Avoid getting scammed by fake "InQubeta Token Presale" websites
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is the fake "InQubeta Token Presale" website?
After inspecting this "InQubeta Token Presale" event, we determined that it is fake. This scam imitates the InQubeta platform (inqubeta.co), and it uses a bogus "presale event" as a lure.
Users deceived by this imitator page expose their digital wallets to a cryptocurrency drainer. Hence, victims of this scheme can lose all or most of the funds stored in the compromised cryptowallets. It must be stressed that this scam is not associated with the actual InQubeta or any other existing platforms and entities.
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 "InQubeta Token Presale" website overview
The scam is a close visual copy of InQubeta (inqubeta.co) – a platform for AI (Artificial Intelligence) crypto crowdfunding with a fractional investment system. However, regardless of the visual similarity, websites running this scheme are fake, and they are in no way associated with the InQubeta platform or other entities.
This scheme runs a hoax presale event wherein users can get a 15% bonus with the provided promotional code. When the "CLAIM PRESALE TOKENS" button is clicked, a prompt is displayed to link a cryptocurrency wallet. Doing so executes scripts for a crypto drainer, which performs automated transfers from victims' wallets to ones owned by cyber criminals.
Drainers may be capable of approximating the value of digital wallets and prioritizing their theft. The transactions may appear innocuous, thus remaining unnoticed for a long time.
Furthermore, these transactions cannot be reversed because of their nearly untraceable nature. Hence, victims of scams like the fake "InQubeta Token Presale" cannot recover their funds.
Name | "InQubeta Token Presale" crypto drainer |
Threat Type | Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud, Cryptocurrency Drainer |
Disguise | Presale event on InQubeta |
Related Domain | airdrop-inqubeta.pages[.]dev |
Detection Names (airdrop-inqubeta.pages[.]dev) | CDRF (Malicious), Emsisoft (Phishing), MalwareURL (Phishing), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal) |
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. |
Cryptocurrency drainer scam examples
"Fake OpenSea Marketplace", "Fake SaitaSwap", and "Ethereum Gas Fee Refunds" are merely a couple of our newest articles on crypto drainers.
Cryptocurrency-centered schemes typically work in one of three ways: draining funds from exposed digital wallets, targeting cryptowallet log-in credentials, and deceiving users into manually transferring funds to scammer-owned wallets.
Various fake platforms and false claims are used to gain and subsequently abuse victims' trust. For example, bogus information relating to new coin/token promotions, airdrops/giveaways, wallet/account issues, suspicious activity detections, security updates, etc.
Online scams can be poorly crafted or competently made and even perfectly copy legitimate sites. Therefore, we highly recommend vigilance when browsing and investing.
How did I open a scam website?
Online scams are primarily endorsed via malvertising (intrusive ads), spam (e.g., emails, SMSes, PMs/DMs, browser notifications, social media/ forum posts, etc.), webpages that utilize rogue advertising networks, typosquatting (misspelled URLs), and adware.
To expand upon the techniques commonly used in crypto-specific scam promotion, this deceptive content is often endorsed through social media spam. These posts and private/direct messages can be made using accounts stolen from real celebrities, influencers, entrepreneurs, projects, companies, etc.
Another prevalent method is malvertising – specifically, intrusive pop-up advertisements. Some of these pop-ups are fully operational drainers themselves; they entice users into "connecting" digital wallets by promising various benefits. It is pertinent to mention that these ads have been encountered on legitimate websites that had been compromised.
How to avoid visiting scam websites?
It is essential to exercise caution while browsing. Therefore, pay attention to URLs and type them carefully. Be wary of ads and online offers that sound too good to be true. Do not allow dubious pages to deliver browser notifications; instead, ignore or deny such requests from them (i.e., click "Block", "Block Notifications", etc.).
Do not use websites offering pirated software/media or other questionable services (e.g., illegal streaming/downloading, Torrenting, etc.), as these webpages usually employ rogue advertising networks. Be vigilant with incoming emails/messages, and do not open attachments or links found in suspicious/irrelevant mail.
Download only from official/verified sources and treat installations with care (e.g., read terms, inspect options, use the "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opt out of additional apps, extensions, tools, etc.) – to prevent bundled/hazardous programs from infiltrating systems.
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 fake "InQubeta Token Presale" website (GIF):
Screenshot of the official InQubeta website (inqubeta.co):
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is "InQubeta Token Presale" crypto drainer?
- 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?
An "online scam" refers to a type of deceptive content hosted on the Internet. Its goal is to entice users into performing specific actions, e.g., connecting cryptowallets to cryptocurrency drainers, making monetary transactions, providing sensitive information, downloading/installing software, buying products, subscribing to services, and so forth.
What is the purpose of online scams?
Online scams are designed to generate revenue for cyber criminals. Profit can be made by obtaining funds through deception, endorsing content (e.g., sites, products, services, etc.), selling/abusing private information, and distributing malware.
I have lost digital assets to the "InQubeta Token Presale" scam, can I get my money back?
These transactions are irreversible due to their practically untraceable nature. Therefore, victims of scams like this fake "InQubeta Token Presale" event cannot retrieve the stolen funds.
Why do I encounter online scams?
Widespread promotional methods include: spam (e.g., social media posts, DMs/PMs, emails, SMSes, browser notifications, etc.), intrusive ads, websites using rogue advertising networks, typosquatting (mistyped URLs), and adware.
Will Combo Cleaner protect me from online scams?
Combo Cleaner can scan visited websites and detect rogue, deceptive/scam, and malicious pages. Therefore, should you enter such a webpage – you will be immediately warned, and further access to it will be denied.
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