Crypto Scam Texts
Texts about crypto tax, hacked exchange accounts, and lost coins. All of them want a tap, a call back, or your recovery phrase.
Crypto scams have moved from the phone to your text messages. Instead of a cold caller pitching an investment, you get a short message that sounds official and urgent: HMRC wants you to complete a crypto declaration, your exchange has spotted a withdrawal you didn't make, or someone can help you recover coins you lost. There's always a link to tap or a number to ring, and it always leads to the same place.
These messages work because they don't ask you to invest in anything. They ask you to fix a problem. If you hold crypto, undeclared gains and a hacked account are both plausible worries, and that flicker of panic is what the message is engineered to produce. Nobody legitimate will ever text you asking for your wallet recovery phrase, and HMRC will never text you a link to enter your Government Gateway details. Our guides below break down each version of the scam, what the real messages look like, and how to report the sender.
Crypto Investment Scam Texts
A stranger texts the wrong number, stays friendly, then mentions crypto. How these long-game investment scams start with a single misdirected message.
Crypto Recovery Scam Texts
Texts offering to recover crypto you've already lost, often claiming to be from the FCA or a law firm. Why victims get targeted twice and how to check who's really contacting you.
Crypto Wallet Recovery Phrase Scam Texts
Texts and fake support numbers designed to get your 12 or 24 word recovery phrase. Why handing it over empties your wallet in seconds and nothing can be reversed.
Crypto Exchange Scam Texts
Fake security alerts claiming to be from Coinbase, Binance or Kraken. How the "call this number" version works and what a real exchange alert looks like.
Fake HMRC Crypto Tax Scam Texts
Texts claiming to be from HMRC asking you to follow a link and complete a crypto declaration. Why they're landing now, what they look like, and how to check your position safely.
Top UK Phone Scams in 2026
HMRC, bank, tech support and investment scams currently hitting the UK. What they sound like and how to spot them.
Number Risk Temperature
Recently reported numbers related to this type of scam
Related Reported Numbers
Numbers reported for similar scam types: