GuardScan publishes guides and dated case write-ups on how crypto contract scams work: honeypots, rug pulls, hidden minting and trading restrictions, so a reader can run the checks before putting money in.

Which blockchains does GuardScan support?

The analysis behind the published write-ups covers Ethereum, BNB Chain (BSC) and Polygon.

Is there a scanner I can paste an address into?

Not at the moment. The analysis tooling is internal and feeds the published guides and case write-ups; the guides show which public checks to run yourself.

How does honeypot detection work?

A honeypot lets you buy a token but blocks the sale. It is detected by reading the contract code for transfer restrictions and by simulating a buy followed by a sell to see whether the sell can go through.

Rug Pulls: Educational Analysis

Understand the patterns behind rug pulls - scams where developers suddenly withdraw liquidity, leaving investors with worthless tokens.

Educational Content

This analysis is based on public blockchain data and documented cases. For educational purposes only.

What Makes This Possible

Whoever controls the pool tokens can withdraw them in a single transaction. That is a permission that was there from the start, not a security failure.

Documented Losses

Over $6 billion in documented rug pulls in early 2025

How to Identify Rug Pull Patterns

Concentrated Liquidity

When over 70% of liquidity is controlled by few addresses

Emergency Functions

Contracts with functions allowing liquidity withdrawal by developers

Aggressive Marketing

Unrealistic return promises and pressure to invest quickly

Exit Patterns, By Mechanism

We describe the patterns by how they work rather than by project name. A loss figure with no date and no transaction behind it helps nobody decide, and attributing intent to a named team requires dated evidence a reader can check.

Liquidity withdrawal

The pair tokens are pulled or burned and the pool is left with no counterparty. Sell orders stop finding a buyer in the same transaction that empties it.

Checkable first: are the pool tokens locked, and until when?

Dilution by minting

The contract keeps the ability to create new supply. That supply is sold into the existing pool, so the price falls without anyone touching liquidity.

Checkable first: is there a mint function, and who can call it?

Holder concentration

A few wallets hold most of the supply. No malicious function is required: selling those positions together drains the pool before anyone else can react.

Checkable first: what do the top ten addresses add up to?

Logic replacement

If the token sits behind an upgradeable proxy, the code you reviewed can be swapped later for different rules, including the ones that govern selling.

Checkable first: is it a proxy, and who controls the upgrade?

Educational Protection

Learn about rug pull patterns to make more informed decisions:

Analyze token and liquidity distribution
Verify development team history
Examine smart contract code
Research independent security audits

Recommended

Trade on a Trusted Exchange

Use established exchanges with strong security measures and insurance for your funds.

Rug Pulls: Educational Analysis

What Makes This Possible

Documented Losses

How to Identify Rug Pull Patterns

Concentrated Liquidity

Emergency Functions

Aggressive Marketing

Exit Patterns, By Mechanism

Liquidity withdrawal

Dilution by minting

Holder concentration

Logic replacement

Educational Protection

Trade on a Trusted Exchange

Frequently Asked Questions: Rug Pulls

What exactly is a rug pull in cryptocurrency?

How can I detect a potential rug pull before investing?

What are the most common types of rug pulls?

Can smart contract audits prevent rug pulls?

What should I do if I suspect I'm victim of a rug pull?

How do rug pull schemes typically unfold?

Are there tools to automatically detect rug pull risks?

What's the difference between a rug pull and a failed project?