--- title: "Discord scams: how to spot them and protect your server · Orion Shield" description: "Fake Nitro, crypto, fake casinos, QR codes, hacked accounts: the most common Discord scams, how to spot them and how to protect your server." url: https://orion-shield.com/en/guides/discord-scams language: en alternates: fr: https://orion-shield.com/guides/arnaques-discord --- Guide # Discord scams: how to spot them and protect your server Scams have become one of the top threats on Discord. They target your members one by one, often from a friend’s account. Here are the most common ones, and how to stop them before they claim victims. Published on October 24, 2026 ## The most common scams - Fake Nitro: a free Nitro “gift” that leads to a fake Discord login page, built to steal your account. - Fake casinos and crypto “giveaways”: an image promises winnings or a promo code, often in the name of a celebrity or a streamer. - Fake withdrawals: a photo of a cash withdrawal supposed to prove the site really pays. - “Verification” QR codes: scanning the code with the Discord app actually logs the scammer into your account. - “I reported you by mistake”: a stranger sends you to a fake Discord staff member who asks for your credentials. - Fake game or skin trades: a link to a fake trading site that steals your game account. - Fake game to test: a “friend” asks you to try their game. The file is malware that steals your Discord account. - Fake staff or fake official program: an account posing as Discord, or as a well-known bot, offers you a badge, a partnership or a job, then asks you to “verify” yourself. ## Why scams spread as images Keyword filters, Discord’s AutoMod included, read the text of messages. A scam written inside an image slips right past them. That’s why fake crypto promos and fake casinos almost always spread as screenshots. - ![Fake casino in a celebrity’s name](https://orion-shield.com/assets/images/releases/v2.5/scam-example-celebrity.webp) *Fake casino in a celebrity’s name* - ![Fake message from a celebrity](https://orion-shield.com/assets/images/releases/v2.5/scam-example-post.webp) *Fake message from a celebrity* - ![Fake withdrawal caught on camera](https://orion-shield.com/assets/images/releases/v2.5/scam-example-withdrawal.webp) *Fake withdrawal caught on camera* **With Orion Shield ·** Orion analyzes each image in a few milliseconds and removes scams: fake casinos, crypto giveaways, fake withdrawals, fake contests. A scam already caught is recognized right away on every server it protects. [Anti-scam and anti-spam →](https://orion-shield.com/en/anti-scam) ## The hacked account, the main way scams spread Most scams don’t come from strangers but from hacked accounts. A member gets their account stolen, and the scammer uses it to post the same scam in every channel and send it privately to their friends. The messages feel trustworthy, since they come from someone you know. **With Orion Shield ·** Orion’s anti-spam spots the same message posted in several channels and removes it, which cuts the spread short. [Anti-scam and anti-spam →](https://orion-shield.com/en/anti-scam) ## Protect your server - Pick at least the medium verification level and require two-factor authentication for moderation actions. - Remove the permission to mention @everyone and @here from members. - Limit who can post images and links in public channels, for example to members who have been around for a while. - Use an anti-scam bot that reads images, not just text. - Pin a message reminding everyone that staff never asks for a password or to scan a QR code. ## Teach your members to spot a scam - An offer that looks too good to be true almost always is. - A real Nitro gift shows up as a Discord card to accept: it never asks you to log in on another site. - Check a link’s address before logging in: discord.com, nothing else. - Never scan a QR code someone sent you. - Turn on two-factor authentication on your account. - Never run a file sent to you in a private message, even by a friend. - Real Discord staff doesn’t handle reports through private messages and never asks for your password or a code. - If a friend sends you an unusual link, ask them through another channel whether it’s really them. ## Frequently asked questions How can I tell if a Discord message is a scam? Be wary of promised winnings, unexpected gifts, urgency and links that ask you to log in. A casino or crypto image in a celebrity’s name, a fake withdrawal or a “verification” QR code are scams. What should I do if my Discord account was hacked? Change your password right away and turn on two-factor authentication. Log out the devices you don’t recognize and remove unknown authorized apps. If you ran a file someone sent you, scan your computer with an antivirus. Then warn your friends and the servers you moderate. If you can no longer access the account, contact Discord support. ## Protection [**Anti-scam and anti-spam** Orion removes scam images on Discord (fake casinos, crypto giveaways, fake withdrawals) and spam: flooding, repeated messages, the same message in several channels.](https://orion-shield.com/en/anti-scam) [**All guides** Raids, nukes, scams: how to recognize threats on Discord and protect your server and your members.](https://orion-shield.com/en/guides) ## Protect your server with Orion Anti-raid, anti-nuke, anti-scam and AI moderation: add Orion to your Discord server and set everything up with /settings. [Add bot](https://orion-shield.com/invite) [Discord Server →](https://discord.gg/BC3rE6f7GB)