Connecting a wallet to the wrong website can be enough to lose funds, so I think checking a crypto site before approving any connection should be treated as a normal part of wallet security.
The first thing I check is the domain itself. Phishing sites often use small spelling changes, extra words, different extensions or lookalike characters that are easy to miss. I prefer navigating from a saved bookmark or a verified official source instead of clicking random links from search results, social media or private messages.
I also look at how long the project has existed and whether its online presence is consistent. A legitimate platform should usually have documentation, active development channels, transparent team or company information where appropriate, and a history that can be checked independently.
The wallet connection flow is another clue. If a website asks for a seed phrase, private key or recovery phrase, that is an immediate red flag. Legitimate dApps only need the wallet to sign specific requests. They should never need the secret information that controls the wallet itself.
Before approving anything, I check what the wallet is actually asking me to sign. A simple connection request is different from a token approval, permit or contract interaction. If the request includes broad permissions or an unfamiliar contract, I stop and investigate before continuing.
Contract addresses can also be verified. For established protocols, I prefer comparing the contract shown in the wallet with addresses published in official documentation or trusted blockchain explorers. This is especially important when interacting with new tokens or DeFi platforms.
Another thing I watch for is pressure. Scam sites often create urgency around airdrops, limited claims, account verification or expiring rewards. That pressure is designed to make users sign before they properly inspect the transaction.
I also prefer using a separate wallet for unfamiliar applications. Even after doing research, connecting a wallet with limited funds reduces the damage if something was missed.
What checks do you perform before connecting your wallet to a new crypto website?
Do you focus most on domain verification, contract addresses, project history, wallet transaction previews or community reputation?
And have you ever avoided a scam because something about a website or wallet request looked suspicious?