<!-- canonical: https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/howeycoin -->
<!-- robots: noindex -->

# Intentionally Scammy Cryptocurrencies
The SEC's HoweyCoin Educates Investors on ICO Scams

By Joey Haar | Published 2018-05-17 | Lifestyle
Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/howeycoin
References: [thenextweb](https://thenextweb.com/hardfork/2018/05/17/sec-fake-ico-investors-cryptocurrency-scams/) & [howeycoins](https://www.howeycoins.com/index.html)

For people thinking about getting deeper into cryptocurrency investing, HoweyCoin might seem like a sure thing. The cryptocurrency's upcoming initial coin offering, or ICO, was announced in a tweet from the [SEC](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chili-commissioner), it has a team of pros, and it's been backed by celebrities. Unfortunately, any potential investors would be in for a surprise, as HoweyCoin was set up by the SEC as an example of what an ICO scam looks like.

The seeming veracity of HoweyCoin is what makes it so effective. [ICO fraud](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/seniorshieldai) is becoming increasingly common in light of the [cryptocurrency boom](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cryptocurrency-ecosystem), as scammers recognize how little many investors know about the technology behind cryptocurrencies. Scammers thus announce these ICOs, rake in "investments", and then take the money and run. HoweyCoin thus helps to educate people on the red flags, like unverified celebrity backers, untraceable founders, and a vague whitepaper.

## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter)

- Score: 0.3/10
- Popularity: 1% | Activity: 1% | Freshness: 8%
- Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women
- Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X
- Top markets: North America

## Categories

[Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Credit Crunch](https://www.trendhunter.com/creditcrunch)

## Key Themes

### What Makes This Trend Stand Out

- **ICO Fraud Prevention:** Increased awareness and education for cryptocurrency investors on how to identify ICO scams and fraud prevention opportunities.
- **Transparency in Cryptocurrency:** Creating a more accountable and transparent cryptocurrency industry by setting up regulations and standards.
- **Sec-backed Cryptocurrencies:** More government involvement in cryptocurrency regulation and use of cryptocurrency as a tool for education.

### Sectors Adopting This

- **Financial Services:** Incorporating blockchain technology and providing secure platforms for investors to trade cryptocurrency and to educate customers on the risks of ICO scams.
- **Government:** More involvement by government agencies in regulating and monitoring the cryptocurrency industry to protect citizens from fraudulent ICOs.
- **Education:** Creating courses, workshops, and training programs to educate potential investors on how to identify potential scams in the cryptocurrency industry.

## Related on Trend Hunter

- [Fake ATM Pop-Ups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fake-atm.md)
- [Digital Currency Fragrances](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/crypto.md)
- [Crypto Education Programs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/onramp-academy.md)
- [Cryptocurrency Savings Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/coinwell-platform.md)
- [Hyper-Deflationary Cryptocurrencies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/stable-cryptocurrency.md)
- [Crypto Anti-Money Laundering Services](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/crypto-antimoney-laundering-service.md)
- [Cryptocurrency Investor-Focused Loyalty Programs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/luxury-real-estate-program.md)
- [Fraud Intelligence Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/scam-ai.md)
- [Exclusive Edible NFTs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/edible-nft.md)