How to recognize scam sites like "Binance USDC Distribution" platform

What is "Binance USDC Distribution"?

During our analysis of the page (binance-airdrop-carv[.]info), we determined that it is a scam website. It is designed to trick visitors into believing they can participate in a cryptocurrency giveaway. Scammers behind this fraudulent scheme aim to trick unsuspecting individuals into taking actions that could result in financial losses.

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.

"Binance USDC Distribution" in detail

This deceptive web page is crafted to appear as a Binance airdrop (a giveaway) that allows users to claim USDC (USD coin). It claims that UDCD distribution round 1 is live now and encourages visitors to click the "Claim USDC" button. After clicking this button, a prompt appears asking users to connect a wallet.

The website seeks to deceive users into believing they are connecting their wallets, but this action actually signs a malicious contract. Once a malicious contract is signed, a cryptocurrency drainer is activated. This drainer is designed to pilfer cryptocurrency from wallets. It transfers funds from the victim's wallet to the scammer's.

Once the funds have been transferred, victims typically cannot retrieve their cryptocurrency. These transactions are often irreversible. This can result in significant financial losses. Thus, it is highly advisable to ensure crypto platforms are legitimate before providing personal information (including connecting a wallet) or transferring funds.

Threat Summary:

Name	Fake Binance USDC Distribution website
Threat Type	Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud
Fake Claim	Participants can receive free USD coins (USDC)
Disguise	Legitimate USDC airdrop hosted by Binance
Related Domain	binance-airdrop-carv[.]info
Detection Names (binance-airdrop-carv[.]info)	Fortinet (Spam), 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.
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Conclusion

In conclusion, scams like the one we examined often masquerade as legitimate giveaways or promotions to steal cryptocurrency. Once users unknowingly sign malicious contracts, their funds are transferred to the scammer’s wallet. In order to avoid falling victim to such scams, it is important to verify the legitimacy of crypto platforms before taking action.

Examples of similar scams are "$RUNE Loot Crate Claims", "$KINTO TGE Check Allocations", and "$PAWS Token Distribution"

How did I open a scam website?

It is common for scams designed to trick visitors into activating cryptocurrency drainers to be promoted using stolen or fake social media accounts and hijacked WordPress web pages. Also, scams can be encountered through notifications from unreliable pages and deceptive pop-ups, advertisements, links, buttons, etc.

Additionally, scam websites can be accessed via links in fraudulent emails (or other messages) and web pages that employ rogue advertising networks. These networks are often used by torrent websites, illegal movie streaming sites, and similar pages.

How to avoid visiting scam pages?

Do not permit shady pages to send you notifications. Avoid clicking advertisements and other pop-ups encountered on suspicious sites. Be cautious with links or attachments in emails from unknown sources, including messages on social media. Always download software and files from trusted sources like official websites or app stores.

Additionally, keep your operating system and applications up to date and run regular scans with a trusted security tool to detect any potential threats. 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 "Binance USDC Distribution" scam (GIF):

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Quick menu:

• What is Fake Binance USDC Distribution 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?

A crypto scam uses deceptive tactics to trick individuals into making certain decisions, like investing in cryptocurrency or purchasing tokens.

What is the purpose of a crypto scam?

Scammers running these schemes typically seek to steal personal information, gain access to victims' cryptocurrency wallets, or drain their funds. Their ultimate goal is financial theft through deception.

Why do I encounter scam websites?

Scams websites are promoted through misleading ads, pop-ups, notifications from suspicious pages, fraudulent emails linking to fake websites, forums, compromised social media accounts, hijacked WordPress sites, and similar channels. Scamers use differnt techniques to lure users into opening fraudulent (or compromised) websites.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me scams?

Combo Cleaner can scan websites as you visit them, quickly identifying any that may be malicious. It detects scam websites, provides instant alerts, and blocks access, ensuring you are protected from potential online threats.

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