How to identify scams like the fake "Linea Airdrop"

What is a fake "Linea Airdrop"?

We have analyzed the site (linea-airdrop[.]lol) and found that it is a deceptive page mimicking linea[.]build, the real Line web page. The purpose of the fraudulent web page is to trick users into participating in a fake giveaway (airdrop). Ultimately, scammers aim to steal cryptocurrency from users.

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 "Linea Airdrop" in detail

Linea (linea[.]build) is a network that makes using Ethereum easier and cheaper. It works with existing applications and new ones, offering faster speeds and lower costs compared to Ethereum's Mainnet. We have discovered that scammers exploit the platform to trick unsuspecting individuals into participating in a fake Linea airdrop.

On the fake site (linea-airdrop[.]lol), users are offered to join a point program to incentivize liquidity among the Lina ecosystem and collect LXP-L points. In order to join a program, users are instructed to connect their wallets. However, connecting a wallet via this fraudulent site signs a malicious contract.

Signing this contract results in activating a cryptocurrency drainer allowing scammers to steal crypto funds. Once activated, this drainer can automatically transfer cryptocurrency from the victim's wallet to the scammer's. Thus, victims who trigger crypto drainers through sites like linea-airdrop[.]lol have their wallets drained.

Unfortunately, victims who fall for such scams lose the stolen crypto holdings permanently. Cryptocurrency transactions are irreversible, making it impossible to retrieve the stolen funds without the involvement of scammers. To avoid financial loss due to such scams, it is important to research crypto platforms before connecting wallets or transferring funds.

Threat Summary:

Name	Fake Linea Airdrop
Threat Type	Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud
Fake Claim	Participants can receive cryptocurrency for free
Disguise	Legitimate airdrop (giveaway) hosted by Linea
Related Domain	linea-airdrop[.]lol
Detection Names (linea-airdrop[.]lol)	Trustwave (Suspicious), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal)
Symptoms	Unofficial 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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Similar scams in general

There are numerous examples of fake giveaways posing as legitimate crypto airdrops (some of them are the fake "Retik Finance Giveaway", "APECOIN Airdrop", and "$GUMMY Airdrop"). Scammers behind these fraudulent schemes offer to receive cryptocurrency for free. However, victims of such scams end up activating crypto drainers and losing their digital assets.

How did I open a scam website?

Scammers employ various tactics to deceive users into landing on scam sites. These include hijacking WordPress sites and stealing social media accounts (often belonging to celebrities or companies) to promote scams. They also use fake accounts to lure users. Furthermore, scammers utilize deceptive ads, pop-ups, and notifications from dubious sources.

In other cases, adware-generated ads, links in phishing emails, and pages associated with rogue advertising networks (e.g., torrent sites) are used to lure users into visiting scam websites.

How to avoid visiting scam pages?

Be cautious of unsolicited emails and messages, especially when they are from unknown senders. Be careful with URLs with slight variations - always check the URL to make sure it is official before providing information or taking other action. Do not trust pop-ups, warnings, ads, notifications, and similar content displayed by dubious web pages.

Avoid downloading files and apps from untrusted sources; always use official websites and app stores. Use reputable antivirus software 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 a fake "Linea Airdrop" site (GIF):

The real Linea web page (linea[.]build):

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Quick menu:

• What is Fake Linea Airdrop?
• 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 giveaway?

A fraudulent giveaway is a deceptive ploy where scammers offer prizes or rewards (like gift cards or cryptocurrency) in return for participation.

What is the purpose of a fake giveaway?

Fake airdrops and other giveaways aim to deceive participants into revealing personal information, transferring money, activating cryptocurrency drainers, or taking other actions.

Why do I encounter fake giveaways and other scams?

Users often encounter scam websites via misleading advertisements, pop-ups, and emails from scammers. Additionally, they may inadvertently visit these sites through platforms utilizing rogue advertising networks, links posted via fake or stolen social media profiles, or ads displayed by unreliable adware.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from pags hosting scams?

Combo Cleaner can examine web pages and detect shady ones, including scam sites. Upon detection, it warns users and restricts access to such websites.

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