You’re sitting on your couch, maybe scrolling through TikTok or half-watching a Netflix show, when your phone buzzes. It’s a text message. The sender says they’re from Coinbase. It looks official, maybe mentioning a "login attempt from Singapore" or a "security alert regarding your recent withdrawal." Your heart drops. You haven't even opened your crypto app in three months.
Now you're staring at your screen asking: Why am i getting texts from coinbase? Is it a glitch? Did someone hack your account? Or is this just another elaborate scam designed to drain your digital wallet before you’ve even finished your coffee? Honestly, it's usually one of those things, and none of them are particularly fun to deal with. Understanding the difference between a legitimate security ping and a "pig butchering" scam is basically the only thing standing between you and a zero balance.
The Real Reasons Coinbase Is Messaging You
There are actually a few times when Coinbase will legitimately reach out via SMS. If you have Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) set up through SMS—which, let's be real, is the least secure way to do it—you'll get a code every time you log in. That’s normal.
Sometimes the company sends "Device Confirmation" texts. If you buy a new iPhone or try to access your account from a library computer, Coinbase notices the new IP address. They send a text to make sure it’s actually you and not some guy in a basement halfway across the world.
Another reason? Account recovery. If you forgot your password and requested a reset, they might text you a verification link.
But here is the kicker: Coinbase almost never sends unsolicited texts asking you to click a link to "verify your identity" or "prevent account suspension." If you didn't just try to log in, and you’re getting a text, your internal alarm should be screaming. It's rarely a mistake. It's usually a target.
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When It’s Not Actually Coinbase (The Scam Factor)
Scammers are incredibly good at what they do. They use a technique called smishing—SMS phishing.
They use software to "spoof" the sender ID so the message actually appears in the same thread as your real Coinbase alerts. It looks seamless. It looks professional. They use urgent language like "Your account will be locked in 24 hours" or "Unauthorized transaction of $2,400 detected."
They want you to panic. When humans panic, the logical part of the brain shuts down. You click the link. The link takes you to a website that looks exactly like Coinbase—the logos are right, the colors are right, even the fonts are perfect. You enter your username and password.
Boom.
The scammers now have your credentials. They log in to the real site, bypass your security, and move your Bitcoin to an untraceable hardware wallet. Once that crypto leaves Coinbase's ecosystem, it is gone. There is no "undo" button on the blockchain. No manager to call. No fraud department that can reverse a finalized transaction.
Look for the "Smell" of a Fake Text
Real Coinbase messages generally come from short codes like 207-11 or 224-522. If the text is coming from a standard 10-digit phone number, it’s a fake. Period.
Check the URL. Scammers use "look-alike" domains. Instead of coinbase.com, they might use coin-base.support, verify-coinbase.com, or some weird shortened bit.ly link. If you see a typo? Fake. If the grammar feels slightly "off"? Fake.
The Data Breach Connection
You might be wondering how they even got your number. You haven't told anyone you own crypto.
Well, it’s probably not your fault. Over the last few years, there have been massive data breaches from other platforms. Think about the Ledger data breach in 2020 or the various leaks from LinkedIn and Facebook. Hackers take these lists of emails and phone numbers and cross-reference them. If your info was in a breach, and you’ve ever signed up for a crypto-related newsletter or exchange, you’re on a "sucker list."
The scammers aren't necessarily targeting you specifically; they’re casting a net across 50,000 phone numbers hoping a few hundred people have Coinbase accounts and are tired enough to click a link.
What To Do If You Already Clicked
If you clicked the link but didn't enter info, you might be okay, but your IP address and browser info were likely logged. If you entered your password, you need to move fast.
- Go to the real Coinbase website (type it in manually, do not use a bookmark or a link).
- Change your password immediately. Make it long. Make it weird. Use a password manager.
- Check your active sessions. In your security settings, you can see every device currently logged in. If you see a "MacBook Pro in London" and you're in Des Moines, terminate that session instantly.
- Lock your account. Coinbase has a specific "Lock My Account" feature for suspected compromises. Use it.
Moving Beyond SMS Security
If you are still using SMS for your 2FA, you are living dangerously. SIM swapping is a real thing where a hacker convinces your cell provider to port your number to their SIM card. Once they have your phone number, they can reset every password you have.
Switch to an authenticator app like Google Authenticator, Authy, or Microsoft Authenticator. These generate codes locally on your device and aren't tied to your phone number. Even better? Buy a physical security key like a YubiKey. It’s a literal thumb drive you have to physically plug into your computer to authorize a trade. A hacker in Eastern Europe can't physically touch your YubiKey.
Real Examples of Coinbase Smishing
In 2023 and 2024, a wave of "Coinbase Support" scams hit users hard. One common variation involved a text saying a "new device was authorized" with a "Help Desk" phone number to call if it wasn't you.
When people called the number, they reached a fake call center. The "agent" (who sounded professional) would walk the victim through "securing" their account, which actually involved the victim downloading remote desktop software like AnyDesk or TeamViewer. Once the scammer had remote access, they just drained the account while the victim watched, thinking they were being helped.
Actionable Steps to Secure Your Crypto Right Now
The anxiety of why am i getting texts from coinbase can be solved by taking a few hard-line security stances. Treat your crypto account like a digital vault, not a social media profile.
- Turn off SMS 2FA. This is the single most important thing you can do today. Move to an app-based or hardware-based authentication method immediately.
- Enable "Whitelisting" or "Address Book" features. Coinbase allows you to restrict withdrawals to only specific, pre-approved crypto addresses. This means even if someone gets into your account, they can't send money to their own wallet for 48 hours, giving you time to stop them.
- Use a dedicated email. Don't use the same email for Coinbase that you use for your Amazon account or your junk mail. Create a separate, "clean" email address that you use only for financial services.
- Report the scam. Copy the text and the number and send it to
security@coinbase.com. Then, block the number and delete the thread. - Check HaveIBeenPwned. Go to the site and enter your email and phone number. It will tell you exactly which data breaches leaked your information, which helps you understand why you're being targeted in the first place.
Crypto is your own personal bank. That’s the beauty of it, but it’s also the burden. There is no "fraud protection" like there is with a Visa card. If you get a text from Coinbase and you weren't expecting it, assume it’s a trap until you prove otherwise through the official app.