Recently, scammers have been targeting users in private transactions by sending fake transfer screenshots and falsely claiming that USDT has been sent. They then use excuses such as “your wallet isn’t activated” or “you don’t have enough Energy or TRX, so the USDT won’t show up” to trick users into paying so-called “activation fees” or “Energy fees,” causing further losses.
Case
Chris bought USDT through a social media platform and provided the other party with a TRON wallet address. Soon after, the other party sent a screenshot showing that “57 USDT was successfully transferred.” However, when Chris opened the wallet, the balance was still 0 and there was no incoming transaction record.
When Chris questioned the other party, they replied: “Your wallet isn’t activated and has no Energy, so the USDT won’t show up yet. It’s like having a car and a key but no fuel.”
The other party then asked Chris to pay an additional fee to buy Energy, claiming that the USDT that had supposedly “arrived” would appear after the purchase.
Suspicious of the explanation, Chris contacted the wallet provider’s official support team and found that there was no corresponding USDT transfer on-chain. The transfer screenshot was fake, and the claim that “USDT will appear after you pay for Energy” was simply a pretext to trick Chris into paying more.
How the Scam Works
This scam works by making users believe that USDT has already arrived but is temporarily not visible. In reality, TRON account activation, Energy, and receiving USDT are separate issues.
1. TRON Account Activation
Account activation is a mechanism on the TRON network. Sending TRX to an unactivated address activates the account, allowing the user to perform subsequent on-chain actions such as transfers and swaps.
However, whether a TRON account is activated does not affect its ability to receive tokens.
2. Energy and Receiving USDT
Energy is a resource on the TRON network used primarily to execute smart contracts. For example, sending USDT (TRC20) consumes Energy. If there is not enough Energy, you will usually need to spend TRX to cover the corresponding network fee.
Receiving tokens is different from sending them.
Recipients do not need to buy additional Energy or pay TRX to receive tokens. If USDT does not appear in your wallet, first check whether there is a genuine incoming transaction on-chain.
How to Verify Whether USDT Has Actually Arrived
Do not use a transfer screenshot as proof that funds have arrived. Always verify the transfer on-chain.
1. Check the Receiving Address
Open TRONSCAN at tronscan.org and enter your TRON wallet address to check for incoming USDT (TRC20) transfers. You can also enter the transaction hash (TxID) provided by the sender to view the transaction details.
2. Verify the Transaction Details
Once you find the transaction, check the following:
- Transaction status: Confirm that the transaction was successful and confirmed on-chain.
- Receiving address: Make sure the receiving address exactly matches your wallet address.
- Amount: Confirm that the amount received matches the agreed amount.
- Token contract: Verify that the token is genuine USDT, not a lookalike token with the same name.
- USDT (TRC20) contract address on TRON: TR7NHqjeKQxGTCi8q8ZY4pL8otSzgjLj6t
3. Continue Only After Confirming Receipt
If you cannot find the corresponding USDT transfer, if the transaction was not successful, or if the receiving address, amount, or token contract does not match, you should not treat the agreed USDT as received.
If the blockchain confirms that genuine USDT was successfully transferred to your address but the balance still does not appear in your wallet app, check that you are viewing the correct network or contact official support for assistance.
PSA:
Please keep the following in mind:
- Use official or reputable channels, and be cautious with transactions arranged through social media or offline channels.
- A screenshot does not prove that funds have arrived. On-chain records are the source of truth. Until you have verified the transfer on-chain, do not make further payments, release assets, or sign unknown transactions or approvals.
- If someone claims that your “wallet isn’t activated” or that you must “buy Energy before USDT can appear,” verify the transfer through an official block explorer first. Do not act on instructions from strangers.
Closing Thoughts
As scams continue to evolve, it can be difficult for everyday users to prevent them entirely. imToken will continue to monitor new types of scams and share timely risk information and security alerts with the community, helping users reduce losses and manage their digital assets more securely.
We invite you to read and share the imToken Wallet Security Monthly Report, and work with imToken to keep every token safe.