What to know:
- Crypto scams target World Cup fans through fake tickets, betting offers, and sites.
- TRM says confirmed scam wallets received less than $1,700 before the tournament began.
- Scammers use bridges and exchange accounts to move funds and complicate tracing.
Crypto scams linked to the 2026 FIFA World Cup are emerging months before kickoff, according to TRM Labs. Researchers said fraud groups are targeting fans seeking tickets, betting offers, and tournament content through early online campaigns and crypto payment channels.
TRM Labs reported that several event-linked operations are already active. The confirmed wallets have received limited funds so far. However, investigators said the activity reflects a common fraud pattern around major global events.
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TRM Labs Tracks Early World Cup Crypto Scam Activity
According to the company, crypto frauds continue to be one of the top types of crimes involving digital currencies. In the year 2025, fraud wallets had collected an estimated total of $35 billion.
TRM stated that World Cup-related crypto scams are already prevalent within various sectors. The total sum that has been sent to verified scam addresses is less than $1,700. Investigators expect activity to grow as kickoff nears.
The most well-validated crypto scams based on the World Cup involve fake ticketing sites. These fraud schemes mimic official ticket-selling websites or reselling sites and redirect buyers to pay in crypto for something that may not exist.
In one instance, an address that was operating on both the Polygon and Ethereum blockchains was reported by TRM. The Polygon-based address collected a total amount of around $1,562. Nearly all funds were received by the address on April 1, 2026, while no transactions occurred on Ethereum deployment.
Finally, TRM uncovered an example where a Bitcoin address was linked to a phishing website promoting World Cup tickets. At the time, this page was still available online. No crypto funds were sent to this address.
Cross-Chain Bridges Complicate Crypto Scam Tracking
Other fraudulent activities include fixed match betting as well as fraud involving scam kits and meme coins promoted under a sports fan name. These types of frauds do not yet involve known cryptocurrency wallets.
According to experts, crypto-related schemes associated with large-scale events can spread rapidly once fans start paying more attention to such events.
Fraudsters are likely to employ social media pages and websites as well as financial transaction networks. Additionally, brand changes may occur in response to platforms removing suspected accounts.
The report states that scammers utilize cross-chain bridge transactions and custodial wallet transfers when moving their assets. TRM claims that the total amount of funds transferred by fraudster-associated actors in bridges is about $1.9 billion.
The findings show how crypto scams may follow global sports events before demand peaks. Researchers said early infrastructure can help criminals prepare campaigns in advance. They warned that crypto scams may grow as World Cup marketing expands.
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