# Scam Warning

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It is impossible to retrieve funds from a watch-only wallet without the private key. If anybody is pressuring you to send them money to "unlock" or "access" the funds in a watch-only wallet, **they are scamming you**. **You will lose your money and will NEVER be able to access those funds.** 

**If the person contacting you promises to give you access to the account, they are scamming you – you will lose your money and it cannot be recovered.**
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## What is a Watch-only Wallet?

Watch-only wallets are "view-only" accounts in Nova Wallet. They allow you to monitor any public address by adding it using only the account's public address – no private keys or seed phrases required.

**This feature is designed for:**

* Testing Nova Wallet before importing your real accounts
* Tracking your portfolio across multiple wallets
* Monitoring cold storage balances without exposing private keys
* Following public figures or friends' on-chain activity

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Important: Watch-only wallets are for viewing only. You cannot send transactions or access funds because you don't have the private key. **If anyone contacts you with the promise that they will give you access to funds, they are trying to scam you.**
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## How the Scam Works

Unfortunately, Watch-only Wallets have started to be used by scammers:

1. **Contact:** A scammer contacts you (via social media, messaging apps, or email) claiming they have a "crypto opportunity" or "locked funds".
2. **The** **Setup**: They guide you through adding a watch-only wallet to Nova Wallet that displays significant funds (often $10,000+).
3. **The** **Hook**: They tell you that for a small fee (typically $100-$400), they will give you "full access" to this wallet.
4. **The** **Scam**: You send them money, expecting to access thousands of dollars
5. **The** **Reality**: The scammer disappears with your payment. You can never access the watch-only wallet funds because you don't have the private key – and neither does the scammer

## Common Red Flags for Scams

* Someone asks you to add a watch-only wallet and promises you'll get access to the funds
* They pressure you to send money to "unlock," "activate," or "verify" an account
* They claim you need to pay fees, gas, or taxes before accessing funds
* They found you unsolicited on social media or messaging apps
* They're rushing you or creating urgency ("limited time offer")
* They ask you to keep the "opportunity" secret
* They tell you an emotional story about how they urgently need your help

## Stay Safe

✅ **Too good to be true:** If something seems too good to be true, it is. No one is going to give you free money.

✅ **Remember**: If you didn't create the wallet and don't have the seed phrase or private key, you will NEVER be able to access those funds – no matter how much money you send to someone.

✅ **Never** **send** **money** to access funds in a watch-only wallet. It's impossible, and you will lose your money.

✅ **Block** **and** **report** anyone who approaches you with this type of scheme.

✅ **When** **in** **doubt**, ask the official Nova Wallet support via email: <support@novawallet.io>

✅ **Admins will never DM you** – no one from the Nova Wallet team will ever DM you, they will NOT ask for any private information or your passphrase. Be aware that scammers will try to impersonate Nova Wallet team members.