How to spot fake giveaways like "Grand Theft Auto (GTA) VI Crypto Giveaway"
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is "Grand Theft Auto (GTA) VI Crypto Giveaway"?
This is a crypto giveaway scam designed to deceive unsuspecting individuals seeking opportunities in the cryptocurrency area. Operating under the guise of generosity, scammers exploit the allure of free digital assets to steal cryptocurrency. Users must exercise caution and verify the legitimacy of such offers to safeguard themselves from falling victim to scams.
"Grand Theft Auto (GTA) VI Crypto Giveaway" in detail
This is a classic crypto giveaway scam impersonating Rockstar Games, a renowned video game company. The scam falsely claims to celebrate the release of a new game by hosting a massive giveaway of 1,000 BTC, 10,000 ETH, or 200,000,000 DOGE.
The scam urges participants to send a specified amount of cryptocurrency to a given address, promising to double the amount and send it back promptly. However, this is a deceptive tactic commonly used to trick individuals into transferring their funds without the intention of returning any cryptocurrency.
The fraudulent scheme also includes a fabricated reward calculator to create a semblance of legitimacy. It is crucial for users to recognize such scams and avoid participating to protect their financial assets.
It is important to note that recovering funds lost in cryptocurrency giveaway scams can be extremely challenging, and in many cases, it is nearly impossible. Cryptocurrency transactions are typically irreversible, and once funds are sent to a scammer's wallet, it becomes challenging to trace or recover them.
Name | Grand Theft Auto (GTA) VI crypto scam |
Threat Type | Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud |
Fake Claim | Participants can double the transferred amount of crypto for free |
Disguise | Legitimate crypto giveaway launched by Rockstar Games |
Related Domain | x2rockstar[.]com |
Detection Names (x2rockstar[.]com) | Avira (Phishing), Combo Cleaner (Phishing), CRDF (Malicious), Kaspersky (Phishing), Netcraft (Malicious), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal) |
Symptoms | Unrealistically high returns or rewards, urgency or pressure, unsolicited communication, spelling or grammar errors, lack of official documentation. |
Distribution methods | Compromised websites, rogue online pop-up ads, unwanted applications, notifications from shady pages, unreliable search engines, email. |
Damage | Loss of sensitive private information, monetary loss. |
Malware Removal (Windows) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. |
Similar scams in general
Cryptocurrency giveaway scams share common characteristics aimed at deceiving individuals into sending funds with the false promise of receiving substantial returns. Typically, these scams employ enticing narratives involving well-known brands or celebrities to establish credibility.
They create a sense of urgency, urging individuals to act quickly and participate in the supposed giveaway. The scammers provide specific instructions for participants to send a certain amount of cryptocurrency to a designated address, promising a multiplied return.
Examples of similar scams are "Brad Garlinghouse Crypto Giveaway", "Apple Crypto Giveaway", and "Mr Beast GIFT CARDS GIVEAWAY".
How did I open a scam website?
Users end up on fake cryptocurrency giveaways and other scams through various online channels, including fraudulent emails, social media platforms, and deceptive advertisements. Notifications from unreliable websites are also used to promote various scams.
Another popular way to promote scams is to employ rogue advertising networks. Typically, these networks are utilized by torrent sites, illegal movie streaming pages, and similar platforms. Sometimes, users can land on scam pages through ads displayed by installed advertising-supported apps.
How to avoid visiting scam pages?
Refrain from clicking on links in unsolicited emails, messages, or pop-up ads, especially those promising unexpected rewards or prizes. Stick to using reputable search engines known for filtering out malicious websites from search results. Be skeptical of links shared on social media, especially those from unfamiliar accounts or those promising unbelievable offers.
Do not agree to receive notifications from questionable pages. Consider using ad blockers to reduce the chances of encountering malicious advertisements that may lead to shady websites. Keep your web browser and all installed software up to date. Also, use reputable antivirus and anti-malware software.
If your computer is already infected with unwanted apps, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate them.
The appearance of "Grand Theft Auto (GTA) VI Crypto Giveaway" pop-up scam (GIF):
Text in this scam:
Rockstar Games
BIGGEST CRYPTO GIVEAWAY OF $100,000,000 BY ROCKSTAR GAMES 2023
During this unique event we will give you the opportunity to get 1,000 BTC or 10,000 ETH or 200,000,000 DOGE. Have a look at the rules and don't miss your chance! You can only participate once!
[Participate]
Instruction to participate
To participate you can do the transaction using any wallet or exchange!
Send the desired number of coins to the special address below.
Once we receive your transaction, we will immediately send the requested amount back to you.
You can only take part in our giveaway once. Hurry up!
Rules & Information
About giveaway
Congratulations on the release of the trailer for our new game! In honor of this holiday, we decided to arrange an event to run a 1,000 BTC & 10,000 ETH & 200,000,000 DOGE giveaway for all crypto holders!
How to participate?
To participate you just need to send from (0.05 BTC to o10 BTC) or (0.1 ETH to 500 ETH) or (5,000 DOGE to 5,000,000 DOGE) to the contrubution address and we will immediately send you back (0.2 BTC to 20 BTC) or (1 ETH to 1000 ETH) or (10,000 USDT to 10,000,000 DOGE) (x2) to the address you sent it from.
Check your reward
In order to check your reward, you can use the built-in calculator on our website
You will send BTC | Your profit | You receive
0.1 x 200% = 0.2 BTCParticipate in giveaway
Send your BTC to the address for X2 back
Send your ETH to the address for X2 back
Send your DOGE to the address for X2 back
Send your USDT ERC-20 to the address for X2 back
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is Grand Theft Auto (GTA) VI crypto 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 a crypto giveaway scam?
A crypto giveaway scam is a fraudulent scheme where scammers impersonate reputable entities, celebrities, or crypto projects, claiming to offer significant cryptocurrency rewards.
What is the purpose of a crypto giveaway scam?
The primary purpose of crypto giveaway scams is to deceive individuals into sending their cryptocurrency to scammers under the false pretense of receiving substantial returns.
Why do I encounter fake giveaways?
Fake giveaway scams often manifest through deceptive websites, with users typically not directly visiting them. Instead, individuals may be redirected to these malicious sites through the presence of deceptive applications and when accessing websites that utilize dubious advertising networks or clicking links in shady emails or messages.
Will Combo Cleaner protect me from pop-up scams?
Combo Cleaner is crafted to scan each website you visit, proficient in identifying malicious ones. Websites hosting scams are also included in this category. As a result, you will receive an immediate warning, and access will be restricted.
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