Crypto Frauds 2026 Update

Author: Robert K Minniti

Crypto frauds continue to be an issue for businesses and individuals. The number of victims continues to climb. This course is designed to keep participants up to date on the various crypto fraud schemes. It has been updated for 2026 to reflect new frauds that have occurred. We will examine the frauds at FTX, SQUID, and others. We will review some common crypto scams including Ponzi & pyramid schemes, pump & dumps, ISO Scams, Rug Pulls, Exit Scams, Fake Giveaways, and Fraudulent Exchanges.

Publication Date: February 2026

Designed For
This course is designed to be a refresher course for CPAs, CFEs, CIAs, CMAs, MAFFs, CFFs, and others in the accounting or auditing field, or anyone interested in crypto frauds.

Topics Covered

• Fraud Theories
• Fraud Statistics
• Crypto Volatility in the Last Year
• Crypto Fraud
• Common Crypto Fraud Schemes
• Other Crypto Scams
• Crypto Fraud - In the News

Learning Objectives

• Identify Red Flags for Crypto Fraud
• Identify Crypto Fraud Schemes that Affect Businesses
• Identify Crypto Fraud Schemes that Affect Individuals
• Identify who developed the fraud triangle theory
• Identify the news organization that was duped into endorsing a cryptocurrency fraudster

Level
Basic

Instructional Method
Self-Study

NASBA Field of Study
Accounting (2 hours)

Program Prerequisites
Basic understanding of fraud and internal controls

Advance Preparation
None