Last month, I heard something that really made me reflect.

A buddy of mine accumulated some initial capital through platform promotions and decided to cash out while he was ahead, withdrawing a few thousand USDT to his bank card. Just a couple of days after the money arrived, he got a call from the bank:

“Your account has abnormal transaction activity and has been temporarily frozen.”

He was stunned: “I haven’t done anything illegal, why are you freezing my card?”

The issue isn’t about whether it’s “legal or illegal,” but that your transaction pattern triggered the bank’s risk control system. In the eyes of the bank, you might be considered a “high-risk user.”

He used his regular payroll card for withdrawals, with frequent inflows and outflows of funds from overseas, and counterparties with all sorts of backgrounds—some even flagged on blacklists. If you were the bank, wouldn’t you be on alert?

These kinds of pitfalls are especially easy for beginners to fall into. Many people aren’t even aware of these “unwritten rules”:

**First, don’t mix your payroll card usage.**
If a card is used for both receiving your salary and digital assets, the transaction structure gets messy, and risk control systems will immediately flag you.

**Second, be cautious with transfers from unfamiliar addresses.**
Multiple transactions from the same unknown address? Especially those with frequent ins and outs—that’s basically a red line.

**Third, don’t use high-frequency payment tools for large incoming transfers.**
Tools like Alipay and WeChat Pay are already strictly regulated, and you’re making large deposits? It’s almost impossible not to get flagged.

**Fourth, never write random notes or memos.**
Words like “U,” “coin,” or “USDT” can be automatically detected as sensitive keywords by the system—you’re just asking to get caught.

**Fifth, it’s best to use a dedicated card for OTC transactions.**
Set up a separate account and phone number; don’t mix it with your daily expenses to reduce the chance of triggering alerts.

What’s even more ridiculous is that many people chase airdrops and commissions while their bank transaction volume skyrockets, and then feel completely wronged when their accounts are frozen: “I didn’t do anything!”

You really didn’t break the law, but your behavioral pattern is “abnormal” in the eyes of the risk control system.

Banks don’t care about evidence; risk models only look at data and indicators. The logic is simple: freeze first, investigate later. Whether you can prove your innocence is your business, but freezing your card is their responsibility.

So don’t naively think that small amounts will keep you under the radar. Risk control systems look at behavioral patterns, not account balances. Even a small retail investor can get blacklisted if they frequently trigger abnormal indicators.

Now, every time I see someone using their payroll card to receive digital assets, I can’t help but remind them:

**How much you earn doesn’t matter—the important thing is whether you can safely withdraw your money.**

Don’t let the hurdle of cashing out become the first roadblock on your way to making money.