How to identify fake giveaways like the "Renzo ($REZ) Token Allocation"

What is the fake "Renzo ($REZ) Token Allocation" website?

We have inspected claim-renzoprotocol[.]network site and found that it is a deceptive website promoting a Renzo ($REZ) Token Allocation. This scam website mimics the real Renzo site (renzoprotocol.com) and is designed to steal cryptocurrency. Thus, individuals should be careful when encountering fake promotions like Renzo ($REZ) Token Allocation.

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.

Fake "Renzo ($REZ) Token Allocation" site in detail

Within the EigenLayer ecosystem, Renzo plays two key roles: it acts as both a Liquid Restaking Token (LRT) and a Strategy Manager. Its primary function is to safeguard Actively Validated Services (AVSs) while also offering a more lucrative yield than traditional ETH staking methods.

The fake website (claim-renzoprotocol[.]network) invites current users to check their check their eligibility for token allocation. Clicking the "CHECK ELIGIBILITY" button on the site leads to a request to connect a wallet. However, in reality, connecting a wallet through claim-renzoprotocol[.]network signs a malicious contract.

Once this contract is signed, a malicious tool known as cryptocurrency drainer is activated. The purpose of this crypto-draining tool is to transfer cryptocurrency from the victim's wallet to the one belonging to scammers. Thus, victims who fall for the Renzo ($REZ) Token Allocation scam will likely lose their digital assets.

Since cryptocurrency transactions are irreversible, victims of such scams lose their funds permanently. Thus, it is important to examine crypto platforms to ensure they are legitimate before connecting wallets or transferring crypto assets.

Threat Summary:

Name	Renzo ($REZ) Token Allocation fake giveaway
Threat Type	Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud
Fake Claim	Users may be eligible for free $REZ tokens
Disguise	Legitimate Renzo platform
Fake Website	claim-renzoprotocol[.]network
Detection Names (claim-renzoprotocol[.]network)	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 Renzo ($REZ) Token Allocation scam, facilitated through the fake website claim-renzoprotocol[.]network, illustrates the risks associated with malicious actors exploiting the cryptocurrency ecosystem. Unfortunately, there are many examples of scams like the one described in our article.

Some examples of similar scams are the fake "$SWOT Token Airdrop", "SatoshiVM Airdrop", and "DYDX NFT Airdrop".

How did I open a scam website?

Fraudsters commonly advertise scam sites like claim-renzoprotocol[.]network through hijacked social media accounts, which may belong to celebrities or reputable companies, as well as compromised WordPress web pages. Alternatively, individuals might stumble upon scam websites via phishing emails containing links.

Notifications from dubious sources, deceptive pop-ups on questionable websites, and sites that use rogue advertising networks (like torrent sites or illicit streaming pages) can also lead users to websites hosting scams. In other cases, scammers use adware to promote their fraudulent schemes.

How to avoid visiting scam pages?

Always check websites' URLs to see if they match the official domains. Do not allow suspicious sites, so send notifications or trust ads and pop-ups on web pages of this kind. Download programs from trustworthy sources (official websites and app stores). Avoid opening links or attachments presented in suspicious emails (e.g., irrelevant emails from unknown addresses).

Also, use a reputable security tool and keep all apps (and the operating system) up to date. 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 "Renzo ($REZ) Token Allocation" page (GIF):

Another example of Renzo ($REZ) Token Allocation-themed drainer website:

The real Renzo website (renzoprotocol[.]com):

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Quick menu:

• What is Renzo ($REZ) Token Allocation fake 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 fake crypto airdrop?

It is a fraudulent scheme posing as a legitimate cryptocurrency giveaway. Usually, scammers behind fake crypto aidrops aim to steal sensitive information or cryptocurrency.

Is it possible to retrieve lost crypto funds?

Unfortunately, cryptocurrency transactions cannot be reversed. Thus, it is not possible to recover cryptocurrency transferred to scammers (or stolen by scammers).

Why do I encounter crypto scams?

In most cases, fake airdrops and similar scams are promoted using stolen social media accounts, hijacked WordPress pages, phishing emails containing links or files, misleading ads, deceptive pop-ups, and websites like torrent sites that utilize rogue advertising networks.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from scams?

Combo Cleaner scrutinizes every website, identifying malicious ones, including those running scams. When it detects such a site, the application promptly alerts the user and blocks access to the untrustworthy website.

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