How to avoid falling for fake websites like the "Degen Airdrop 2"

What is "Degen Airdrop 2" scam?

In our analysis of the website (distributions-degen[.]tips), we found it to be a fraudulent page posing as another crypto platform (degen[.]tips), promoting a second cryptocurrency airdrop (giveaway). Scammers utilize this deceptive site to steal cryptocurrency from unsuspecting individuals. Thus, users should not trust this page.

IMPORTANT NOTE: We do not review crypto projects, please do your own research when investing money.

Federal Trade Comission (FTC) states that since the start of 2021, more than 46,000 people have reported losing over $1 billion in crypto to scams – that's about one out of every four dollars reported lost, more than any other payment method.

"Degen Airdrop 2" in detail

The fraudulent page suggests that it is announcing the launch of the "Airdrop 2 Season 2" rewards, indicating that the first airdrop was successful and expressing gratitude to the community for their participation. It encourages participants to claim rewards by connecting their wallets, with a deadline for claiming set until August 1, 2024.

However, it is important to exercise caution, as this is a scam attempting to deceive individuals into taking action that results in monetary loss. Upon attempting to "connect" a wallet on distributions-degen[.]tips, users unknowingly sign a malicious contract engineered to trigger a cryptocurrency drainer.

This deceptive action leads to the unauthorized siphoning of cryptocurrency from the user's wallet. Thus, victims who fall for this scam lose their cryptocurrency. Victims of scams like the one perpetrated by distributions-degen[.]tips often find themselves unable to retrieve their cryptocurrency once it has been drained from their wallets.

Unlike traditional financial transactions, cryptocurrency transactions are irreversible. Once transferred, the funds cannot be easily traced or recovered. Individuals should exercise caution when engaging in cryptocurrency-related activities online to mitigate the risk of falling prey to such scams.

Threat Summary:

Name	Degen Airdrop 2 fake cryptocurrency giveaway
Threat Type	Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud
Fake Claim	Participants can claim rewards (get free cryptocurrency)
Disguise	Legitimate Degen cryptocurrency giveaway (airdrop)
Related Domain	distributions-degen.tips
Detection Names	N/A (VirusTotal)
Symptoms	Incorrect domain, lack of official verification, unrealistic claims, too good-to-be-true promises
Distribution methods	Compromised social media accounts, hijacked WordPress sites, rogue online pop-up ads, phishing emails, unwanted applications.
Damage	Loss of sensitive private information, monetary loss, identity theft, possible malware infections.
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Conclusion

In conclusion, the scam orchestrated by distributions-degen[.]tips underscores the importance of vigilance and skepticism when navigating the cryptocurrency landscape. By masquerading as a legitimate platform offering rewards, scammers exploit the trust and enthusiasm of unsuspecting individuals, ultimately leading to the unauthorized draining of cryptocurrency from victims' wallets.

This underscores the inherent risks of engaging in cryptocurrency-related activities online and emphasizes the importance of increased awareness, education, and security measures to protect against fraudulent schemes. Examples of similar scams are "Bitcoin L2 Restaking", "PYTH Retrospective Airdrop", and "Claim $GBTC".

How did I open a scam website?

Scams like the "Degen Airdrop 2" frequently spread through compromised social media profiles, including those of celebrities or trusted entities, as well as hijacked WordPress sites. Additionally, users might stumble upon fraudulent websites by mistyping URLs or entering incorrect web addresses.

Moreover, these deceptive tactics extend to notifications from unreliable websites, advertisements, and pop-ups on dubious platforms like torrent sites or illegal streaming pages. Adware or similar software can also generate deceptive ads, further exposing users to potential scams.

How to avoid visiting scam pages?

Exercise caution when handling unsolicited emails and messages, as well as when interacting with advertisements and pop-ups on dubious websites. Verify website URLs carefully before clicking to confirm they correspond to the legitimate site you intend to access.

Additionally, only download applications from reputable sources such as official websites and app stores, and avoid enabling notifications from suspicious websites. Routinely scan your computer for potential threats and promptly remove any detected unwanted and malicious apps. 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 "Degen Airdrop 2" scam (GIF):

The real Degen website (degen[.]tips):

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Quick menu:

• What is Degen Airdrop 2 fake cryptocurrency giveaway?
• 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 scam?

Cryptocurrency scams encompass a range of deceptive tactics aimed at persuading individuals to either transfer their digital assets, trigger mechanisms that steal their cryptocurrency, or disclose sensitive information like login credentials.

Is it possible to retrieve lost crypto funds?

Once cryptocurrency transactions are completed, they typically become irreversible, leaving victims unable to recover funds once they have been transferred to a wallet owned by a scammer.

Why do I encounter crypto scams?

Scammers deploy an array of methods, ranging from compromised social media profiles and hacked WordPress sites to phishing emails, deceptive ads, pop-ups, and rogue advertising networks. Their aim is to promote scams and lure users into visiting fraudulent pages.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from scams?

Combo Cleaner is capable of identifying various scams. Users are promptly alerted upon detection of fraudulent activity on visited websites. Furthermore, Combo Cleaner swiftly implements access restrictions to mitigate inadvertent interaction with shady pages.

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