How to identify scams like the fake Claim Aethir site

What is "Claim Aethir" scam?

We have inspected the page (claims-aethir-com.pages[.]dev) and discovered that it is a fraudulent platform mimicking aethir[.]com. Scammers created this fake website to steal cryptocurrency from unsuspecting individuals. It is crucial to avoid interacting with such deceptive sites to protect digital assets and personal information.

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.

"Claim Aethir" scam in detail

Aethir (aethir[.]com) is a decentralized platform focused on cloud computing. Its aim is to transform the ownership and utilization of Graphical Processing Units (GPUs). Unlike traditional approaches, Aethir offers a scalable and competitive system for sharing computational resources.

Claims-aethir-com.pages[.]dev is a copy of aethir[.]com with a very similar design. Its purpose is to trick users into believing they can claim Aethir rewards (participate in Aethir airdrop) through it. On claims-aethir-com.pages[.]dev, individuals are requested to connect their wallets to receive rewards.

By connecting a wallet on this fraudulent page, users sign a malicious contract designed to activate a cryptocurrency drainer. This drainer automatically transfers funds from the "connected" wallet to the scammer's wallet. In other words, this tool steals cryptocurrency from victims.

In many cases, once cryptocurrency is transferred to a scammer's wallet, it can be difficult or impossible to trace or recover. Thus, it is important to be careful and avoid interacting with websites like claims-aethir-com.pages[.]dev.

Threat Summary:

Name	Fake Claim Aethir website
Threat Type	Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud
Fake Claim	Participants can receive rewards
Disguise	Legitimate Aethir website
Related Domain	claims-aethir-com.pages[.]dev, signup-aethirfoundation[.]org
Detection Names (claims-aethir-com.pages[.]dev)	N/A (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. ▼ Download Combo Cleaner To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Similar scams in general

Cryptocurrency scams, such as those imitating Aethir, often promise attractive rewards or benefits via supposedly legitimate platforms. However, interacting with these fraudulent sites can lead to financial losses or the exposure of sensitive data. It is important to exercise caution and verify the authenticity of platforms before taking any action.

Some examples of scams similar to the one described in our article are "Elixir Apothecary", "Claim Taiko Token", and "$PARAM Claim Live" websites.

How did I open a scam website?

Scam websites that employ crypto drainers are typically promoted through fake or stolen social media accounts, hijacked WordPress sites, and deceptive ads or pop-ups on unreliable websites. Users may also be directed to scam pages through notifications from untrustworthy websites.

Furthermore, fraudulent emails and websites utilize rogue advertising networks like torrent pages and illegal streaming sites to lure users into scams. Additionally, adware installed on devices can lead users to click on ads that redirect them to scam websites.

How to avoid visiting scam pages?

Do not agree to receive notifications from questionable web pages (e.g., websites claiming that you have to click "Allow" to pass a CAPTCHA). Avoid interacting with ads and various pop-ups encountered on suspicious sites. Always download software and files from official websites or app stores.

Be careful with links containing links or files; do not open their contents unless you are sure they are legitimate. Keep all apps and the operating system up to date and use a reputable security tool. 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 "Claim Aethir" scam website (GIF):

Real web page (aethir[.]com):

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▼ DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Quick menu:

• What is Fake Claim Aethir 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 cryptocurrency scam?

Usually, it is a fraudulent scheme (e.g., a fake cryptocurrency giveaway/airdrop or investment opportunity) designed to trick unsuspecting individuals into taking certain actions.

What is the purpose of crypto scams?

Scammers use these scams mainly to steal cryptocurrency of sensitive information.

Why do I encounter crypto scams?

Typically, users are lured into visiting scam websites via stolen or fake social media profiles, notifications from dubious sites, deceptive advertisements, fraudulent pop-ups, and similar channels. Web pages associated with rogue advertising networks (e.g., torrent sites) can also direct users to websites hosting scams.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from pop-up scams?

Combo Cleaner can detect malicious sites, including those hosting scams. If such a site is detected, you will receive an immediate warning, and access will be restricted to protect your browsing experience.

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