Avoid getting scammed by fake "Claim $GBTC" websites

What kind of scam is "Claim $GBTC"?

"Claim $GBTC" is a scam that impersonates the Green Bitcoin platform (greenbitcoin.xyz). When users try to interact with the fake page (by "connecting" their digital wallet), it begins operating as a cryptocurrency drainer. Victims of this scam can have their digital assets stolen.

"Claim $GBTC" scam overview

"Claim $GBTC" is a pretty close copy of the legitimate Green Bitcoin website. It is a gamified staking platform for $GBTC (Green Bitcoin) cryptocurrency, a more eco-friendly alternative to Bitcoin that aims to lessen the carbon footprint of blockchain technology. The official site is "gamified" since it includes game mechanics in a non-gaming environment, specifically – in a staking platform.

Naturally, the "Claim $GBTC" scam is not associated with the Green Bitcoin cryptocurrency or the real platform. After a digital wallet is connected to the fraudulent website, it executes cryptocurrency-draining scripts.

To expand upon this, victims' funds are pilfered via automated transactions that may appear vague and innocuous. Drainers may have the ability to roughly estimate the value of digital assets and prioritize them.

The scope of the financial loss depends on the worth of the stolen assets. It must be mentioned that because of the virtually untraceable nature of cryptocurrency transactions – they cannot be reversed.

Threat Summary:

Name	"Claim $GBTC" crypto drainer scam
Threat Type	Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud
Disguise	Green Bitcoin gamified staking platform.
Related Domains	claim.green-bit[.]xyz
Detection Names	Emsisoft (Phishing), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal)
Serving IP Address	172.67.182.172
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 numerous online scams; "Incoming Unconfirmed Matic Transaction", "$PANDORA Airdrop", "AVIATOR AIRDROP", and "ChainGPT DAPP" are but a few examples of drainers.

Aside from siphoning funds through drainers, cryptocurrency-centered schemes can target cryptowallet log-in credentials or deceive users into manually transferring funds to scammer-owned wallets.

However, these are not the only types of scams promoted on the Web. Deceptive online content utilizes various mechanisms and can differ greatly in appearance; however, the end goal is the same – to generate revenue at victims' expense.

How did I open a scam website?

Online scams are predominantly endorsed via spam (e.g., social media/ forum posts, DMs/PMs, emails, SMSes, browser notifications, etc.), intrusive advertisements (malvertising), sites that utilize rogue advertising networks, typosquatting (misspelled URLs), and adware.

Lately, there has been a rise in cryptocurrency-specific scams on social media platforms (particularly on X/Twitter). The promotional posts and direct/private messages can be made using hacked accounts (i.e., originally belonging to reputable projects, companies, organizations, celebrities, etc.).

Another prevalent endorsement technique is malvertising through intrusive pop-up ads. The adverts may include operational drainers; they entice victims into linking digital wallets by promising various benefits. It is pertinent to mention that these pop-ups have been encountered on genuine websites that had been hijacked.

How to avoid visiting scam websites?

The Internet is rife with deceptive and malicious content – therefore, we highly recommend exercising caution while browsing. It is important to pay attention to URLs and type them carefully.

Another recommendation is to be selective about which pages are allowed to deliver browser notifications. Dubious webpages must not be permitted; instead, these requests have to be ignored or denied (i.e., by clicking "Block", "Block Notifications", etc.).

Incoming emails, PMs/DMs, SMSes, and other messages must be approached with care. Attachments or links present in suspicious mail must not be opened, as they can be harmful/virulent.

We advise against using websites that offer pirated programs/media or other questionable services (e.g., Torrenting, illegal streaming/downloading, etc.), as these webpages are typically monetized through rogue advertising networks.

It is crucial to download only from official/verified sources and to be vigilant when installing content (e.g., by reading terms, exploring options, using "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opting out of additional apps, extensions, features, etc.) – to prevent bundled/dangerous software from infiltrating the system.

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 "Claim $GBTC" scam (GIF):

Screenshot of the legitimate Green Bitcoin platform (greenbitcoin.xyz):

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▼ 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 "Claim $GBTC" 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?

Online scams are intended to deceive users into performing specific actions; this content is hosted on the Internet. To elaborate, victims may be tricked into connecting digital wallets to crypto drainers, sending money to cyber criminals, disclosing vulnerable information, downloading/installing software, purchasing products, calling fake support lines, etc.

What is the purpose of online scams?

The purpose of online scams is to generate revenue for scammers. They may profit by obtaining funds through deception, promoting content (e.g., sites, software, products, etc.), abusing/selling sensitive data, and spreading malware.

I have lost cryptocurrency to the "Claim $GBTC" scam, can I get my money back?

No, cryptocurrency transactions cannot be reversed because of their nearly untraceable nature. Therefore, victims of scams like "Claim $GBTC" cannot retrieve their funds.

Why do I encounter online scams?

Online scams are primarily promoted via websites using rogue advertising networks, spam (e.g., emails, DMs/PMs, SMSes, browser notifications, social media/ forum posts, etc.), intrusive ads (malvertising), mistyped URLs (typosquatting), and adware.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from online scams?

Combo Cleaner can scan visited websites and detect rogue, deceptive, and malicious ones. Should such a page be accessed – Combo Cleaner will warn you immediately and restrict further access to the site.

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