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SecurityApril 19, 20268 min read

Honeypot Token Checker: How to Detect Honeypot Scams Before Buying

Honeypot tokens are one of the most common crypto scams in 2026. They let you buy but won't let you sell. Here's how to check any token before you lose your money.

What Is a Honeypot Token?

A honeypot is a token smart contract designed to trap buyers. You can buy the token on a DEX like Uniswap or PancakeSwap, but when you try to sell, the transaction fails. Your money is stuck — and the scammer walks away with the liquidity.

Honeypot scams are responsible for millions of dollars in losses every month. They're especially common on BNB Chain, Ethereum, and Base where anyone can deploy a token in minutes.

How Honeypot Scams Work

Here's the typical honeypot playbook:

  1. Deploy a token — The scammer creates a token with hidden code that blocks selling
  2. Add liquidity — They add initial liquidity to make it look legitimate
  3. Pump on social media — They promote it on Telegram, Twitter, and Discord as the "next 100x gem"
  4. Victims buy in — People swap ETH/BNB for the token
  5. Selling blocked — When buyers try to sell, the contract reverts the transaction
  6. Rug pull — The scammer removes all liquidity and disappears

Red Flags of a Honeypot Token

You can buy but every sell transaction fails
Sell tax is above 50% (or hidden entirely)
Contract source code is not verified on the block explorer
Owner can change balances or blacklist addresses
Contract has a self-destruct function
Very few holders (under 50) despite being promoted heavily
Liquidity is not locked — can be pulled at any time
Owner has a hidden or proxy contract that can be upgraded

How to Check if a Token Is a Honeypot

Before buying ANY token, especially memecoins or low-cap gems, run it through a honeypot checker:

Using CryptoGuard (Free)

  1. Go to cryptoguard.services
  2. Click the "Token Scan" tab
  3. Paste the token contract address
  4. Select the chain (Ethereum, BNB, Polygon, etc.)
  5. Click "Scan Token"

CryptoGuard checks for honeypot code, hidden taxes, blacklist functions, owner privileges, and more — using data from GoPlus Security.

You can also check tokens via our Airdrop Scam Detector which specifically flags airdropped scam tokens.

What CryptoGuard Checks For

Honeypot detection

Can you actually sell this token?

Sell tax analysis

Hidden fees that take your profits

Blacklist function

Can the owner block you from selling?

Mintable supply

Can the owner print unlimited tokens?

Owner privileges

Can they change your balance?

Self-destruct

Can the contract be destroyed?

Source verification

Is the code public and auditable?

Holder analysis

How many real holders exist?

How to Protect Yourself

Always scan a token contract before buying — use CryptoGuard's Token Scan
Never buy tokens promoted only in Telegram/Discord groups
Check if liquidity is locked (use the portfolio scan tool)
Look for verified source code on the block explorer
Start with a small test buy before committing large amounts
Use CryptoGuard's Airdrop Detector for unsolicited tokens in your wallet

Scan Any Token Free

Don't risk your money on honeypots. Scan any token contract in seconds — no signup required for your first scan.

Scan a Token Now