How to identify fake platforms like "Permaswap Staking"
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
What is the fake "Permaswap Staking" website?
We have reviewed this website (permaswap[.]org) and learned that it is a fraudulent copy of the real site (permaswap.network). The fake web page is intended to trick visitors into taking actions that could result in the theft of their cryptocurrency. Therefore, permaswap[.]org should be avoided.
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.
"Permaswap Staking" scam website in detail
Permaswap is a fully decentralized network where users control their own assets with private keys. Anyone can join and provide liquidity by running a program that follows the network's rules. The network's nodes handle pricing and orders in a distributed way, making it secure, scalable, and able to support millions of users.
The fake website (permaswap[.]org) has a very similar design and URL to trick visitors into believing they are on a legitimate platform. It is created to lure unsuspecting individuals into connecting their wallets on the page. Once a wallet is connected, a cryptocurrency drainer becomes active.
The purpose of this drainer is to extract cryptocurrency from victims' wallets by automatically sending them to the wallet controlled by the scammer behind permaswap[.]org. Once the funds are stolen, victims cannot recover them without the involvement of scammers, as these transactions are untreatable and irreversible.
Overall, falling victim to scams like this one can result in significant financial losses.
| Name | Fake Permaswap Staking website |
| Threat Type | Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud |
| Disguise | Legitimate Permaswap Network platform |
| Related Domain | permaswap[.]org |
| Detection Names (permaswap[.]org) | Emsisoft (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. |
Similar scams in general
Cryptocurrency drainer scams often entice victims by offering fake rewards, such as tokens, to encourage them to connect their wallets. The primary objective is to steal the victims' crypto assets. More examples of these scams include "SOMO Registration", "Seedify Regstration", and "Claim SatoshiDEX (SATX)".
How did I open a scam website?
Scams are often spread through links on fake or hacked social media accounts (e.g., X/Twitter or Facebook) or hijacked websites like WordPress. Users may also encounter scam sites by clicking on unreliable ads, pop-ups, buttons, and misleading links found on questionable sites.
Additionally, scammers use fraudulent emails containing links to trick users. In other cases, scam pages are encountered while visiting pages associated with rogue ad networks (these networks are often used by torrent, illegal streaming, adult, and similar pages).
How to avoid visiting scam pages?
Download software only from official or reputable sources, and regularly scan your computer for malware. Do not open links or attachments in unexpected, irrelevant, or similar emails or messages from unknown sources. Use trusted security software and keep your system and apps up to date.
Avoid interacting with ads or pop-ups on suspicious websites, and do not agree to receive notifications from them. Also, do not visit torrent and similar sites that could expose you to scams and other online 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 "Permaswap Staking" website (GIF):
The original web page (permaswap.network):
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:
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Quick menu:
- What is Fake Permaswap Staking 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?
These are sites that often use tricks like fake offers, too-good-to-be-true deals, or urgent messages about infections or account issues to pressure users into taking actions that benefit the scammers.
What is the purpose of a scam website?
Scam websites typically have the goal of stealing personal information, spreading malware, or scamming users out of money, including cryptocurrency.
Why do I encounter scam websites?
Scams often spread through links on fake social media accounts, compromised websites, or unreliable ads and pop-ups. Users may also encounter scam sites via fraudulent emails or rogue ad networks, commonly found on torrent, streaming, and adult sites.
Will Combo Cleaner protect me from scam websites?
Combo Cleaner scans websites for threats, detects malicious sites, and alerts users while blocking access to scam pages and other unreliable sites.
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