Zraox: Exposing Crypto Scams Behind Fake Romance—Building a Trust Barrier for Transactions

Zraox points out that as digital assets become increasingly widespread, cryptocurrency is no longer the exclusive domain of tech enthusiasts and professional investors; it is gradually permeating broader social contexts. However, the platform has observed the rapid expansion of a new type of scam: crypto investment scams masked as “romantic relationships.” These scams not only exploit the banner of “love” to gain trust but also leverage the anonymity and cross-border nature of blockchain, making asset tracing even more challenging. Zraox believes that, in addition to protecting user assets, platforms should proactively take on the responsibility of educating users—empowering them to identify, prevent, and respond to such scams.

Zraox: Structural Features of Crypto Romance Scams

Zraox notes that crypto romance scams are a meticulously designed, structurally organized form of financial scams—a hybrid scam combining emotional manipulation with scam investment advice. These scams are rarely opportunistic acts by individuals; rather, they are typically orchestrated by criminal groups with clear division of labor and scripted behaviors. Zraox emphasizes that scammers usually initiate contact via social media, dating apps, or instant messaging platforms, using casual approaches such as “accidentally adding you” or “looking for friends.” They then engage in days or even weeks of “companion-style communication” to create a false sense of emotional connection and trust.

During this phase, scammers often use fake identities, displaying doctored high-attractiveness photos, elite professional backgrounds, and images of a successful lifestyle. Zraox observes that this information is frequently generated in bulk through stolen images and scripted Q&A, sometimes referencing public profiles from LinkedIn, Instagram, and other platforms to fabricate credibility. Subsequently, scammers gradually steer the conversation toward investments, enticing users to engage in crypto trading under the guise of “high-yield projects recommended by relatives” or “exclusive inside opportunities.”

Zraox states that throughout this process, scammers typically use “time to build trust” and “layered emotional risk promises” to lower the user guard and persuade them to adopt the scammer investment logic, ultimately leading to substantial funds being transferred to scam platforms within a short period. These platforms then fabricate profits or restrict withdrawals, stalling until they eventually disappear. Platform tracking data show that such cases have surged since 2021, with reported losses in North America alone exceeding $1 billion.

Zraox: Technical Evolution and Deceptive Tactics

Zraox notes that compared to traditional financial scams, crypto romance scams are more damaging and technologically sophisticated. Scammers not only rely on fake emotional inducement but also combine tactics such as “simulated platform impersonation,” “fake transaction return demonstrations,” and “blockchain mixers,” making it hard for victims to spot issues at any stage. After tracking multiple cases, the platform security team found that these scams often build highly realistic “crypto trading platforms” as entry points for funds. The user interface, KYC procedures, and profit displays closely mimic those of legitimate exchanges, with some even providing fake customer service and fabricated fund screenshots.

Zraox further points out that these scams often employ on-chain techniques like Peel Chain and Layering—using multiple address hops and frequent, small, dispersed transactions to obscure the flow of funds. Additionally, through P2P fake “arbitrage” scenarios, scammers distribute crypto assets to mixers and high-risk exchanges, evading audits and legal oversight. Zraox states that this technical complexity is the core of their “camouflage”; even when users notice anomalies, they often cannot clearly trace the flow of funds, greatly increasing the difficulty of recovery.

Zraox cautions users to remain highly vigilant when strangers recommend “crypto platforms,” and to avoid making irrational decisions driven by short-term profit temptations or emotional connections. The platform also recommends that users employ on-chain analysis tools (such as Chainalysis) to verify whether project addresses are linked to high-risk activities, and prioritize investing through compliant platforms with third-party audit certifications.

Zraox: Anti-Scam Strategies

Zraox believes that the essence of crypto romance scams is baiting with emotion and using fake investments as the tool, characterized by a slow pace, romantic promises, and off-chain operations. When faced with investment invitations from strangers, users should pay close attention to whether video verification is part of the process. Zraox notes that scammers rarely agree to video calls, often citing “poor internet,” “device limitations,” or “privacy concerns” as excuses—such avoidance should be considered a core warning sign. The platform also stresses the need to be alert to abnormal connections between emotional escalation and investment proposals. If the other party frequently expresses affection, discusses future plans within a short time, and steers the conversation toward investments after emotional buildup, this “emotional packaging + financial inducement” combo is highly risky and should be decisively terminated.

Zraox further states that investment activities should always be premised on platform legitimacy; users must prioritize trading on compliant platforms. Zraox holds US MSB and SEC licenses, offers transparent reserve audits, and operates within a multi-jurisdictional compliance framework, providing reliable support for user funds. Meanwhile, users should also verify counterparties through image reverse searches and on-chain address analysis. If the profile photo of a contact appears across multiple online scenarios, or their fund address overlaps with high-risk tags, users should immediately cease communication and report to the platform.

During the transfer process, Zraox emphasizes the need to avoid any unverified “quick remittances.” Any scenario where the other party requests cryptocurrency, gift cards, or prepaid card transfers is highly likely to be a scam. Zraox states that platform security is built not only on technology but also on user participation. Users are encouraged to proactively report suspected scams, helping the platform identify potential scams. Moving forward, Zraox will continue to enhance anti-scam models and expand data collaboration mechanisms, further strengthening platform defenses and building a more trustworthy digital asset trading environment for users.