How to identify scams like "mETH Protocol Signup"
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is "mETH Protocol Signup" scam?
During our inspection of app-methprotocol[.]co, we discovered that it is a fraudulent website designed to trick visitors into taking steps that could lead to financial loss. Such sites often use convincing designs to appear legitimate. The deceptive site in question is disguised as a cryptocurrency platform.
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.
"mETH Protocol Signup" scam in detail
The scam page, labeled "mETH Protocol", features a message stating, "Something is Coming!..." It falsely claims that only those who sign up within the next 24 hours will be included in the opportunity. The site also contains a button labeled "Get Started", which leads users to enter personal information (connect a crypto wallet).
Connecting a wallet on this deceptive website results in signing a malicious contract. Once this contract is signed, a cryptocurrency drainer is activated. This drainer siphons funds from the "connected" wallet to the one belonging to the cybercriminals behind this fraudulent scheme.
Because the transactions cannot be reversed, recovering lost funds becomes nearly impossible, leaving victims with no recourse to reclaim their money. This irreversible nature of cryptocurrency transactions underscores the importance of thoroughly vetting any platform or investment opportunity before connecting a wallet, transferring cryptocurrency, or taking similar actions.
Name | mETH Protocol Signup fake platform |
Threat Type | Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud |
Fake Claim | Participants will receive something if they sign up within 24 hours |
Disguise | Legitimate platfor, |
Related Domain | app-methprotocol.co |
Detection Names | alphaMountain.ai (Phishing), Combo Cleaner (Phishing), Emsisoft (Phishing), Kaspersky (Phishing), Webroot (Malicious), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal) |
Symptoms | Unofficial domain, lack of official verification, unrealistic claims, too good-to-be-true promises. |
Distribution methods | Compromised/hijacked websites, stolen or fake social media profiles, rogue online pop-up ads, 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. |
Conclusion
It is recommended to be skeptical of any offers or opportunities that seem too-good-to-be-true, as these could be attempts to defraud. Individuals should carefully scrutinize cryptocurrency platforms to ensure they are legitimate before making any transactions or providing information. Taking these precautions can prevent financial losses caused by scams.
Some examples of fake crypto platforms are "$ETHFI Shared For Karak Users", "Claim Base Dawgz", and "$MOG Coin".
How did I open a scam website?
Scams involving crypto drainers are commonly distributed through compromised WordPress sites or fraudulent social media profiles. Users may also encounter these scams on torrent sites, illegal streaming platforms, adult websites, or other platforms that use shady advertising networks.
Additionally, misleading ads and deceptive pop-ups on unreliable websites can lead users to scam pages. Adware and links sent through email by scammers can also deceive users into visiting sites designed to steal money and (or) personal information.
How to avoid visiting scam pages?
Download software and files from trusted sources, such as official websites or app stores. Be cautious with unexpected and irrelevant emails from unknown senders. Do not click links or open files in such emails. Avoid permitting shady websites to send you notifications, and do not interact with ads or similar content on sites of this kind.
Additionally, ensure your operating system and software are kept up to date and regularly run scans with 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 "mETH Protocol Signup" scam (GIF):
Instant automatic malware removal:
Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
▼ 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 mETH Protocol Signup fake platform?
- 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 is a scheme crafted by scammers to trick individuals into thinking they can receive free cryptocurrency or other benefits in return for certain actions.
What is the purpose of a crypto scam?
As a rule, scammers aim to extract money or sensitive information (or both) from unsuspecting individuals.
Why do I encounter websites hosting scams?
These websites are usually encountered via unreliable advertisements, notifications from shady pages, links in fraudulent emails, and sites associated with rogue advertising networks (e.g., torrent sites or illegal movie streaming platforms). Users rarely open them knowingly.
Will Combo Cleaner protect me from scams?
Combo Cleaner can scan websites users visit, detect malicious ones, and identify scam sites (and other untrustworthy pages). It provides immediate warnings and blocks access to protect users from potential threats.
▼ Show Discussion