Crypto chat runs on shorthand. A few terms are worth knowing because sellers hide sharp edges behind them.
DYOR (“do your own research”) is healthy until it means “stop asking questions”. A rug pull is when insiders drain liquidity or abandon a token. A honeypot contract lets you buy but not sell. Exit liquidity is a polite insult: you are the buyer they needed in order to leave. Ponzinomics describes token rewards that only work while new money arrives. Shill is paid or biased promotion dressed as friendship. Ape in means buy first, think later — usually a dare, not advice.
Venue words matter too. A CEX is a custodial exchange; a DEX swaps via smart contracts. Bridge transfers between chains and is a favourite phishing surface. Approval / unlimited spend permissions can empty a wallet after one careless signature. Gas is the network fee; “support” that asks you to “validate” by signing a mystery payload is not paying your gas — it is draining you. FOMO and FUD are mood labels; neither is a reason to share a seed phrase.
If a stranger’s message is half slang and half a deposit link, translate before you click. Real projects survive plain English.
If a pitch already took a deposit you need back, start at Get help. For recovery sellers who appear afterwards, see Fake recovery.
This article is for general information only. It is not legal or financial advice. Details change. If you have lost money, contact your bank or card issuer and use the routes on the help pages.