How to identify fraudulent sites like "Elixir Apothecary Scam"
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
What is the fake "Elixir Apothecary" site?
Our analysis of the page (many-ice-huge.on-fleek[.]app) has revealed that it is a scam website mimicking the original site (elixir[.]xyz). Scammers behind the fake page aim to trick individuals into believing they can "earn potions" through the site. Their ultimate goal is to steal cryptocurrency from victims.
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.
"Elixir Apothecary" fake website in detail
Elixir (elixir[.]xyz) serves as an infrastructure for exchanges and protocols, simplifying the process of establishing and maintaining liquidity on their trading platforms. This network ensures that traders can easily buy and sell assets without experiencing significant price fluctuations caused by low liquidity.
The fake page (many-ice-huge.on-fleek[.]app) is virtually identical to the original one. On the fake page, individuals are also offered to earn points for holding, taking, and using the Elixir cryptocurrency token, boost their earnings, and unlock exclusive rewards. To take advantage of this opportunity, users have to connect their wallets.
However, connecting a wallet via the fraudulent site signs a malicious contract designed to activate a cryptocurrency drainer. This malicious tool operates by transferring cryptocurrency holdings from the victim's wallet to the scammer's. Thus, "connecting" a wallet through the fake Elixir site can result in significant financial losses.
It is important to note that cryptocurrency transactions are irreversible. Victims who fall for scams like the one described in our article cannot retrieve their funds. Individuals should be careful and research crypto platforms before connecting their wallets, transferring cryptocurrency, or taking other actions.
| Name | Fake Elixir Apothecary website |
| Threat Type | Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud |
| Fake Claim | Participants can earn points, unlock exclusive rewards, and boost their earnings |
| Disguise | Legitimate Elixir website |
| Related Domain | many-ice-huge.on-fleek[.]app |
| Detection Names (many-ice-huge.on-fleek[.]app) | alphaMountain.ai (Phishing), Combo Cleaner (Phishing), ESET (Phishing), G-Data (Phishing), Sophos (Phishing), 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. |
| Malware Removal (Windows) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. |
Similar scams in general
Scams involving cryptocurrency, like the one mimicking Elixir, underscore the importance of caution when engaging in online transactions. These schemes often offer enticing rewards or benefits through seemingly legitimate platforms. However, connecting wallets or providing personal information on fraudulent sites can result in financial losses or the compromise of sensitive data.
Some examples of other fraudulent schemes involving cryptocurrency drainers are the fake "Claim Taiko Token", "$PARAM Claim Live", and "InQubeta Token Presale" web pages.
How did I open a scam website?
Scammers promote scams involving crypto drainers mostly through fake or stolen social media accounts or hijacked WordPress sites. Users can also encounter online scams by interacting with deceptive ads, pop-ups, and similar elements on dubious sites. Additionally, scammers can lure users into visiting scam pages via notifications delivered by untrustworthy websites.
Moreover, such scams are promoted via fraudulent emails and websites that employ rogue advertising networks (e.g., torrent sites and illegal movie streaming websites). Sometimes, users can land on scam websites via ads displayed by installed adware.
How to avoid visiting scam pages?
Do not permit suspicious web pages to show notifications, and avoid interacting with ads, buttons, and pop-ups on such websites. Be skeptical about irrelevant or unexpected emails from unknown addresses. Do not open links or files presented in such emails. Always use official websites or app stores when downloading apps and files.
Regularly scan your computer for unwanted apps (e.g., adware) and utilize reputable security software. Additionally, keep the operating system and installed programs 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 "Elixir Apothecary" website (GIF):
Screenshot of the real website (elixir[.]xyz):
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is Fake Elixir Apothecary website?
- 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?
It is a fraudulent scheme designed to deceive individuals into taking certain actions benefiting scammers. These scams often promise unrealistic returns, fake investment opportunities, and mimic legitimate platforms to deceive unsuspecting users.
What is the purpose of a cryptocurrency scam?
As a rule, scammers use such scams to steal cryptocurrency. The main difference is the methods used to achieve it. In addition to stealing cryptocurrency, scammers can attempt to extract sensitive information.
Why do I encounter scams?
Scams are promoted via fake social media accounts, compromised sites, deceptive ads, and pop-ups on dubious websites. Users are also lured through notifications from untrustworthy websites and fraudulent emails, as well as through sites that use rogue advertising networks like torrent and illegal streaming sites.
Will Combo Cleaner protect me from pop-up scams?
Combo Cleaner scans every website you visit, detecting and immediately warning you about malicious sites, including those hosting scams, and restricting access accordingly.
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