Crypto hardware wallet provider Tangem has issued a direct warning to users: the company does not conduct ICOs, does not run airdrops, and does not have any tokens. The alert comes after scammers began circulating phishing emails and a fraudulent “Tangem Coin” designed to steal personal information and funds from unsuspecting users.
Tangem published the scam alert across its official channels, including its verified X account, explicitly naming the tactics being used against its community. The statement left no room for ambiguity.
$311.3M
Lost to crypto phishing attacks in January 2026 alone, accounting for roughly 84% of all crypto losses that month. (Source: CertiK)
Tangem Confirms Zero Airdrops or ICOs
The company’s official warning was unequivocal: “Tangem does NOT conduct ICOs. Tangem does NOT do airdrops. Tangem does NOT have any tokens.” The statement was issued after reports surfaced of phishing emails telling recipients they were “eligible” for a Tangem airdrop.
A fraudulent token branded as “Tangem Coin” has also appeared, created by scammers impersonating the wallet provider. The domain tangem-app.io has been flagged by at least two security vendors as a phishing site as of March 20, 2026.
Tangem stressed that it will never initiate contact with users to request personal information, passwords, or payments. The company also clarified that it never communicates via telephone or messaging apps, only through official company email addresses.
The wallet provider noted that no data leak occurred on its end. Scammers likely assembled email lists from other breached databases, a common tactic in crypto phishing campaigns. The exact number of targeted users has not been disclosed, and the group behind the fake coin remains unidentified.
Wallet Impersonation Fraud Surging in 2026
Tangem’s warning fits into a sharply escalating trend. Crypto phishing scams in January 2026 caused $311.3 million in losses according to CertiK data. That figure represented approximately 84% of all crypto losses for the month, which totaled roughly $370 million, the highest monthly figure in 11 months.
Hardware wallet brands have been prime targets for impersonation schemes. Ledger, one of Tangem’s main competitors, suffered a customer data breach in 2020 that fueled phishing campaigns lasting years afterward. Trezor has also dealt with recurring impersonation attempts across social media and fake storefronts.
The pattern is consistent: scammers exploit brand trust to lure users into surrendering seed phrases, private keys, or direct payments. In a market environment where the Fear and Greed Index sits at 8 out of 100, signaling extreme fear, users may be more susceptible to urgency-driven phishing tactics.
Tangem’s position as a hardware wallet with no native token is notable in this context. Companies that have launched governance or utility tokens face higher impersonation risk because scammers can mimic real token distribution mechanics. Tangem’s “no token” stance simplifies the verification process: any token claiming a Tangem affiliation is, by definition, fraudulent.
3 Steps to Verify a Tangem Communication Is Legitimate
Given the sophistication of current phishing campaigns, including ones that have driven hundreds of millions in losses across the crypto sector, users should follow a structured verification process before engaging with any communication claiming to be from Tangem or similar wallet providers.
1. Check the sender domain. Tangem communicates only through official company email addresses. Any message originating from a domain other than tangem.com, particularly domains like tangem-app.io or similar variants, should be treated as fraudulent. Bookmark the official site directly rather than clicking links in emails.
2. Verify through official social channels. Cross-reference any offer, airdrop announcement, or token claim against Tangem’s verified accounts on X and its official blog. If the company has not posted about it publicly, the communication is a scam. Tangem’s verified X account (@tangaborr) and its website are the only reliable confirmation channels.
3. Apply the seed phrase rule. No legitimate hardware wallet company will ever request your seed phrase, recovery words, or private keys under any circumstances. This applies universally across Tangem, Ledger, Trezor, and every other reputable provider. Any request for these credentials, regardless of how official the communication appears, is a theft attempt.
Users who have already interacted with suspicious emails or the fake Tangem Coin should immediately check their wallet for unauthorized transactions and consider moving assets to a new wallet generated from a fresh seed phrase. Suspected impersonation can be reported directly through Tangem’s official support channels.
The broader surge in crypto fraud activity in early 2026 underscores a persistent reality: as hardware wallets gain adoption, the brands behind them become increasingly valuable targets for social engineering. Tangem’s proactive alert is a defensive measure, but the responsibility for verification ultimately falls on individual users.
With total crypto losses hitting $370 million in January 2026 alone, the cost of trusting an unsolicited email has never been higher.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Cryptocurrency and digital asset markets carry significant risk. Always do your own research before making decisions.
