How to avoid losing crypto via the fake "Check $PORTAL Eligibility"

What is the fake "Check $PORTAL Eligibility" site?

We have examined the web page (portal-gaming-project.pages[.]dev) and discovered that it is a scam page imitating the Portal Web3 gaming platform (portalgaming[.]com). Scammers behind this fraudulent website seek to trick unsuspecting individuals into performing actions enabling scammers to steal cryptocurrency.

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.

Fraudulent "Check $PORTAL Eligibility" web page in detail

Portal (portalgaming[.]com) is a platform for games and gamers from different blockchain networks. It is created to unify Web3 gaming ecosystem. Partnering with LayerZero, Portal provides a multi-chain experience, connecting various Web3 games. Portal cryptocurrency can be purchased on crypto platforms and the $portal coin is used as a currency within games on the Portal platform.

The fake website (portal-gaming-project.pages[.]dev) offers users to connect their wallets by completing the prompts to check if they are eligible for free $portal coins. However, following the instructions on the fraudulent page ("connecting" a wallet) results in signing a malicious contract.

Once signed, this malicious contract activates a cryptocurrency drainer. This draining tool siphons cryptocurrency from victims. It transfers cryptocurrency from the victim's wallet to the scammer's wallet. Thus, victims who "connect" their wallets through portal-gaming-project.pages[.]dev are likely to lose their cryptocurrency.

It is important to be aware that such transactions are irreversible (unless the recipient sends the received cryptocurrency back). Individuals should research crypto-related platforms before connecting their wallets, providing sensitive information, or purchasing anything to avoid suffering monetary losses or encountering other issues.

Threat Summary:

Name	Fake Check $PORTAL Eligibility platform
Threat Type	Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud
Fake Claim	Participants could be eligible for free $Portal coins
Disguise	Legitimate Portal (portalgaming.com) site
Fake Website	portal-gaming-project.pages[.]dev, portal-coin.pages[.]dev
Detection Names (portal-gaming-project.pages[.]dev)	CRDF (Malicious), Emsisoft (Phishing), MalwareURL (Phishing), Full List Of Detections (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

Recently, there has been a growing number of fake crypto platforms, and methods for stealing cryptocurrency are becoming increasingly sophisticated. It is imperative for users to remain vigilant and employ robust security measures to safeguard their cryptocurrency against emerging threats. Some examples of similar scams are the fake "$LOC PRE-SALE", "Ice Token Distribution", and "Polyhedra Network $ZK Airdrop" platforms.

How did I open a scam website?

Scams like portal-gaming-project.pages[.]dev are commonly promoted through stolen social media accounts, often those of celebrities or reputable companies, as well as hijacked WordPress websites. Deceptive ads, pop-ups, or counterfeit buttons on suspicious pages are also used to promote scams.

Furthermore, fraudsters employ pages linked to rogue advertising networks, such as torrent sites or illegal movie streaming pages, to guide users to scam websites. Alternatively, users may inadvertently visit scam pages through notifications from shady sites or ads generated by adware.

How to avoid visiting scam pages?

Always verify website URLs before clicking to ensure they are correct (official). Be careful with unexpected or irrelevant emails and messages from unknown senders, especially if they contain links or files and seem urgent. Avoid engaging with ads and pop-ups on suspicious web pages.

Additionally, only download apps from reputable sources like official websites and app stores—avoid using other sources. Refrain from allowing notifications from suspicious sites, and regularly scan your operating system for unwanted apps and malicious programs.

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 the fake "Check $PORTAL Eligibility" page (GIF):

Screenshot of the real Portal (portalgaming[.]com) website:

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Quick menu:

• What is Fake Check $PORTAL Eligibility platform?
• 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?

A cryptocurrency scam is a type of scam created with the intention of convincing individuals to transfer their digital assets, activate mechanisms that siphon off their cryptocurrency or divulge sensitive information such as seed phrases, passwords, or similar details. Usually, the purpose of a crypto scam is to steal cryptocurrency.

Is it possible to retrieve lost crypto funds?

Once cryptocurrency transactions are finalized, they usually become irreversible, meaning victims cannot recover funds once sent to scammers.

Why do I encounter crypto scams?

Scammers use various tactics to promote fake websites and platforms. These tactics include using stolen social media profiles, hacked WordPress sites, phishing emails,  misleading ads and pop-ups, and rogue advertising networks.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from scams?

Combo Cleaner can detect a wide range of scams, ensuring users are promptly informed and quickly imposing access restrictions as needed.

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