Discord scams have become more prevalent in recent years, and the platform's 140 million user base makes it more attractive to scammers. These criminals regularly improve their tactics and develop more sophisticated means of achieving their goals. As a result, their antics have become more difficult to detect, which is why many users become victims daily.

This article will help you understand some fraudulent schemes used by scammers, the methods they apply, and how to protect yourself or recover your data in the event of theft.

Types of Discord Scams

Discord scams come in different forms. Below is a list of some of the most popular ones on the platform.

Cryptocurrency Scams

Some scammers on Discord offer huge amounts in cryptocurrency for free. They send private messages filled with spurious data, making some users think they are legit.

Be careful when anyone shows up in your DM and offers impressive payouts in cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Ethereum. More often than not, it is a scam.

Money Doubling Scams

Money doubling has been around even before the advent of internet spaces. Yet, many users still fall prey to them.

Scammers promise unwitting users multiple returns on their investments within a short period.

They also tell them that the scheme is part of a larger investment where every investor shares in the profit.

Remember that all investments take time to yield returns, and it is difficult—if not impossible—to find an investment that offers double returns on your principal within a few hours, days, months or even a few years.

Support Scams

Scammers have also developed a means where they use scare tactics to trick users into believing that the user's site or account has developed some issues.

The fraudster then offers to help the individual rectify the problem in exchange for payment, passwords, or other information.

To avoid falling for this, you should reach out to the company the scammers claim to represent.

Try not to get emotional about their threats and deadlines. Remain calm until you get feedback from the company.

Shilling Scams

Shilling happens when someone promotes a particular cryptocurrency to create huge excitement about it.

This draws many users to their site, where they are asked to make payments or fill in some information.

Scammers can make their sites look authentic by adding features like two-factor authentication.

In the end, they defraud users of their cryptocurrency or sell their information.

Trading Tutor Scams

A scammer can also pose as a crypto or forex trading tutor and hoodwink unsuspecting users.

The 'tutors' sometimes make away with the student's money, give them little or no value for their money and time, or overcharge them for basic lessons.

Be careful who you choose to learn from. Look for authentic testimonies before subscribing to any of their services.

How Most Discord Scams Happen

Here are some of the deceptive methods scammers use to dupe their victims:

Fake Games, Programs, Media, or Downloads

Since Discord was originally a gaming platform, it's not uncommon to see players exchange links to new games.

Scammers now capitalize on this and share malicious links in the name of free games, programs, and other media.

It's best to cross-check the identity of whoever is sending you a code and be sure of their intentions before clicking on any links.

Fake Giveaways

Though several legitimate giveaways exist on Discord, some of them are scams.

A hacker can pretend to be a friend or an admin and make mind-blowing offers that can mislead users into providing sensitive information or clicking on malicious links.

You should always be wary of offers that appear too good to be true. Most times, they are.

Discord Impersonation

Sometimes, scammers and hackers disguise themselves as Discord officials.

They then use crafty techniques to spread fake links mixed with real Discord invite links.

Their disguises give the victim a false sense of hope until they fall for the lies.

If you believe a message sent to you is a scam, report it using the red "Report Spam" button.

Free Nitro Scams

Nitro is a premium package on Discord. Some scammers falsely offer this package for free and trap incognizant victims in the process.

While it may be difficult to differentiate a generous offer from a fake one, it's always helpful to avoid anything coming from a stranger who says they've chosen to offer you free Nitro. 

How to Avoid Discord Scams

Preventive Measures

* Do not open links from suspicious sources or strangers.

* If you don't recognize a program, avoid downloading it.

* Your password is safest with you, so don't share it with anyone.

* Choose who you should and shouldn't send DMs.

* Do not share your bank details and other financial information with anyone.

* Normalize using virtual cards for online transactions.

* Restrict access to your servers and regularly update all invite links to them.

Recovery Measures

If you find out that your Discord account has been hacked, there are a few things you can still do.

* Inform your friends and let them inform other friends. Take to all social media platforms where you can find other Discord users and tell them to beware of any messages sent through your account.

* If possible, change your password immediately and enable Two-Factor Authentication. This will create another layer of security around your account and make it more difficult for hackers to access.

* Report the incident to your financial institutions and have them disable your credit or debit cards. You can also transfer funds from vulnerable accounts to more secured ones to be on the safe side.

* If your Discord account is linked to any social media accounts, disconnect those as soon as possible. This will prevent the damage from spreading any further.

Discord scams are a huge pain in the neck, and sometimes, users who fall for them never recover their accounts. However, if you stick to security guidelines and avoid anything that looks suspicious, you will enjoy the platform to its fullest without any regrets.

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