Avoid getting scammed by fake SLEEPLESS AI cryptocurrency airdrops
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
What kind of scam is "SLEEPLESS AI Airdrop"?
Upon reviewing the "SLEEPLESS AI Airdrop", we determined that it is a fake airdrop. This giveaway promises to distribute Sleepless AI (AI) cryptocurrency for free. Instead, this scheme operates as a cryptocurrency drainer – meaning that the scammers steal the funds stored in connected wallets.
It is pertinent to mention that "SLEEPLESS AI Airdrop" has been noted being promoted by likely compromised X (formerly known as Twitter) accounts.
"SLEEPLESS AI Airdrop" scam overview
This scam is presented as a Sleepless AI airdrop – a giveaway of the AI cryptocurrency. It states that empty wallets are not eligible to take part in the airdrop. Once the user connects their cryptowallet to the scheme, they will supposedly receive an unspecified amount of this token.
It must be emphasized that these claims are false, and not only will victims receive no cryptocurrency of any kind – they will also lose all funds stored in the exposed wallets.
The "SLEEPLESS AI Airdrop" scam targets the following cryptocurrency platforms – MetaMask, Coinbase, Ledger, Safe Wallet, WalletConnect, Trust Wallet, and so on. Once a victim connects their cryptowallet, the scheme begins operating as a cryptocurrency drainer and makes automated transfers to the scammers.
Therefore, victims of this scam experience financial loss. What is more, due to the virtually untraceable nature of cryptocurrency transactions – they are practically irreversible.
Name | "SLEEPLESS AI Airdrop" scam website |
Threat Type | Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud |
Fake Claim | Participants will receive Sleepless AI tokens for free. |
Related Domains | claim-sleeplessai[.]net |
Detection Names (claim-sleeplessai[.]net) | Emsisoft (Phishing), Ermes (Not Recommended), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal) |
Serving IP Address (claim-sleeplessai[.]net) | 172.67.129.232 |
Distribution methods | Spam social media posts, compromised websites, 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. |
Similar scam examples
We have analyzed thousands of online scams; "Plug Wallet", "SEC Token Refund Airdrop", and "MultiBit Airdrop" are merely a couple examples of other crypto-drainer schemes.
The Internet is full of deceptive and malicious content. Various false claims are used to gain users' trust and generate revenue at their expense. Due to the abundance of scams on the Web, we strongly advise exercising caution while browsing.
How did I open a scam website?
"SLEEPLESS AI Airdrop" has been observed being endorsed through posts on the X social media Twitter (more well-known by its former name – Twitter). This scam was promoted by verified accounts, likely ones obtained through nefarious means.
However, other promotional techniques are not unlikely. Various types of spam are utilized for this purpose, e.g., social media/ forum posts, browser notifications, emails, DMs/PMs, SMSes, and others.
Deceptive webpages can also be accessed via sites that use rogue advertising networks – upon access or when hosted content is interacted with (e.g., clicking buttons, text input fields, ads, etc.). Mistyping a website's URL can likewise result in inadvertent entry to a scam page. Adware can display scam-endorsing adverts or force-open sites running them as well.
How to avoid visiting scam websites?
We highly recommend being cautious while browsing, particularly as deceptive/malicious content often appears legitimate and harmless. For example, despite their innocuous appearance – intrusive advertisements and spam browser notifications redirect to dubious websites (e.g., scam-promoting, pornography, gambling, etc.).
We advise against using sites offering pirated programs/media or other questionable services (e.g., illegal streaming and downloading, Torrenting, etc.), as these webpages usually employ rogue advertising networks.
To avoid receiving unwanted browser notifications – do not enable suspect pages to deliver them (i.e., do not click "Allow", "Allow Notifications", etc.). Instead, ignore or deny notification delivery (i.e., press "Block", "Block Notifications", etc.). Another recommendation is to pay attention to URLs and enter them carefully.
To prevent bundled/harmful software from infiltrating the device – download from official/verified sources and treat installations with care (e.g., read terms, study options, use "Custom/Advanced" settings, opt out of additional apps, extensions, tools, 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 "SLEEPLESS AI Airdrop" scam (GIF):
Screenshot of an X (Twitter) post promoting the "SLEEPLESS AI Airdrop" scam:
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:
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Quick menu:
- What is "SLEEPLESS AI Airdrop" scam website?
- 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/scared into making monetary transactions, disclosing sensitive information, purchasing products, subscribing to services, downloading/installing software, and so forth.
What is the purpose of online scams?
Online scams are designed to generate revenue at victims' expense. Cyber criminals primarily profit by obtaining funds through deception, selling or abusing vulnerable information, promoting content, and proliferating malware.
I have lost cryptocurrency to the "SLEEPLESS AI Airdrop" scam, can I get my money back?
No, reversing cryptocurrency transactions is virtually impossible due to their untraceable nature.
Why do I encounter online scams?
Online scams are promoted on deceptive websites, which are rarely accessed intentionally. "SLEEPLESS AI Airdrop" has been observed being pushed through posts made by hacked accounts on the X (formerly known as Twitter) social media platform.
Other types of spam are used for this purpose as well, e.g., forum posts, emails, PMs/DMs, SMSes, etc. Scam pages can also be accessed via redirects generated by sites that employ rogue advertising networks, intrusive ads, misspelled URLs, spam browser notifications, or installed adware.
Will Combo Cleaner protect me from online scams?
Combo Cleaner can scan visited websites and detect rogue, deceptive, and malicious ones. Hence, should you enter such a webpage – you will be immediately warned, and further access to it will be denied.
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