Honeypots: Why Most Token Screeners Cannot Keep You Safe from Them
what are crypto honeypot scams
In crypto, the word “honeypot” sounds sweet — but the reality is brutal.
A honeypot token is a malicious smart contract designed to trap buyers. You can buy it — but you can’t sell it. It’s one of the most common and devastating scams in DeFi, and it continues to evolve in complexity.
This article will break down:
- What a honeypot token is
- How they work (including lesser-known tricks)
- How scammers profit
- Why traditional tools often miss them
- And how Token Bites screens them in real time — before it's too late
What Is a Honeypot Token?
A honeypot token is a deceptive crypto token that allows users to buy the token but prevents them from selling it. Most victims only find out once they try to cash out — by then, it’s too late.
These tokens are often launched during hyped market phases or fake narratives, accompanied by:
- Fake Twitter/X accounts
- Telegram groups with paid actors
- Rapid price movement to trigger FOMO
How Honeypots Work (It’s Not Always “Can’t Sell”)
There are several variations of honeypot code — and many are subtle:
1. Explicit Sell Block
The contract flat out blocks sells unless you're whitelisted.
require(_isWhitelisted[sender], "Sell not allowed");2. Gas Limit Traps
The contract is written so that the sell or transfer functions exceed gas limits, causing the transaction to fail without an obvious reason.
3. Transfer Fees Above 100%
Some tokens look legitimate, but when you sell, a hidden tax takes 100% of your output, returning 0 tokens.
4. Selective Honeypots
Some contracts allow small wallets to sell, but block whales or wallets that buy above a certain amount.
5. Fake Functionality
Contracts often include functions with deceptive names like enableTrading() or removeLimits(), which do nothing, giving buyers false confidence.
How Scammers Profit from Honeypots
- Deploy malicious contract
- Inject initial liquidity (often paired with ETH or BNB)
- Use bots or fake influencer accounts to generate hype
- Trap buyers — price goes up
- Pull the liquidity or sell from whitelisted wallet
- Game over: users are stuck, funds drained
Why Many Tools Miss Honeypots
Most free tools or contract scanners:
- Only detect obvious flags
- Can’t analyze obfuscated code
- Miss newly invented patterns
- Don’t screen fast enough (e.g., seconds after deployment)
By the time the red flags are detected, the token has already sucked in hundreds of buyers.
How Token Bites Detects Honeypots in Real Time
At Token Bites, we’ve developed a smart screening system that:
- Monitors real contract logic, not just token metadata
- Analyzes common anti-sell, anti-transfer, and tax manipulation patterns
- Flags unusual function names, gas traps, or code wrappers
- And continues to evolve as scam methods do
Best of all? It happens automatically, the moment a token launches — and the alert hits your Telegram within seconds.
📌 Example: Real Honeypot Triggered
Detected Token: 0xAbcd123...
- Flag: Sell Function Blocked for All Non-Whitelisted Wallets
- Risk Level: 🚨 Critical
- Action: Avoid
This type of alert is sent directly to your Telegram — with no copy-pasting, no analysis delay, and no guessing.
Conclusion: Don’t Get Trapped
Honeypots are not just beginner traps — they’re designed to evade tools, mimic legit launches, and leverage hype.
With Token Bites, you get more than alerts. You get real-time protection based on live smart contract screening.
👉 Subscribe to Token Bites Alerts
Be first — and stay safe.