Wallets and phishing
How to store a seed phrase: where you can, where you cannot, and who asks for it
In short
- Whoever knows the seed phrase owns the wallet: no password, phone or app is needed.
- Keep it offline: on paper or metal, in two places, with no photos and no cloud.
- Wallet support, an exchange, an “AML check” or the police never ask for your seed phrase.
What a seed phrase is
It is 12 or 24 words from which all the wallet’s keys are derived. Restore them in any app and you get the same address with the same money. That is why the seed phrase matters more than your phone and password: you can lose a phone, but you must never show the phrase to anyone.
How to store it properly
- Write it by hand on paper, and for large amounts stamp it on a metal plate: it does not burn or soak.
- Two copies in different places: at home and with a person or in a place you trust.
- Test the backup: restore the wallet from it on another device with a small amount while the original is at hand.
- Word order and spelling matter. Write clearly and number the words.
What you must not do
- Photos, screenshots, phone notes, email, cloud, messaging “to yourself”. Malicious apps and hacked accounts steal them.
- Enter the phrase on websites, “sync” forms or unfamiliar apps, see fake wallets.
- Accept a “ready-made” seed phrase from someone else: it is a trap, see the seed phrase and multisig trap.
If the phrase may have leaked
Create a new wallet with a new phrase and move everything there. Before the first large transfer, check the recipient address in GuardPay /check. If money has already gone, read is my wallet hacked.
Check an address for free
Trust score, risk labels, links to known scam addresses, fake tokens and granted approvals — in a minute, with no signature and no wallet connection.
Check an addressFAQ
Can I keep my seed phrase in a password manager?
It is better than notes or photos, but the phrase still ends up on an internet-connected device. For large amounts, paper or metal kept offline is more reliable.
What happens if I lose the seed phrase but my phone is fine?
While the app works, the money is accessible. Create a new wallet right away, write down its phrase and move the funds: without a phrase, losing the phone means losing the money.
This guide explains how schemes work and how to protect yourself. It is not legal or financial advice.