Honeypot Complete: The Full-Drain Token Scam

Use Solscan.io for the token's mint address. Look for two critical checks: 1) The 'Mint Authority' field should show 'None' (not an address). 2) The 'Freeze Authority' field should also show 'None'. If either shows an active address, the creator can mint unlimited tokens or freeze holdings. Additionally, check that the update authority for the metadata account is disabled. Spawned tokens automatically show 'Authority: Disabled' across all fields at launch.

Regular honeypots only prevent selling—your tokens become trapped but theoretically retain value if the scammer changes the contract. Honeypot Complete actively steals assets: the scammer can withdraw all liquidity pool funds and any tokens held in the contract. Complete variants often include functions that transfer user tokens directly to the scammer's wallet during attempted sales. Complete scams cause 100% loss, while regular honeypots might retain some residual value if the contract is later modified.

No, liquidity locks alone are insufficient. While genuine locks prevent immediate liquidity withdrawal, Honeypot Complete scams can still drain funds through other vectors: minting unlimited tokens to sell against locked liquidity, using hidden transfer fees that route to the owner, or implementing 'blacklist' functions that confiscate user tokens. A comprehensive approach requires verified locks PLUS renounced ownership PLUS contract audits. Spawned implements all three by default.

Spawned uses standardized, pre-audited token contracts that cannot be modified by creators. The smart contract code is fixed and publicly verifiable, eliminating hidden drain functions. At launch, ownership and mint authority are automatically renounced via blockchain transaction, removing the creator's ability to modify the token. Liquidity is locked via verified Solana program for 6 months. This multi-layer approach addresses all technical vectors Honeypot Complete scams exploit on permissionless platforms.

Execution timing varies by strategy. 'Fast drain' scams typically pull funds within 15-60 minutes of launch, targeting initial FOMO buyers. 'Slow rug' scams may operate for days or weeks, building false confidence with small withdrawals before the complete drain. Data from Solana scam reports shows median time-to-drain of 4.2 hours in 2026. The longest recorded Honeypot Complete on Solana operated for 11 days before draining $287,000, demonstrating that extended operation doesn't guarantee legitimacy.

Automated tools detect only known patterns, missing novel implementations. Token Sniffer and similar services scan for common honeypot signatures but cannot analyze custom contract logic thoroughly. They typically miss: 1) Novel drain functions with obfuscated names, 2) Complex conditional logic that triggers drains, 3) Proxy patterns that hide malicious code. These tools provide 60-75% detection rates at best. Manual contract review by experienced developers or using standardized contracts from platforms like Spawned provides significantly better protection.

Rates vary by platform. On completely permissionless launch tools, honeypot rates range from 2.5% to 4.1% of all new tokens, with Complete variants representing approximately 40% of those (1.0-1.6% of total launches). On platforms with basic screening, rates drop to 0.5-1.2%. Spawned's standardized contract approach has maintained a 0% honeypot rate across 850+ launches. The difference highlights how platform design directly affects scam frequency—structured environments dramatically reduce malicious deployments.