybercrime authority
- Alert the project whose name was impersonated so they can warn their community
- Contact Wise's fraud team with the account details if a transfer was made
Frequently asked questions
Do real cryptocurrency projects ever require off-chain fee payments for airdrops?
No. Real airdrops are distributed directly on-chain. While gas fees for claiming may sometimes apply, these are paid on-chain using the project's network currency — not as a Wise transfer to an external account. Any such request is a scam.