Here's a true story from someone I know: Last month, a friend sold some crypto and picked a buyer offering a high price. Less than 48 hours after the money hit his account, his bank card was frozen. When he went to the police station to explain, the officer immediately asked, "Do you know anything about the buyer's background?" He was completely caught off guard.

This incident was a wake-up call for me—cashing out isn't as simple as just tapping a few buttons on your screen. Now, every time I make a transaction, I make sure to go through these steps:

**Always vet your counterparty.** Don’t just jump at a tempting price. Check the buyer’s account age, transaction history, and whether they’re verified. If it’s a new account, a large amount, and they’re in a hurry to close the deal, I pass—I'd rather make a bit less than invite trouble.

**Keep a complete record of your chat.** From price negotiation to payment confirmation, I screenshot every conversation. If something goes wrong, these are your “proof of innocence” that you can show.

**Back up your order information immediately.** Many platforms only keep your data for six months, and after that, it’s gone for good. I’ve made it a habit to download the order details and transfer receipts to my cloud drive as soon as the transaction is done.

Bottom line: the crypto space is risky. You might think you’re just making a normal trade, but you could unknowingly get involved with dirty money. Not only could your funds get frozen, but you might even end up facing charges for helping criminals—which could land you in jail.

Spending an extra ten minutes doing your homework is way better than running around later trying to explain yourself.