Avoid getting scammed by fake "CATCOIN Allocation" websites

What kind of scam is "CATCOIN Allocation"?

"CATCOIN Allocation" is a fake cryptocurrency airdrop. It claims to distribute the CatCoin cryptocurrency for a limited time only. This scam operates as a crypto drainer that empties victims' digital wallets of assets.

"CATCOIN Allocation" scam overview

This scam is allegedly allocating cryptocurrency to eligible users who register within 24 hours. The giveaway is for the CatCoin memecoin – a type of cryptocurrency that is based on an Internet meme.

It must be emphasized that this airdrop is fake, and it is not associated with any legitimate platforms or entities.

"Connecting" a wallet triggers a cryptocurrency-draining mechanism. Some drainers can guesstimate the value of digital assets in exposed cryptowallets and target them first. Victims' funds are transferred in automated transactions, which may be obfuscated to lower suspicion.

All or most of the assets can get stolen through scams of this kind. What is more, cryptocurrency transactions cannot be reversed due to their practically untraceable nature.

Threat Summary:

Name	"CATCOIN Allocation" crypto drainer scam
Threat Type	Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud
Disguise	Limited-time CatCoin airdrop
Related Domains	claim.catcoinrewards[.]xyz
Detection Names	Forcepoint ThreatSeeker (Suspicious), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal)
Serving IP Address	172.67.170.239
Distribution methods	Compromised websites, social media spam, rogue online pop-up ads, potentially unwanted applications.
Damage	Monetary loss
Malware Removal (Windows)	To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. ▼ Download Combo Cleaner To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Cryptocurrency drainer scam examples

We have investigated countless online scams; "Lucky Bridge BSC To ETH LBLOCK", "Connect To OpenSea", "$WUF Airdrop", and "Clearpool ($CPOOL) Airdrop" are just a few examples of crypto drainers.

Internet schemes may be full of mistakes or be competently crafted and even believably disguised as content linked to genuine entities (e.g., companies, organizations, institutions, service providers, authorities, etc.). Therefore, we highly recommend exercising caution while browsing.

How did I open a scam website?

Cryptocurrency drainer scams are often promoted via malvertising. Specifically, intrusive ads (pop-ups) that can include operational drainer mechanisms. These adverts may even be encountered on legitimate websites that have been compromised.

Another common promotional technique is social media spam. The posts and PMs/DMs can be made using accounts stolen from real public figures (e.g., celebrities, influencers, etc.) or legitimate entities (e.g., organizations, companies, corporations, etc.).

Other widely used scam endorsement methods are sites utilizing rogue advertising networks, spam (e.g., forum posts, emails, SMSes, browser notifications, etc.), typosquatting (misspelled URLs), and adware.

How to avoid visiting scam websites?

We strongly recommend vigilance when browsing since fake and malicious online content usually appears ordinary and harmless. For example, despite their innocuous appearance – intrusive advertisements and spam browser notifications redirect to highly questionable webpages (e.g., scam-promoting, gambling, adult dating, etc.).

Be selective about which pages you enable to deliver browser notifications. Do not allow suspicious ones to do so, and instead ignore or deny these requests (i.e., click "Block", "Block Notifications", etc.).

Pay attention to URLs and enter them carefully. Treat incoming emails and other messages with caution, and do not open attachments or links found in suspect mail.

Do not use websites offering pirated programs/media or other dubious services (e.g., Torrenting, illegal streaming/downloading, etc.), as these webpages are typically monetized via rogue advertising networks.

To prevent bundled/harmful software from infiltrating the device – download only from official/trustworthy sources and treat installations with care (e.g., read terms, investigate options, use "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opt out of additional apps, extensions, etc.).

If your computer is already infected, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate all threats.

The appearance of "CATCOIN Allocation" scam (GIF):

Instant automatic malware removal: Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
▼ DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Quick menu:

• What is "CATCOIN Allocation" crypto drainer scam?
• How to identify a pop-up scam?
• How do pop-up scams work?
• How to remove fake pop-ups?
• How to prevent fake pop-ups?
• What to do if you fell for a pop-up scam?

How to identify a pop-up scam?

