Avoid getting scammed by fake "$MSTR Token Distribution" websites
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
What is the fake "$MSTR Token Distribution" website?
While browsing dubious websites, our researchers discovered this fake "$MSTR Token Distribution" page (claim-mstr2100[.]net; note that the scam could be hosted elsewhere). The scheme is supposedly distributing the Monsterra (MSTR) tokens.
This hoax giveaway functions as a cryptocurrency drainer. It steals digital assets from victims' cryptocurrency wallets by using a draining mechanism.
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 $1 billion in crypto to scams – that's about one out of every four dollars reported lost, more than any other payment method.
Fake "$MSTR Token Distribution" website overview
The scam claims to be distributing Monsterra (MSTR) from a pool of one million tokens. This giveaway event is time-limited, thus creating even greater urgency in users to try and participate. We found the scheme promoted on claim-mstr2100[.]net, yet it could be hosted on other domains.
Despite any potential visual similarities, this fake "$MSTR Token Distribution" is not associated with any existing platforms or entities.
When users connect their digital wallets to the fraudulent webpage, it executes scripts for a drainer. Basically, victims sign a malicious contract that facilitates the transfer of funds to scammer-owned wallets. This activity is automated, and the transactions might appear vague – so they may remain unnoticed for a long time. Drainers might also be able to approximate the value of digital assets and target them first.
It must be mentioned that due to the nearly untraceable nature of these transactions – they cannot be reversed. Hence, victims of scams like this fake "$MSTR Token Distribution" website cannot recover their funds.
Name | "$MSTR Token Distribution" crypto drainer |
Threat Type | Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud, Cryptocurrency Drainer |
Disguise | Monsterra (MSTR) token distribution event |
Related Domains | claim-mstr2100[.]net |
Detection Names (claim-mstr2100[.]net) | Ermes (Not Recommended), Fortinet (Spam), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal) |
Serving IP Address (claim-mstr2100[.]net) | 104.21.34.151 |
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
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Cryptocurrency-targeting scams typically operate in one and three ways – using draining mechanisms to siphon funds from exposed wallets, phishing for wallet log-in credentials, and deceiving users into manually transferring funds to scammer-owned wallets.
Victims' interest and trust are gained through a variety of lures, e.g., fake giveaways/airdrops, new coin/token promotions, presale events, account/wallet issues, suspicious activity detections, and so forth.
While online scams are often poorly made and full of mistakes, they can be competently crafted and even believably disguised as content associated with genuine entities. The latter is especially true of crypto-centered schemes, as some of them perfectly copy the design of legitimate websites.
How did I open a scam website?
In general, online scams are promoted through spam (e.g., emails, SMSes, PMs/DMs, social media/ forum posts, browser notifications, etc.), sites utilizing rogue advertising networks, intrusive ads (malvertising), mistyped URLs (typosquatting), and adware.
Crypto drainers are often endorsed via intrusive pop-up advertisements. Some are fully functional drainers themselves; they entice users into "connecting" digital wallets by promising various boons. It is pertinent to mention that these pop-ups have been hosted on genuine websites that had been hacked.
Additionally, cryptocurrency-specific schemes can be encountered on social media networks; we have found many instances of their promotion on the X platform (formerly Twitter). These spam posts and private/direct messages (PMs/DMs) can be made using accounts stolen from real entrepreneurs, celebrities, influencers, projects, companies, organizations, etc.).
How to avoid visiting scam websites?
Caution is paramount to online safety. Therefore, be wary of adverts and other online content making promises that sound too good to be true. Pay attention to URLs and type them carefully. Do not use websites offering pirated programs/media or other dubious services (e.g., Torrenting, illegal streaming/downloading, etc.), as these webpages are usually monetized via rogue advertising networks.
Do you not enable suspect pages to deliver browser notifications; instead, ignore or deny these requests (i.e., press "Block", "Block Notifications", etc.). Treat incoming emails and other messages with vigilance; do not open attachments or links present in suspicious/irrelevant mail.
Download only from official/trustworthy sources and approach installations with care (e.g., study terms and options, use "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opt out of additional apps, extensions, etc.) – to prevent bundled/hazardous 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.
Appearance of the fake "$MSTR Token Distribution" website (GIF):
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is "$MSTR Token Distribution" 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 Web that aims to deceive users into performing specific actions. For example, victims can be lured into connecting digital wallets to crypto drainers, making monetary transactions, providing sensitive information, purchasing products, subscribing to services, downloading/installing software, etc.
What is the purpose of online scams?
The purpose of online scams is to generate revenue for scammers. Profit can be made by obtaining funds through deception, promoting content (e.g., products, services, etc.), selling/abusing private data, and distributing malware.
I have lost digital assets to the "$MSTR Token Distribution" scam, can I get my money back?
Cryptocurrency transactions are irreversible due to their practically untraceable nature. Hence, victims of scams like this fake "$MSTR Token Distribution" website cannot retrieve the stolen assets.
Why do I encounter online scams?
Online scams are most commonly promoted via webpages using rogue advertising networks, spam (e.g., emails, DMs/PMs, social media posts, browser notifications, etc.), intrusive advertisements, misspelled URLs, and adware.
Will Combo Cleaner protect me from online scams?
Combo Cleaner can scan visited websites and detect rogue, deceptive/scam, and malicious pages. Therefore, should you happen upon such a webpage – you will be immediately warned, and further access to it will be blocked.
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