Scam Alert: How to Identify and Avoid Pre-Activated Wallets

Some sellers are offering pre-activated wallets—a global scam that puts your crypto at risk.

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Patrick Dike-Ndulue
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Be cautious of a scam where vendors sell activated Tangem hardware wallets on third-party e-commerce sites. Although many of these listings originate from sellers in Asia, similar scams are occurring in Europe, the Americas, and other regions. 

Remember, Tangem does not offer devices with pre-generated private keys or access codes. If a seller says otherwise, they likely set it up first to access the wallet themselves.

How to tell clean vs pre-activated wallets 

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A legitimate, unused Tangem wallet comes with the following items in the box:

  • Tangem Cards – 2 or 3 cards, depending on your chosen kit.
  • Getting Started Guide – step-by-step instructions to set up your wallet safely.
  • Specifications Sheet – details about the wallet, supported tokens, and technical info.

Pre-activated Tangem Wallet

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A pre-activated or tampered Tangem wallet have an "initialization password"  as shown in the image above. Tangem Wallets never come with an initialization password

What to do if you buy an activated wallet

  • Reset the wallet to factory settings and set it up yourself.

  • Report the seller to the marketplace where you bought the device

  • Contact Tangem support with order details and photos. 

  • File a complaint with local authorities and your payment provider.
     

A hardware wallet only protects you when you alone control the keys. Anything sold as “pre-configured” or with a password already set is unsafe. The scam is global, so treat such offers as dangerous anywhere you shop online.

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Authors Patrick Dike-Ndulue

Patrick is the Tangem Blog's Editor