Pop-up windows with various fake messages are a common type of lures cybercriminals use. They collect sensitive personal data, trick Internet users into calling fake tech support numbers, subscribe to useless online services, invest in shady cryptocurrency schemes, etc.

While in the majority of cases these pop-ups don't infect users' devices with malware, they can cause direct monetary loss or could result in identity theft.

Cybercriminals strive to create their rogue pop-up windows to look trustworthy, however, scams typically have the following characteristics:

• Spelling mistakes and non-professional images - Closely inspect the information displayed in a pop-up. Spelling mistakes and unprofessional images could be a sign of a scam.
• Sense of urgency - Countdown timer with a couple of minutes on it, asking you to enter your personal information or subscribe to some online service.
• Statements that you won something - If you haven't participated in a lottery, online competition, etc., and you see a pop-up window stating that you won.
• Computer or mobile device scan - A pop-up window that scans your device and informs of detected issues - is undoubtedly a scam; webpages cannot perform such actions.
• Exclusivity - Pop-up windows stating that only you are given secret access to a financial scheme that can quickly make you rich.

Example of a pop-up scam:

How do pop-up scams work?

Cybercriminals and deceptive marketers usually use various advertising networks, search engine poisoning techniques, and shady websites to generate traffic to their pop-ups. Users land on their online lures after clicking on fake download buttons, using a torrent website, or simply clicking on an Internet search engine result.

Based on users' location and device information, they are presented with a scam pop-up. Lures presented in such pop-ups range from get-rich-quick schemes to fake virus scans.

How to remove fake pop-ups?

In most cases, pop-up scams do not infect users' devices with malware. If you encountered a scam pop-up, simply closing it should be enough. In some cases scam, pop-ups may be hard to close; in such cases - close your Internet browser and restart it.

In extremely rare cases, you might need to reset your Internet browser. For this, use our instructions explaining how to reset Internet browser settings.

How to prevent fake pop-ups?

To prevent seeing pop-up scams, you should visit only reputable websites. Torrent, Crack, free online movie streaming, YouTube video download, and other websites of similar reputation commonly redirect Internet users to pop-up scams.

To minimize the risk of encountering pop-up scams, you should keep your Internet browsers up-to-date and use reputable anti-malware application. For this purpose, we recommend Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows.

What to do if you fell for a pop-up scam?

This depends on the type of scam that you fell for. Most commonly, pop-up scams try to trick users into sending money, giving away personal information, or giving access to one's device.

• If you sent money to scammers: You should contact your financial institution and explain that you were scammed. If informed promptly, there's a chance to get your money back.
• If you gave away your personal information: You should change your passwords and enable two-factor authentication in all online services that you use. Visit Federal Trade Commission to report identity theft and get personalized recovery steps.
• If you let scammers connect to your device: You should scan your computer with reputable anti-malware (we recommend Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows) - cyber criminals could have planted trojans, keyloggers, and other malware, don't use your computer until removing possible threats.
• Help other Internet users: report Internet scams to Federal Trade Commission.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is an online scam?

Essentially, online scams are deceptive messages designed to trick users into performing certain actions. For example, victims can be enticed into connecting cryptowallets to cryptocurrency drainers, making monetary transactions, disclosing sensitive information, purchasing products, downloading/installing software, subscribing to services, etc.

What is the purpose of online scams?

Online scams aim to generate revenue at victims' expense. Cyber criminals profit mainly by acquiring funds through deception, promoting content (e.g., sites, programs, products, services, etc.), selling/abusing vulnerable data, and proliferating malware.

I have lost cryptocurrency to the "CATCOIN Allocation" scam, can I get my money back?

No, these transactions are irreversible due to their practically untraceable nature. Therefore, victims cannot retrieve their assets.

Why do I encounter online scams?

The most commonly used promotional methods include: spam (e.g., emails, PMs/DMs, social media spam, browser notifications, etc.), sites using rogue advertising networks, intrusive ads (malvertising), mistyped URLs (typosquatting), and adware.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from online scams?

Combo Cleaner can scan every single website you visit and detect deceptive/malicious content. Therefore, if you stumble upon such a webpage – you will be warned immediately, and further access to it will be blocked.

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