How to identify and avoid rug pull?

Devendra Singh Khati
Coinmonks
3 min readDec 30, 2022

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Since not all cryptocurrency projects are legitimate, it’s critical to understand how to protect yourself from common scams.

A “rug pull” is a common cryptocurrency scam in which a developer or creator promotes a project, such as a new coin or NFT release and then disappears with investor funds. Rug pullers are difficult to find after the fact because the decentralized and pseudonymous nature of blockchain allows those involved to conceal their identities.

Nonetheless, there are ways to detect potential rug pulls and protect yourself from financial loss.

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What is a rug pull?

A rug pull is a type of scam in the cryptocurrency market where the creators of a cryptocurrency project suddenly sell all of their tokens, causing the value of the tickets to plummet and investors to lose money. This scam is often perpetrated by individuals or groups who have created a cryptocurrency project to profit from it by selling their own tokens rather than building a viable and sustainable project.

How Do Rug Pulls Work?

Rug pulls are similar to pump-and-dump schemes in that they both take advantage of the crypto space’s lack of regulation, misinformation, shilling, and the fear of missing out (FOMO). Pump and dumps, on the other hand, typically operate in a shorter time frame, revolve around the price action of low-volume tokens, and do not necessitate the involvement of the token’s developers.

Here’s how a rug pulls typically works:

  • The creators of the cryptocurrency project attract investors by promoting the project and its potential for high returns.
  • Investors buy into the project by purchasing cryptocurrency tokens through an initial coin offering (ICO) or on a cryptocurrency exchange.
  • The project’s creators sell their own tokens on the exchange or privately to other investors.
  • As the creators sell off their tokens, the value of the cryptocurrency plummets, causing investors to lose money.
  • The project’s creators often disappear, leaving investors with worthless tokens and no way to recoup their losses.

There are several ways to try to detect a rug pull before it happens:

Research the team: Look for information about the team behind the project, including their backgrounds and experience. Be wary of projects with anonymous or unfamiliar team members.

Check the project’s code: Look for signs that the code is well-maintained and regularly updated, indicating the team’s commitment to the project.

Look for red flags: Be on the lookout for warning signs that a project may be a rug pull, such as unrealistic promises of returns, a lack of transparency, and a lack of detail in the project’s white paper.

Check the project’s community: Look for signs of a strong and active community around the project, as this can indicate its legitimacy.

Use caution: As with any investment, it’s important to research before investing in a cryptocurrency project. Only invest what you can afford to lose and be aware that the cryptocurrency market is highly volatile and risky.

How can QuillCheck assist in detecting and avoiding rug pulls?

QuillCheck is a security tool offered by QuillAudits. Since ‘the code is the law’ for any web3, DeFi project, it is essential to look out for security checks and detect any possible rug pull. QuillCheck uses 21 code checks to ensure that the project’s code does not lie and that you do not lose your funds. Enter the token’s contract address into the search bar, and we will prepare a thorough analysis of the project’s security for you.

Conclusion

It’s important for investors to be cautious and do their own research before investing in a cryptocurrency project. It’s also good to diversify your investments and only invest what you can afford to lose.

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Devendra Singh Khati
Coinmonks

Web3 Evangelist with Computing and Finance background.