Avoid losing digital assets to fake "Zircuit Airdrop" websites

What is the fake "Zircuit Airdrop"?

"Zircuit Airdrop" is a scam that we discovered on zircuit.web3-claims[.]click (could be hosted elsewhere). The scheme is presented as a cryptocurrency airdrop. However, this giveaway is fake, and regardless of any potential similarities – it is not associated with existing platforms or entities. This hoax "Zircuit Airdrop" operates as a cryptocurrency drainer.

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 "Zircuit Airdrop" overview

The scam on zircuit.web3-claims[.]click (keep in mind that it could be promoted on other domains) supposedly offers LRT (LandRocker) token staking and is running an airdrop. It must be stressed that this webpage is fake, and it is in no way associated with any existing platforms or entities.

As mentioned in the introduction, this scheme functions as a crypto drainer. It lures victims into linking their digital wallets – thus tricking them into signing a malicious contract. Essentially, digital assets are siphoned from exposed cryptowallets.

These automated transactions may appear innocuous, thereby remaining unnoticed for a significant amount of time. Some drainers can approximate the value of digital assets and prioritize their theft. The scope of the financial loss depends on the worth of the stolen assets.

It must be mentioned that cryptocurrency transactions cannot be reversed because of their nearly untraceable nature. Therefore, victims of scams like this fake "Zircuit Airdrop" cannot get their money back.

Threat Summary:

Name	"Zircuit Airdrop" crypto drainer
Threat Type	Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud, Cryptocurrency Drainer
Disguise	Cryptocurrency airdrop
Related Domains	zircuit.web3-claims[.]click, season2-zircuit[.]co
Detection Names	Combo Cleaner (Phishing), ESET (Phishing), Fortinet (Phishing), G-Data (Phishing), Netcraft (Malicious), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal)
Serving IP Address	104.21.50.222
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. ▼ Download Combo Cleaner 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.

Cryptocurrency drainer scam examples

We have written about countless crypto-centered schemes; "$MSTR Token Distribution", "Claim $TUK", "THETA Airdrop", and "Nesara Gesara Payout Claim" are merely a few of our latest articles on drainers.

Scams that target digital currency do so in one of three primary ways – using draining mechanisms to steal funds from compromised wallets, targeting wallet log-in credentials, and tricking users into manually transferring funds to scammer-owned wallets.

While online scams are often poorly constructed and riddled with errors, they can be competently made and even perfectly copy the design of legitimate sites. Therefore, we strongly advise caution when browsing and investing.

How did I open a scam website?

Cryptocurrency drainers are commonly promoted through malvertising, specifically – intrusive pop-up advertisements. Some of these pop-ups can execute draining scripts themselves; they entice users into "connecting" digital wallets by promising various benefits. Said ads may even be encountered on legitimate websites that had been compromised.

Social media spam is another prevalent technique in crypto-centered scam promotion. These posts and direct/private messages can be made using hacked accounts (i.e., ones originally belonging to real celebrities, influencers, projects, companies, etc.). If the scams align with the content ordinarily posted by the accounts – this creates an incredible impression of legitimacy.

Other endorsement methods are not unlikely. Aside from the aforementioned techniques, online schemes can be pushed via websites using rogue advertising networks, different types of spam (e.g., emails, SMSes, forum posts, browser notifications, etc.), mistyped URLs (typosquatting), and adware.

How to avoid visiting scam websites?

We recommend vigilance when browsing since the Internet is full of well-disguised fraudulent and malicious content. Therefore, always take note of URLs and type them attentively. Be wary of advertisements and other online content making promises that sound too good to be true.

Do not permit suspicious sites to deliver browser notifications; instead, ignore or deny these requests (i.e., press "Block", "Block Notifications", etc.). Do not use websites offering pirated software/media or other questionable services (i.e., Torrenting, illegal streaming service downloading, etc.), as these webpages typically utilize rogue advertising networks.

Approach incoming emails and other messages carefully; do not open attachments or links present in suspicious/irrelevant mail.

Download from official/verified sources and treat installations cautiously (e.g., read terms, study options, use "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opt out of supplementary apps, extensions, etc.) – to prevent bundled/harmful software (like adware) from infiltrating the device.

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 "Zircuit Airdrop" website (GIF):

Another example of Zircuit-themed drainer website (season2-zircuit[.]co):

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 "Zircuit Airdrop" 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?

Basically, online scams are deceptive messages promoted on the Internet that aim to trick users into performing specific actions. To elaborate, victims can be enticed into connecting digital wallets to cryptocurrency drainers, sending money to scammers, disclosing sensitive information, buying products, downloading/installing programs, subscribing to services, and so on.

What is the purpose of online scams?

Online scams are designed to generate revenue at victims' expense. Cyber criminals primarily profit by acquiring funds through deception, endorsing content (e.g., websites, software, products, services, etc.), selling/abusing vulnerable information, and proliferating malware.

I have lost digital assets to the "Zircuit Airdrop" scam, can I get my money back?

No, these transactions cannot be reversed due to their nearly untraceable nature. Therefore, victims of scams like this fake "Zircuit Airdrop" cannot retrieve the stolen assets.

Why do I encounter online scams?

The most prevalent promotional techniques include: spam (e.g., emails, SMSes, PMs/DMs, social media/ forum posts, browser notifications, etc.), typosquatting (mistyped URLs), sites using rogue advertising networks, intrusive advertisements (malvertising), adware.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from online scams?

Combo Cleaner is designed to detect and eliminate all kinds of threats. It is capable of scanning visited websites for deceptive/malicious content. Combo Cleaner can also restrict all further access to webpages hosting said content.

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