Crypto adoption keeps climbing, and so do the losses. In the first half of 2025, investors lost nearly $2.5 billion to hacks and scams worldwide. Trezor has seen these problems up close, and its answer is Trezor Expert: a live, one-hour video session with a real person whose only job is to make sure users are set up securely. Of that nearly $2.5 billion lost to hacks and scams, wallet compromises accounted for about $1.7 billion of the losses, while phishing attacks drained another $410 million.
Each number represents a real person who trusted the wrong link, mistyped an address, or overcomplicated their recovery setup. The scale is staggering, but the human cost is what drives home how fragile self-custody can be without careful habits.
During the Trezor Expert session, specialists guide users step by step through checking device authenticity, installing firmware, creating and verifying backups, enabling passphrases, and practising recovery. For those who already own a wallet, the session can double as a security audit, uncovering weak points like outdated firmware, poor seed storage, or forgotten passphrase schemes. The service transforms setup from a one-time chore into a personalised masterclass in custody, and for many, it is the first time they get to ask questions and get answers in real time.
The Anatomy of a Scam
During Trezor Expert sessions, specialists often hear painfully familiar stories about scams, with promotional livestreams being a common trap. Some users describe watching long, convincing livestreams featuring well‑known figures and sending funds, thinking they were part of a promotion. The videos look professional, and the chat moves fast; urgency is part of the trap.
Others recount being contacted after a theft by so‑called recovery companies that promise help, but only after demanding the 24‑word seed. That moment of panic is when many hand over control of their wallets without realising what they have done.
Phishing is another recurring theme. Users report receiving emails that look exactly like exchange notices or wallet updates. Clicking the link downloads malware that hides in the background and changes copied addresses, so when funds are sent, they quietly go to the attacker. Some victims only discover this after several transactions have been drained.
Not all losses involve criminals. Several cases involve funds locked on centralised exchanges that froze withdrawals, leaving users powerless. There are also stories of families struggling to recover a loved one’s crypto because the backups were scattered, protected with extra passphrases, or poorly labelled. The funds may still exist, but without the right information, they might as well be gone.
Increasingly Sophisticated Scams
Industry data confirms that these experiences are not isolated. Address‑poisoning attacks have targeted more than 17 million users, leading to over $83 million in confirmed losses. Researchers have tracked 270 million poisoning attempts across Ethereum and BNB Chain. Meanwhile, AI‑powered scams have surged 456% year-over-year, using deepfakes, synthetic voices, and even interactive chatbots to mimic trusted figures and create a false sense of legitimacy. The more crypto grows, the more professionalised and automated these attacks become.
Preventing these losses does not require technical wizardry. It comes down to consistent, deliberate habits:
- Pause before acting. Scams thrive on speed. When confronted with time‑sensitive offers or threats, stop and verify the source.
- Verify independently. Navigate to websites manually, use saved bookmarks, and confirm messages through official channels rather than clicking links.
- Protect the seed. Your recovery phrase is the ultimate key. Store it securely offline and never share it. No exchange, wallet provider, or support agent will ever need it.
- Put hardware wallets to work. They block many remote attacks, but only if used correctly with updated firmware, a strong PIN, and a verified backup. A Trezor Expert session can ensure you are doing each step correctly.
- Keep recovery simple and straightforward. Complex setups can be just as dangerous as poor ones. Document passphrases and instructions so that heirs can recover funds if necessary.
Building Wallet-Level Defenses
Research from Carnegie Mellon shows that attackers often poison transaction histories by sending tiny or even zero-value transfers to victims, creating lookalike addresses that appear trustworthy.
Their study proposes wallet-level defenses, such as highlighting first-time interactions, displaying extended address segments, and warning when multiple near-identical addresses appear in history. Implementing these user interface cues and teaching users to check them dramatically lowers the risk of sending funds to a fake address.
The impact of a loss is not just financial. It can erode trust in self‑custody and drive users back to centralised platforms where they face new risks like withdrawal freezes or regulatory seizures. Good habits restore confidence and keep control where it belongs, with the user.
The global numbers show that crypto crime is getting more expensive, but also more preventable. Each verified link, each careful address check, each correctly stored backup is a layer of defence. Services like Trezor Expert shorten the learning curve and give users the confidence to handle their own security. With scams becoming more sophisticated and AI lowering the cost of deception, this kind of education is no longer optional. It is a critical part of staying solvent.
Restoring Confidence in Self-Custody
Better security starts with awareness, but it is reinforced by practice. A single session can turn anxiety into competence, and competence into resilience. In a market where billions are lost every quarter, that confidence is worth far more than its cost.
For anyone looking to make self‑custody safer, this is the moment to act. Booking a Trezor Expert session provides guided, personal help to lock in best practices and eliminate guesswork. Book your session today to make every future transfer, trade, or investment that much safer.