If you own cryptocurrency in your own wallet, you have a seed phrase (also called a recovery phrase or secret recovery words). It is usually 12 or 24 plain words. Those words are the master key to everything in the wallet.
Anyone who has your seed phrase can take all of your crypto, from anywhere in the world, and it cannot be reversed.
The one rule
Never type, say, photograph, or share your seed phrase with anyone. Ever.
Not with a support agent, not with a wallet company, not with a friend helping you, and not with us. A real support person never needs it.
How scammers try to get it
- Fake support. You post a question online and someone messages you offering help. They send you to a website that asks for your recovery words to "sync" or "validate" your wallet.
- Fake wallet apps and extensions. A copy of a real wallet app asks you to "restore" with your seed phrase.
- Urgent warnings. An email or pop-up says your wallet will be locked unless you verify it.
- Airdrops and prizes. "Claim your free tokens" pages that ask you to connect and then enter your words.
How to keep it safe
- Write it on paper, or stamp it into a metal backup plate. Keep it somewhere safe from fire and water.
- Do not store it in email, cloud notes, a screenshot, or a password manager you do not fully trust.
- Download wallet apps only from the official website or the official app store listing.
- Bookmark the real website of your exchange and use the bookmark every time.
- For larger amounts, use a hardware wallet. The keys never leave the device.
If you think your seed phrase was exposed
Act fast:
- Create a brand new wallet on a trusted device, with a new seed phrase.
- Move your funds from the old wallet to the new one right away.
- Stop using the old wallet.
Getting real help
Crypto can be confusing: networks, gas fees, stuck transfers, wrong addresses. Honesty Support offers one-on-one crypto help from background-checked technicians. We walk you through each step on your own screen. We never ask for your seed phrase or private keys.