How to recognize scams like the Base Mafia fake website

What is "Base Mafia" scam?

We have reviewed the site (app-basemafia-com.pages[.]dev) and concluded that it is a scam web page designed to trick visitors into believing that they can claim free crypto tokens. Following the instructions provided on this fraudulent site can lead to cryptocurrency loss. Thus, individuals should be careful when encountering pages like app-basemafia-com.pages[.]dev.

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.

"Base Mafia" scam in detail

The scam website (app-basemafia-com.pages[.]dev) is presented as a cutting-edge platform in the cryptocurrency space. It uses enticing words and encourages individuals to join the community and participate in activities like "staking" and "claiming tokens", which are tactics to steal crypto funds.

The fraudulent scheme on app-basemafia-com.pages[.]dev involves a request to connect a wallet. However, "connecting" a wallet on this page signs a malicious contract designed to activate a cryptocurrency drainer. The activated drainer can transfer funds from the victim's wallet to the scammer's.

Simply put, when users complete the steps provided on app-basemafia-com.pages[.]dev, they risk losing all the cryptocurrency holdings stored on the crypto wallet they "connect". It is important to note that retrieving cryptocurrency sent to scammers is usually very difficult, if not impossible.

Cryptocurrency transactions are typically irreversible, and once funds are transferred, they cannot be easily traced or recovered. Thus, individuals should examine platforms offering to claim tokens or other rewards, invest their cryptocurrency, or participate in other ways to avoid monetary loss or other issues.

Threat Summary:

Name	Base Mafia fraudulent site
Threat Type	Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud
Fake Claim	Participants can claim free tokens
Disguise	Legitimate platform for staking and claiming tokens
Related Domain	app-basemafia-com.pages[.]dev
Detection Names (app-basemafia-com.pages[.]dev)	G-Data (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.
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Conclusion

In conclusion, a scam involving a crypto drainer is a deceptive scheme designed to steal cryptocurrency from unsuspecting victims. Once the funds are drained, they are nearly impossible to recover. This emphasizes the importance of carefulness when using cryptocurrency platforms and verifying their legitimacy.

Some examples of scams similar to the one described in our article are "Drop Coin Scam", "DappWalletnode Scam", and "DappsConnector Scam".

How did I open a scam website?

Fake platforms designed to trick users into executing crypto drainers tend to be promoted using hijacked WordPress sites or fake (or stolen) social media profiles. These scams can also appear on sites tied to shady advertising networks, like torrent websites, illegal movie streaming platforms, adult sites, etc.

Also, users might land on scam pages through deceptive ads, fake pop-ups, or similar content on untrustworthy websites. These scam sites can also be opened through adware (its ads), notifications from misleading sites, links in phishing emails, and other fraudulent channels.

How to avoid visiting scam pages?

Be skeptical when receiving suspicious emails from unknown addresses (or messages via social media). Do not open links or files presented in such emails (or messages). Avoid consenting to receive notifications from dubious sites and clicking ads, pop-ups, buttons, and links while visiting such pages.

Download software and files from official sources, such as legitimate websites or trusted app stores. Also, keep all apps up to date and regularly scan your computer for threats and unwanted programs. 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 "Base Mafia" scam website (GIF):

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Quick menu:

• What is Base Mafia fraudulent site?
• 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?

A crypto scam often involves a fake platform, phishing, or a deceptive investment opportunity to trick individuals into taking certain actions.

What is the purpose of a crypto scam?

Usually, scammers aim to steal cryptocurrency or personal information from unsuspecting individuals.

Why do I encounter scam websites?

Scams are often promoted through compromised or deceptive sites, fake or stolen social media profiles, and shady advertising networks usually found on torrent, adult, and similar sites. Users can also encounter scams via deceptive ads, pop-ups, adware, misleading notifications, or fraudulent links received via email.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from scams?

Combo Cleaner can scan every website you access and detect any malicious ones. This includes scam websites, so you will be immediately alerted, and access will be blocked.

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