How to avoid losing crypto through scams like "SONIC Airdrop"
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
What is the fake "SONIC Airdrop"?
We have analyzed this page (alrdrop-0xsonlciabs[.]com) and found that it offers individuals the opportunity to participate in a cryptocurrency giveaway. However, this giveaway and similar sites should not be trusted. It is just a lure designed to trick people into taking actions that may lead to 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.
Fake "SONIC Airdrop" overview
This scam page advertises a fake airdrop (crypto giveaway) for $S (SONIC) tokens. It claims that users can $S tokens worth up to $28,227,331 (the amount may vary). Simply put, the page is designed to trick visitors into thinking they can receive large amounts of cryptocurrency for free. It encourages users to connect their crypto wallets to steal funds.
Connecting a wallet on alrdrop-0xsonlciabs[.]com initiates the signing of a malicious contract. Once signed, a cryptocurrency drainer is triggered. This drainer steals funds by transferring them from the victim's wallet to the scammer's. These transfers cannot be undone unless the scammer voluntarily returns the stolen assets.
As a consequence, falling for scams like the one hosted on alrdrop-0xsonlciabs[.]com can result in permanent financial loss. Users should thoroughly assess cryptocurrency platforms before connecting their wallets, sending funds, or participating in other activities.
| Name | Fake SONIC Airdrop |
| Threat Type | Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud |
| Fake Claim | Participants can claim free tokens |
| Disguise | Legitimate SONIC ($S) token airdrop |
| Related Domain | alrdrop-0xsonlciabs[.]com |
| Detection Names | alphaMountain.ai (Suspicious), CyRadar (Spam), Fortinet (Spam), Seclookup (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. |
Similar scams in general
Cryptocurrency drainer scams typically trick people into connecting their wallets with promises of free cryptocurrency or rewards. However, victims end up receiving nothing. Instead, the scammers steal their cryptocurrency holdings. To avoid falling for these scams, users should thoroughly investigate any crypto platform before connecting their wallets or performing other steps.
More examples of similar scams are the fake "Fantom Airdrop", "$MPEPE PRESALE", and "Unichain Rewards" platforms.
How did I open a scam website?
Fraudulent pages like the one we reviewed in our article are often promoted through fraudulent emails or messages from hacked or fake social media accounts, particularly on platforms like X (formerly Twitter). Scammers also design misleading advertisements and use deceptive pop-ups or notifications from unreliable sites to entice users into visiting scam websites.
In addition, websites associated with shady advertising networks, such as those for torrenting or illegal streaming, can direct users to various scams. In other cases, fraudsters employ adware to promote their scam sites.
How to avoid visiting scam pages?
Avoid permitting questionable sites to send you notifications. Do not open attachments and links in unexpected emails, especially if they come from unfamiliar senders. Avoid interacting with pop-ups, ads, buttons, and links on dubious websites. Use official sites or app stores when downloading software and files.
It is also crucial to update your operating system and applications regularly. Additionally, use a dependable security tool and perform routine system scans. 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 "SONIC Airdrop" scam (GIF):
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Quick menu:
- What is Fake SONIC Airdrop?
- 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?
These scams can take various forms, including fraudulent investment schemes or misleading giveaways, often promising high returns or free tokens to attract victims.
What is the purpose of a crypto scam?
Scammers usually aim to steal victims' funds or personal information, resulting in financial loss or other problems for those they deceive.
Why do I encounter scam websites?
Scam pages may be accessed through misleading emails, messages from fake social media accounts, or rogue advertising networks commonly used by torrent or illegal streaming sites. Scammers also utilize deceptive ads, pop-ups, and notifications from unreliable sites, and unwanted apps to promote scams.
Will Combo Cleaner protect me scams?
Combo Cleaner scans websites for potential threats, identifies scam sites, and notifies users of any risks. It also prevents access to harmful and misleading websites.
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