Cross-Chain Bridge Scam Explained: How Fake Bridges Steal Crypto During Transfers

The cross-chain bridge scam is a crypto fraud that targets users trying to move assets between blockchains (for example, from Ethereum to BNB Chain or Polygon). Scammers exploit the complexity of cross-chain transfers by creating fake bridge websites or malicious bridge contracts that look legitimate but are designed to steal funds.

Because real bridges are technical and confusing, this scam is highly effective—even among experienced crypto users.

What Is a Cross-Chain Bridge Scam?

A cross-chain bridge scam occurs when a user believes they are transferring crypto between blockchains, but instead:

Sends funds to a scammer-controlled address
Approves a malicious bridge contract
Interacts with a fake bridge interface

The crypto never arrives on the destination chain because no real bridge transfer occurred.

How Cross-Chain Bridge Scams Work

Step 1: The Bridge Opportunity

Victims are directed to:

A “new” bridge
A “faster” or “cheaper” bridge
A link claiming to support a specific token

The site often mimics real bridge designs.

Step 2: Wallet Connection

Users are asked to:

Connect their wallet
Select source and destination chains
Enter the amount to bridge

Everything appears normal.

Step 3: Deposit or Approval

Instead of a real bridge transaction:

Funds are sent directly to scammer wallets, or
Users approve a malicious contract that drains assets

The interface hides what is actually happening.

Step 4: The Excuse Phase

After funds disappear or never arrive, victims are told:

The bridge is congested
Cross-chain confirmation takes time
Liquidity is temporarily unavailable
An additional fee is required

The delay is used to extract more money or disappear.

Why Cross-Chain Bridge Scams Are So Effective

These scams work because:

Cross-chain transfers are already slow and complex
Users expect delays
Transaction data is hard to interpret
Different chains use different explorers
Victims are unsure where to check

Confusion becomes the scammer’s shield.

Common Variations of the Scam

Fake Bridge Website

A cloned interface that looks identical to a real bridge but routes funds elsewhere.

“Liquidity Required” Scam

Victims are told more funds are needed to complete the bridge.

Approval-Based Bridge Drainer

Users approve a bridge contract that drains tokens instead of bridging them.

“Stuck Transfer” Scam

Victims are told funds are stuck mid-bridge and must pay a release fee.

Warning Signs Most Users Miss

Bridge links shared privately
No verifiable transaction on either chain
Requests for extra payments after sending funds
No clear proof of destination-chain minting
Pressure to act quickly to “recover” the transfer

Legitimate bridges provide transparent, on-chain proof.

How Real Cross-Chain Bridges Work (Simplified)

In legitimate bridges:

Funds are locked or burned on the source chain
A corresponding amount is minted or unlocked on the destination chain
Both actions are visible on-chain
Transaction hashes exist on both networks

If you can’t verify both sides, the bridge may not be real.

Who Is Most Targeted

Cross-chain bridge scams commonly target:

DeFi users
NFT traders
Users chasing arbitrage
New users exploring multi-chain ecosystems
Victims following trending bridge links

Any time urgency meets complexity, risk increases.

What To Do If a Bridge Transfer Fails

If your funds don’t arrive:

Do not send additional payments
Do not approve new contracts
Stop interacting with the site
Preserve transaction hashes and screenshots
Be skeptical of “support” asking for more funds

Repeated fees are a major red flag.

Cross-Chain Bridge Scams vs Legitimate Failures

Legitimate failures:

Are publicly documented
Do not require surprise fees
Are visible on-chain
Are resolved transparently

Scams:

Introduce new demands
Hide behind delays
Provide unverifiable explanations

Transparency is the dividing line.

Final Thoughts

Cross-chain bridge scams thrive where complexity meets urgency. By disguising theft as a technical delay, scammers convince users to wait, pay more, or lose track of what really happened.

In crypto, every real bridge action leaves a trail on both chains.
If you can’t independently verify both sides of the transfer, the bridge may be fake—and your funds may already be gone.