Fake wallet apps and extensions: how to download the real one
Last updated
A fake wallet looks exactly like the real thing: same name, same logo, convincing screenshots. The difference is that it sends your seed phrase to a scammer the moment you type it in, or generates one the scammer already knows.
Where fakes show up
- Search ads. Scammers buy ads for wallet names, so the top result can be a copy of the real site.
- App stores. Fake apps sometimes slip past review, especially right after a popular wallet launches or changes its name.
- Browser extension stores. Copies of popular extensions use the same name and icon.
- Links in DMs, emails and videos. “Download the new version here” is a classic trap.
How to get the genuine wallet
- Type the wallet’s official website address yourself, or use a bookmark you saved earlier. Skip search ads entirely.
- Follow the download link from that official site. Real wallet sites link to their exact app store or extension store page.
- Check the publisher in the store. It should match the company behind the wallet.
- Be suspicious of low download counts or recent publish dates for a wallet that’s supposedly well known.
The biggest warning sign: a brand-new app that asks you to import your existing seed phrase right away. A fresh install of a real wallet asks you to create a new wallet or restore one. Only restore into an app you're certain is genuine.
Already typed your seed phrase into a suspicious app?
Assume it’s compromised. Install the genuine wallet, create a new wallet with a new seed phrase, and move your funds there immediately. Then follow our guide on what to do after a crypto hack.
Extra protection
- Keep larger amounts on a hardware wallet. Even a fake companion app can’t extract keys from a genuine device, though it can still trick you into approving a bad transaction.
- Keep your phone and browser updated, and remove extensions you don’t use.