How to identify scams like "Collect Trump Cards"
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What kind of scam is "Collect Trump Cards"?
Following an examination, it has come to light that this is a fraudulent scheme designed to deceive unsuspecting individuals into divulging sensitive information (and potentially sending money) to fraudsters. In this scam, scammers employ a deceptive page, enticing victims with false promises of winning prizes.
"Collect Trump Cards" scam in detail
The scheme revolves around a purportedly exclusive offer called "Limited Edition Digital Trading Cards." In this elaborate setup, individuals are enticed to collect rare digital collectible Trading Cards featuring former President Trump.
Enthusiasts are encouraged to amass these cards using their computer or phone, with a mere requirement of providing an email address and a credit card. Under the guise of a sweepstakes, each Digital Trading Card referred to as an NFT (Non-Fungible Token), not only serves as a rare collectible but also automatically enrolls the collector into a sweepstakes.
According to this scam, participants stand a chance to win numerous prizes and even the opportunity to meet the ex-president. The promotional material emphasizes that entry into the sweepstakes is purportedly possible without making any purchase.
In order to add an element of legitimacy, users are prompted to connect wallets, creating an illusion of blockchain technology integration. The narrative is capped off with a disclaimer asserting that these Trump Digital Trading Cards (NFTs) are positioned solely as collectible items for personal enjoyment and explicitly discourage viewing them as investment vehicles.
The purpose of this scam is to deceive individuals into purchasing digital collectible trading cards featuring former President Trump under the false pretense of entering them into a sweepstakes, with the ultimate goal of extracting money and sensitive information from unsuspecting victims.
Fraudsters target unsuspecting individuals with the intention of deceiving them into revealing login information for their cryptocurrency wallets. This allows the scammers to gain unauthorized access to the wallets, ultimately leading to the theft of crypto funds.
Name | Collect Trump Cards fake sweepstake |
Threat Type | Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud |
Fake Claim | Participants have a chanze to win various prizes |
Disguise | Legitimate sweepstake |
Related Domains | trumptnfts[.]net, trumptnfts[.]app |
Detection Names | Emsisoft (Phishing), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal) |
Detection Names | Emsisoft (Phishing), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal) |
Symptoms | Fake error messages, fake system warnings, pop-up errors, hoax computer scan. |
Distribution methods | Compromised websites, rogue online pop-up ads, potentially unwanted applications. |
Damage | Loss of sensitive private information, monetary loss, identity theft, possible malware infections. |
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
Similar scams typically involve false promises of exclusive digital assets or opportunities, often endorsed by celebrities. They commonly use sweepstakes or contests to entice victims with the prospect of winning prizes. Creating a sense of urgency and limited availability, scammers aim to prompt quick decision-making.
In most cases, scammers behind these schemes aim to extract money and (or) sensitive information (e.g., login credentials or credit card details). Examples of similar scams are "Grand Theft Auto (GTA) VI Crypto Giveaway Scam", "Brad Garlinghouse Crypto Giveaway", and "Mr Beast GIFT CARDS GIVEAWAY".
How did I open a scam website?
Users often get tricked into opening scam websites through deceptive tactics employed by cybercriminals. These tactics may include phishing emails or messages that mimic legitimate sources, such as banks, government agencies, or well-known brands. Misleading ads, notifications from shady pages, and similar channels are also used to promote various scams.
Scammers may also use social engineering techniques, such as creating fake promotions, contests, or exclusive offers, to lure users into visiting fraudulent websites. In other cases, users end up on scam sites because of unwanted apps installed on their computers or added to their browsers.
How to avoid visiting scam pages?
Be skeptical of unsolicited emails, messages, pop-ups, advertisements, promotions, etc. Do not allow questionable websites to send notifications. Download applications from reliable sources, such as official websites and app stores. Be wary of poorly designed websites, grammatical errors, or unprofessional content.
Regularly update the operating system and installed programs and use reliable security 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 "Collect Trump Cards" pop-up scam (GIF):
Text in this scam website:
Limited Edition Digital Trading Cards.
For the first time ever, collect your own rare digital collectible Trading Card by President Trump.These are just like baseball cards, but you collect them digitally, on your computer or phone. All you need is an email address and a credit card to start collecting 1, 10, 20 or 100. Instantly become part of a new league of collectors.
SWEEPSTAKES
Each Digital Trading Card (NFT) is not only a rare collectible, it automatically enters YOU INTOA SWEEPSTAKES for a chance to win 1000’s of incredible prizes and meet the one and only #45! There's no purchase necessary to enter!Connect Wallet
Amazing chances to win Trump Prizes
No Purchase Necessary. Click Here for details on how to enter the sweepstakes without making a purchase.
Trump Digital Trading Cards (NFTs) are intended as collectible items for individual enjoyment only, not for investment vehicles.
Screenshot of the website asking users to connect their cryptowallets:
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is Collect Trump Cards fake sweepstake?
- 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 giveaway scam?
A giveaway scam is a fraudulent scheme where scammers claim to be offering free giveaways or prizes to individuals, often through social media, emails, or websites.
What is the purpose of a giveaway scam?
The scammers use the allure of attractive prizes to trick people into providing personal information, such as email addresses, phone numbers, or financial details, or to make payments. The promised giveaways are usually fake, and the primary goal is to exploit individuals for their sensitive information or money.
Why do I encounter fake giveaways and other scams?
Scams are frequently delivered through malicious websites, and users often do not encounter them directly. Instead, individuals may get redirected to these deceptive sites by malicious applications or when visiting websites that utilize questionable advertising networks.
Will Combo Cleaner protect me from pop-up scams?
Combo Cleaner is crafted to scan each website you visit, proficiently identifying malicious ones. This includes websites specifically designed for hosting scams, ensuring that you receive immediate warnings and access restrictions to thwart potential risks.
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