How to recognize fraudulent sites like the fake "$CRV Token Airdrop"

What is "$CRV Token Airdrop"?

During our analysis of the website (curve.web3-claims[.]click), we learned that it is a fraudulent site promoting a $CRV token airdrop. Scammers behind this scam site aim to trick individuals into believing that they can receive tokens for free. However, falling for this scam can result in a permanent loss of cryptocurrency holdings.

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 "$CRV Token Airdrop" in detail

The website (curve.web3-claims[.]click) promoting the $CRV token airdrop appears to be a fraudulent platform designed to lure users with the promise of free cryptocurrency tokens. It invites visitors to check their eligibility for a token distribution, which involves connecting their wallets.

Connecting a wallet on curve.web3-claims[.]click results in signing a malicious contract and activating a cryptocurrency drainer. This drainer steals cryptocurrency from an affected wallet by moving it directly to the scammer's wallet. Once these transfers occur, they are irreversible unless the scammer decides to return the stolen funds.

Therefore, interacting with sites like curve.web3-claims[.]click can lead to significant financial losses for victims. Users should thoroughly research any crypto platform before using it. Staying informed and alert is key to protecting their assets from scams.

Threat Summary:

Name	Fake $CRV Token Airdrop
Threat Type	Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud
Fake Claim	Participants can receive $CRV tokens for free
Disguise	Legitimate crypto airdrop/giveaway
Related Domain	curve.web3-claims[.]click
Detection Names	Combo Cleaner (Phishing), ESET (Phishing), Google Safebrowsing (Phishing), Sophos (Phishing), 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. ▼ 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.

Conclusion

Scammers often take advantage of the attraction of free cryptocurrency tokens through airdrops (giveaways), tempting users with promises of token distribution. These sites instill a sense of urgency, pushing users to make impulsive decisions. However, individuals who fall for such scams never receive any tokens or other benefits.

More examples of fake airdrops are "Join Injective Airdrop", "SONIC Airdrop", and "Fantom Airdrop".

How did I open a scam website?

Scam websites, like the one discussed in our article, are often promoted through hijacked WordPress websites or messages from hacked social media accounts, especially on platforms like X (formerly Twitter). Scammers also use fraudulent emails, misleading ads, deceptive pop-ups, and similar tools to promote their scams.

Moreover, sites that use questionable advertising networks, such as torrent sites or illegal streaming services, can direct users to scams. In other cases, cybercriminals can use adware to trick users into visiting unsafe websites.

How to avoid visiting scam pages?

Do not permit questionable websites to send notifications, and avoid clicking pop-ups, ads, and links on sites that seem unreliable. Always download software and files only from legitimate websites or official app stores. Avoid opening suspicious attachments or links in unexpected or irrelevant emails from unknown addresses.

Make sure to keep your operating system and applications up to date, use reliable security tools, and regularly scan your computer for 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 the fake "$CRV Token Airdrop" page (GIF):

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 Fake $CRV Token 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 fake aidrop?

A fake airdrop is a scam where scammers promise free cryptocurrency tokens or coins to users.

What is the purpose of a fake airdrop?

The purpose of a fake airdrop is primarily to deceive individuals into providing sensitive personal information or to steal funds (cryptocurrency).

Why do I encounter scam websites?

Scam sites are often propagated through fraudulent emails and compromised social media accounts, often on platforms like X (formerly Twitter). Scammers also utilize misleading advertisements, pop-ups, and similar content on unreliable websites to trick users. Additionally, sites associated with dubious advertising networks and adware can redirect users to untrustworthy websites.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me scams?

Combo Cleaner conducts scans to detect threats on websites, identify scam sites, and alert users to potential risks. It also blocks access to harmful or deceptive websites.

▼ Show Discussion