...But my friend said this hot ICO token sale thingy deadline is tonight, I don't want to miss out.

I am still amazed at how many new pages I come across daily in emails and just doing my research for other things online, that have something to do with a new ICO or token sale. Banner ads everywhere for so many token sales it's not funny anymore. I was pulled in early on with a few and still don't know the outcome of those or when they might be listed, or if ever.

You even try withdrawing to a wallet as instructed, but sometimes it never shows up. Then what?

You never really know what is going to happen with any new unlisted coin. The best thing to do is get as much information from reliable sources as possible. Be careful what you invest in. Find out what people are really saying about it. If there isn't a lot of information, steer clear for a while until it has had more discussion and hard evidence provided that it is a real opportunity; with a real project backing it, that will be a desirable & needed product or service. Make sure it's backed by real people that you can research on LinkedIn and other social media platforms. Make sure they are reputable individuals with achievements and notable mention for work they have done before.

If you are new to crypto, go research the coin you are interested in on Google Telegram, Facebook, and Bitcointalk forum is good to get info and updates. Search Steemit for the keyword to see if anyone has written a post about it. coinmarketcap.com is a great resource with links to coin websites, announcements, and other features. I usually try to stick to coins already listed on #coinmarketcap.com. Remember, don't invest money you can't afford to lose.