Fake Coinbase / Binance 'Verify Wallet' Email Scam Examples
Emails posing as major crypto exchanges claim your wallet or account needs urgent verification or it will be frozen, directing you to a phishing page that steals your login and seed phrase.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Sanitized example messages
Illustrative, sanitized examples. Personal details are replaced with placeholders such as [phone number] and [fake link].
[Coinbase]: Your account has been flagged for suspicious activity. Verify your wallet now or lose access: [fake link]
IMPORTANT: [Exchange] requires identity re-verification. Failure to act within 48h will suspend withdrawals: [fake link]
[Binance] Security Alert: A withdrawal of [amount] has been initiated. Not you? Cancel here and verify your seed phrase: [fake link]
Your [exchange] account will be restricted unless you complete wallet verification: [fake link]
What the scammer wants
To steal your exchange login credentials and, critically, your wallet seed phrase (recovery phrase), granting full control over your cryptocurrency holdings.
Red flags in the message
- Request to enter your seed phrase or recovery words anywhere online
- Sender email does not match the official exchange domain exactly
- Urgent threat of frozen funds or lost access
- Link to a domain with slight misspelling or extra characters
- No personalisation — uses generic account-holder greeting
A safe response
Never enter a seed phrase online. Log in to the exchange by typing its official address and check your account status there. Legitimate exchanges never ask for your seed phrase.
What not to send
- Seed phrase or recovery words
- Exchange login credentials
- Two-factor authentication codes
What to do if you already replied
- If you shared a seed phrase, move funds to a brand-new wallet immediately — that wallet is compromised
- Enable 2FA and change your exchange password
- Report the phishing email to the real exchange and your national fraud service
Evidence to preserve
- Screenshot the full message or call details
- Note the sender number, email, or profile
- Save any links (without clicking) and payment details
- Record dates and times