Discord scams: how to spot fake DMs, giveaways and server invites
Quick answer
Discord scams use private messages, fake giveaways and look-alike login pages to get your account, crypto or money. Don't click links or scan QR codes from strangers, even from a friend's account. Report it to Discord and the FTC.
- Comes by
- Social media, App, Website
- Pretends to be
- Discord
- Last updated
How it works
Discord's own safety pages describe the same pattern again and again: a message with a link to a server or site, a sense of urgency, and a stranger who wants to talk in private. The messages come from bots and from real users, and both can pose as people you know.
Common versions, as Discord and security researchers describe them:
- Fake giveaways and "free" crypto. A private message that looks like an ad for a trading platform handing out cryptocurrency, or a prize that needs you to log in first.
- Login and QR code traps. A link or QR code that leads to a page imitating Discord's login. Enter your details and the scammer has your account.
- Hacked friend accounts. Once a scammer controls an account, it messages that account's friends with the same link.
- Money scams. Investment pitches and romance scams, which Discord's policy lists among the financial scams it prohibits.
The target is your account, so the scam can move on to your friends, or money you can't get back.
Red flags
- A direct message you didn't expect that links to a server, site or QR code
- A friend's account suddenly pushing a giveaway, game or investment
- A login page you reached from a message, not from the Discord app or site
- Pressure to act now, or to move the chat somewhere private
- Free crypto, free Nitro or prizes that need your login or wallet
- Payment requested in crypto, gift cards or a transfer you can't reverse
Example message
hey! i just got [amount] from this new platform, they're giving free coins to new members for a few hours. sign up here: [link] and tell me when you're in so i can help you claim it
What to do
- 1
Don't click, scan or reply
Leave the message alone. If a friend sent it, ask them on another channel (a text or a call) whether they really did.
- 2
Report the message and the account
Use Discord's report tools on the message and the user, and block the account. Reports help Discord shut the account down.
- 3
If you entered your login, change your password now
Change your Discord password, turn on two-factor authentication and change the password anywhere else you reused it. Log out of all devices from your account settings.
- 4
If you sent money or crypto, contact your bank or exchange
Call your bank using the number on your card, or contact the exchange. Save the wallet address, transaction ID and screenshots of the chat.
- 5
Warn your friends if your account was taken over
Tell people the messages from your account weren't you, so they don't click the link.
- 6
File an official report
Report it to the FTC and, if you lost money, to the FBI's IC3.
Report it
Check if your details are exposed with Serus
Scammers find your number and address on data brokers and people-search sites. Serus removes them.
Why you got it
Scammers on Discord often start with whatever they can see: your username, your servers and any profile links. Many then look up your real name and phone number on people-search sites or in breach data to make a pitch feel personal or to try to take over your other accounts. Serus finds where your phone number, address and email are listed and removes them, and alerts you when your details show up in a breach, so fewer scammers can reach you. If your account was hacked, see our guide on what to do after a data breach.
Frequently asked
Does Discord ask for your password or login by message?
Treat any message that asks you to log in through a link as suspect. Go to Discord through the app or by typing the address yourself.
A friend sent me a link on Discord. Is it safe?
Not necessarily. Scammers take over accounts and message the account's friends. Check with your friend somewhere else before you click.
Is Discord itself a scam?
No. Discord is a real platform and a victim of impersonation. Scammers use it, and its policies prohibit scams such as phishing, advance-fee fraud and romance scams.
Can I get stolen crypto back?
Often not, which is why speed matters. Contact your exchange or bank right away and file reports with the FTC and IC3.
Sources
Something wrong or out of date? Tell us and we'll re-check it.
