Avoid losing your digital assets to fake "Smart Node Chain" websites
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
What is the fake "Smart Node Chain" website?
While investigating untrustworthy websites, our researchers came upon the "Smart Node Chain" scam. It claims to allow users to create new online tools and provide various services for addressing digital wallet issues. This fake platform functions as a cryptocurrency drainer. Victims of this scheme experience financial loss.
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 "Smart Node Chain" website overview
The "Smart Node Chain" scam supposedly enables users to create a variety of online tools. It also claims to fix various crypto wallet issues relating to rectification, validation, recovery, claiming, staking, buying, selling, bridging, etc. It must be stressed that the services offered by this scheme are nonexistent, and this scam is not associated with any existing platforms or entities.
Once a digital wallet is connected, the crypto drainer is triggered. Essentially, victims' funds are automatically transferred to scammer-owned wallets. These transactions may look innocuous, thereby remaining unnoticed for a significant amount of time. Drainers may be capable of approximating the value of digital assets and targeting them first.
It must be mentioned that cryptocurrency transactions cannot be reversed because they are practically untraceable. Hence, victims of scams like "Smart Node Chain" cannot recover the stolen assets.
| Name | "Smart Node Chain" crypto drainer |
| Threat Type | Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud, Cryptocurrency Drainer |
| Disguise | Platform for fixing digital wallet issues |
| Related Domains | onlinechainwallet.pages[.]dev |
| Detection Names | Emsisoft (Phishing), Fortinet (Phishing), Kaspersky (Phishing), Netcraft (Malicious), Sophos (Phishing), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal) |
| Serving IP Address | 172.66.46.252 |
| 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
We have written about countless crypto-specific scams; "BLAST GARDEN", "Claim Aerodrome Rewards", and "Claim $REZ" are just a couple of our articles on drainers.
Various lures are used to gain and subsequently abuse victims' trust, such as claims concerning account/wallet issues, new coin/token promotions, airdrops/giveaways, security upgrades, and so forth.
While online scams are often poorly made and full of mistakes, they can be competently put together and even believably disguised as content associated with legitimate entities. Therefore, always be vigilant when browsing and investing.
How did I open a scam website?
Cryptocurrency drainers are often endorsed via malvertising, specifically – intrusive pop-up adverts. Some of these pop-ups are fully functional drainers themselves; they trick users into "connecting" digital wallets by promising various benefits. Note that these ads have been encountered on genuine websites that had been compromised.
Additionally, crypto-centered schemes are common on social media platforms, particularly X (more often referred to by its former name – Twitter).
These spam posts and DMs/PMs can be made using hacked accounts (i.e., ones originally belonging to real entrepreneurs, celebrities, influences, projects, companies, etc.). If the scams align with the content ordinarily posted by the accounts – this creates an incredible impression of legitimacy.
However, other promotional methods are not unlikely. Generally, online scams are endorsed via malvertising, sites that use rogue advertising networks, spam (e.g., social media posts, DMs/PMs, emails, SMSes, browser notifications, etc.), mistyped URLs (typosquatting), and adware.
How to avoid visiting scam websites?
Caution is key to online safety. Therefore, be wary of ads and other online content making offers that sound too good to be true. Take note of URLs and be attentive when entering them. Do not enable dubious webpages to deliver browser notifications; ignore or deny their requests (i.e., click "Block", "Block Notifications", etc.).
Do not use sites offering pirated software/media or other questionable services (e.g., Torrenting, illegal streaming/downloading, etc.), as these webpages are usually monetized via rogue advertising networks. Treat incoming emails and other messages cautiously; do not open attachments or links found in suspicious/irrelevant mail.
Download only from official/verified sources and approach installations carefully (e.g., read terms, study options, use "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opt out of additional apps, extensions, etc.) – to prevent bundled/dangerous software (like adware) from infiltrating the system.
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 "Smart Node Chain" scam (GIF):
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is "Smart Node Chain" 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?
Online scams are a type of deceptive content promoted on the Internet; it aims to deceive users into performing specific actions. To elaborate, victims can be enticed into connecting digital wallets to crypto drainers, sending money to scammers, disclosing private information, purchasing products, subscribing to services, downloading/installing programs, and so on.
What is the purpose of online scams?
The purpose of online scams is to generate revenue for scammers. Profit can be made by acquiring funds through deception, endorsing content (e.g., websites, software, products, services, etc.), selling/abusing sensitive data, and distributing malware.
I have lost digital assets to the "Smart Node Chain" scam, can I get my money back?
These transactions are irreversible because of their practically untraceable nature. Therefore, victims of scams like "Smart Node Chain" cannot recover their funds.
Why do I encounter online scams?
The most widespread promotional techniques include: websites using rogue advertising networks, spam (e.g., emails, SMSes, PMs/DMs, social media/ forum posts, browser notifications, etc.), intrusive advertisements, mistyped URLs, and adware.
Will Combo Cleaner protect me from online scams?
Combo Cleaner can scan every website that you visit and detect deceptive/malicious pages. Therefore, should you stumble upon such a webpage – you will be immediately warned, and further access to it will be denied.
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