Avoid losing digital assets to fake "SquidGrow Migration Claim" sites

What is the fake "SquidGrow Migration Claim" website?

While browsing suspicious websites, our researchers discovered this "SquidGrow Migration Claim" scam endorsed on squidgrow-claim.pages[.]dev (note that it could be hosted elsewhere). This fake page imitates the SquidGrow platform (squidgrow.wtf) and functions 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 "SquidGrow Migration Claim" website overview

This scam masquerades as the SquidGrow platform (squidgrow.wtf) stating that users can claim their new SquidGrow meme-tokens. It must be stressed that this scheme is in no way associated with the actual SquidGrow.

When users attempt to claim the tokens offered by the fake site – they are prompted to connect their digital wallets. Doing so signs a malicious contract that facilitates the cryptocurrency drainer. Essentially, victims' funds are transferred from their wallets to those in the scammers' possession.

These transactions can appear vague – thereby remaining unnoticed for a long time. Drainers may be able to roughly estimate the value of digital assets and prioritize their theft.

It must be mentioned that due to the practically untraceable nature of these transactions – they cannot be reversed. Therefore, victims of scams like "SquidGrow Migration Claim" website cannot recover the stolen assets.

Threat Summary:

Name	"SquidGrow Migration Claim" crypto drainer
Threat Type	Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud, Cryptocurrency Drainer
Fake Claim	Users can claim their new SquidGrow tokens.
Disguise	SquidGrow platform
Related Domains	squidgrow-claim.pages[.]dev
Detection Names	Emsisoft (Phishing), Fortinet (Phishing), G-Data (Phishing), Kaspersky (Phishing), Netcraft (Malicious), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal)
Serving IP Address	172.66.44.216
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 numerous online scams; "SWELL Airdrop", "Coinbase ($COIN) Airdrop", "$CRV Token Airdrop", and "Join Injective Airdrop" are just some of our newest articles on cryptocurrency drainers.

Usually, crypto-centered schemes operate in one of three ways – draining funds from compromised wallets, targeting wallet log-in credentials, and tricking victims into manually transferring funds to scammer-owned wallets.

While online scams are often poorly put together and riddled with errors, they can be competently crafted, and some even perfectly copy the design of legitimate websites. Therefore, we strongly advise vigilance when browsing and investing.

How did I open a scam website?

Cryptocurrency drainers are commonly promoted through malvertising, specifically – intrusive pop-up ads. Some can execute draining scripts themselves; they lure users into connecting digital wallets by promising various benefits. It is pertinent to mention that these adverts have been encountered on genuine sites that had been compromised.

Additionally, crypto-specific scams are endorsed via social media spam. These posts and direct/private messages can be made using accounts stolen from real projects, companies, organizations, celebrities, influencers, and so on.

Other promotional techniques are not unlikely. In addition to the aforementioned methods, online schemes are promoted via webpages using rogue advertising networks, spam (e.g., emails, SMSes, browser notifications, forum posts, etc.), typosquatting (mistyped URLs), and adware.

How to avoid visiting scam websites?

Ensuring online safety necessitates vigilance. Therefore, be wary of advertisements and websites making promises that sound too good to be true. Pay attention to URLs and type them carefully. Do not permit suspect pages to deliver browser notifications; instead, ignore or deny these requests (i.e., click "Block", "Block Notifications", etc.).

Do not use sites offering pirated software/media or other questionable services (e.g., illegal streaming/downloading, Torrenting, etc.), as these webpages are usually monetized via rogue advertising networks. Exercise caution with incoming emails and other messages; do not open attachments or links found in dubious/irrelevant mail.

Download only from official/verified sources and approach installations with care (e.g., read terms, study options, use "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opt out of supplementary apps, extensions, etc.) – to prevent bundled/dangerous programs (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 "SquidGrow Migration Claim" website (GIF):

Screenshot of the official SquidGrow website (squidgrow.wtf):

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 "SquidGrow Migration Claim" 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 content designed to deceive users into performing specific actions. For example, victims can be enticed into connecting digital wallets to cryptocurrency drainers, sending money to scammers, disclosing sensitive information, buying products, subscribing to services, downloading/installing programs, and so forth.

What is the purpose of online scams?

Online scams are intended to generate revenue at victims' expense. Cyber criminals may profit by obtaining funds through deception, promoting content (e.g., websites, products, services, etc.), selling/abusing private information, and spreading malware.

I have lost digital assets to the "SquidGrow Migration Claim" scam, can I get my money back?

Cryptocurrency transactions are irreversible due to their practically untraceable nature. Hence, victims of scams like this fake "SquidGrow Migration Claim" website cannot recover their funds.

Why do I encounter online scams?

Online scams are primarily endorsed via spam (e.g., DMs/PMs, social media/ forum posts, emails, SMSes, browser notifications, etc.), sites using rogue advertising networks, malvertising (intrusive advertisements), typosquatting (misspelled URLs), and adware.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from online scams?

Combo Cleaner can scan visited webpages and detect rogue, deceptive, and malicious ones. Therefore, should you happen upon such a website – you will be immediately warned, and further access to it will be blocked.

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