According to Lex Sokolin, traders should be wary of projects using fake metrics or buying followers, as these practices often signal poor transparency and increased rug pull risk (source: Lex Sokolin Twitter, May 15, 2025). Relying on artificially inflated social media numbers or misleading token data can lead to significant trading losses, since such indicators do not reflect genuine community support or project fundamentals. Crypto traders are advised to verify on-chain activity and real user engagement before making investment decisions to avoid exposure to manipulated markets and potential exit scams.