How to avoid falling for scams like "SOMO Registration" scam

What is the fraudulent "SOMO Registration" site?

Our team has examined the website (registration-somogames[.]com) and found that it is a scam website posing as the real SOMO page (somo.xyz). We also found that the purpose of the fraudulent page is to steal cryptocurrency. Therefore, it is highly advisable to avoid this site and always verify the legitimacy of websites.

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.

"SOMO Registration" scam website in detail

SOMO is an online multiplayer auto battler RPG powered by web3 technology. Players can collect, battle, and evolve unique SOMO characters with distinct abilities. The game features an evolving world with creatures, artifacts, and dynamic gameplay. It allows players to own digital assets and influence the game's development.

The real SOMO website is somo.xyz. Scammers created a fake one (registration-somogames[.]com) to trick users into believing that they can register for the SOMO game through it. However, on the fraudulent page, users are asked to connect their wallets, which activates a cryptocurrency drainer.

A cryptocurrency drainer is a malicious tool that scammers use to steal cryptocurrency. This tool can automatically transfer cryptocurrency holdings from the victim's wallet to the scammer's. Simply put, it can drain crypto wallets. This can cause significant financial losses to victims.

Once funds are stolen, they are almost impossible to recover. This is because cryptocurrency transactions cannot be undone. So, it is important to be careful and not connect wallets on websites without being sure they are legitimate.

Threat Summary:

Name	Fake SOMO Registration website
Threat Type	Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud
Disguise	Legitimate SOHO website
Related Domain	registration-somogames[.]com
Detection Names (registration-somogames[.]com)	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.
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Conclusion

Most scams involving cryptocurrency drainers offer potential victims some benefits (e.g., tokens) to lure them into connecting their wallets. The goal is always the same - to stal cryptocurrency holdings from victims. Some examples of similar scams are the fake "Seedify Regstration", "Claim SatoshiDEX (SATX)", and "Aethir ($ATH) Allocation" websites.

How did I open a scam website?

It is common for scams like the one we reviewed in our article to be accessed through links posted using fake or stolen social media (e.g., X/Twitter or Facebook) accounts. Another common tactic involves using hijacked WordPress Sites. Users can also land on scam websites after clicking unreliable advertisements, pop-ups, notifications from shady websites, misleading links or buttons, etc.

Furthermore, ads displayed by adware can expose users to scam websites. Additionally, scammers can send fraudulent emails or messages via social media (e.g., stolen or fake accounts) to lure users. In other cases, these pages are accessed via websites associated with rogue advertising networks. It is common for these networks to be used by torrent sites, illegal movie streaming platforms, adult pages, etc.

How to avoid visiting scam pages?

Avoid opening links or files in emails and messages, particularly if they seem irrelevant, come unexpectedly, or are from unknown sources. Also, do not interact with ads and pop-ups on dubious websites, and avoid agreeing to receive notifications from such sites. Use reputable security software.

Ensure your operating system and applications are regularly updated. Only download programs from trustworthy sources, like official sites or app stores. Regularly scan your computer for unwanted software. Avoid visiting torrent sites, illegal streaming services, and similar websites.

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 "SOMO Registration" scam website (GIF):

The real SOMO website:

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Quick menu:

• What is Fake SOMO Registration website?
• 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 scam website?

It is a fraudulent webpage that tricks visitors by offering free products, rewards, services, or claiming that a computer is infected, among other deceptive content.

What is the purpose of a scam website?

As a rule, such websites aim to collect personal data, distribute malicious software, or steal money (including cryptocurrency).

Why do I encounter scam websites?

Scams are often accessed through fake social media accounts, hijacked websites, unreliable ads, pop-ups, or misleading links. Scammers may also use fraudulent emails, as well as rogue ad networks typically found on torrent sites, illegal streaming platforms, and adult sites.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from scam websites?

Combo Cleaner scans websites for potential threats, identifies malicious sites, and warns users while blocking access to scam pages.

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