How to Check a Wallet Address Before Sending Crypto

Before you send anything, check the first few characters and the last few characters of the address manually. Do it after pasting, against the original. That's the whole habit. Everything else in this article explains why it matters.

What address-swapping malware does

There is a class of malware called clippers. They watch your clipboard and swap any crypto address you copy with one they control. The replacement looks nearly identical at a glance: same length, similar characters. By the time you notice, the money is gone. The only defense is comparing the pasted address to the source after you paste it. Every time.

The network is a separate check

One coin can live on several networks. USDT exists on Tron, Ethereum, BNB Chain, and others. The address can look the same across networks, but sending to the wrong one loses the funds. Check which network the recipient specified. Then select that exact network in your wallet, not whichever one defaults.

QR codes are convenient, not conclusive

Scanning a QR is faster than typing an address by hand. But after you scan, look at what appeared in the send field and compare it to the source. A QR code can be replaced just as easily as a pasted address.

Test first on large sends

If you are sending a big amount to an address you have not used before, send a small amount first and confirm it arrived. The cost is one extra transaction. The alternative is losing everything.

What to avoid

Do not copy an address from a chat or messenger message; it can be edited after you see it. Do not trust an address in a screenshot, especially one sent to you unprompted. Get the address directly from the recipient's wallet or profile, not from a third party passing it along.