Address poisoning

Updated

What it means

A scam where someone sends you a tiny payment from an address that looks almost like one you use, hoping you'll copy it by mistake.

The fake address usually matches the first and last few characters of the real one. If you copy it from your history, your money goes to the scammer.

Address poisoning at a glance

How it works

Always check the full address, or send to a saved contact or username instead.

Related terms

TermWhat it means
Wallet address

The public identifier of a wallet, a string starting with 0x, that others use to send you money.

Phishing

A scam that tricks you into giving away your key or signing a harmful transaction, usually through a fake site or message.

Transaction

One action recorded on a blockchain, such as a payment, an exchange or a deposit.

This glossary explains terms in general. It isn't investment, tax or legal advice.