How to spot fake websites like the fraudulent Maestro page

What is the fake "Maestro" platform?

Our team has analysed the website (maestrobots.pages[.]dev) and discovered that it is a fake website, a copy of maestrobots.com. This deceptive web page is created to lure unsuspecting individuals into taking actions that could result in the theft of their cryptocurrency. Therefore, maestrobots.pages[.]dev should not be trusted.

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.

"Maestro" fake website in detail

Maestro (maestrobots.com) is a Telegram trading bot for DeFi that helps users trade and snipe digital assets quickly and easily. It works across popular blockchains like Ethereum, Binance Smart Chain, Solana, and more. With its advanced tools, Maestro makes it simple for users to manage and make the most of their digital trades across different platforms.

Scammers behind the fraudulent page (maestrobots.pages[.]dev) have used a virtually identical website design to deceive visitors into believing they are on the official site. Their ultimate goal is to lure individuals into connecting their wallets on a fake website. This action activates a cryptocurrency drainer.

This malicious tool allows scammers to steal cryptocurrency from victims. It automatically transfers cryptocurrency from the victims' wallet to the scammers'. Stolen cryptocurrency funds are almost impossible to recover because crypto transactions are irreversible. Once funds are taken by scammers, they cannot be retrieved.

Threat Summary:

Name	Fake Maestro website
Threat Type	Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud
Disguise	Legitimate Maestro website
Related Domain	maestrobots.pages[.]dev
Detection Names	G-Data (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.

Similar scams in general

Typically, web pages hosting these scams are designed to appear legitimate and often have similar domains. Scammers use various ways to trick users into opening fraudulent pages. Falling for scams involving cryptocurrency drainers can lead to significant financial losses. Thus, it is important to examine websites before providing information, connecting wallets, and taking other actions.

Examples of similar scams are the fake "WOOFi Wallet Connection", "Seedify Regstration", and "Permaswap Staking" platforms.

How did I open a scam website?

Crypto scams are often promoted through hijacked WordPress sites or fake social media accounts, including hacked profiles on X/Twitter, Facebook, and similar platforms. Scam sites can also be opened while visiting pages associated with rogue ad networks (like torrent sites, illegal streaming services, and adult sites).

Furthermore, users may end up on scam pages by clicking on unreliable ads, pop-ups, misleading buttons, or suspicious links found on unreliable websites. Fraudulent links sent via email are another common route to these scams. Additionally, adware is sometimes used to direct users to deceptive pages.

How to avoid visiting scam pages?

Download software only from reputable sources (official pages and app stores). Regularly scan your computer for malware and other threats. Be cautious with links or attachments in irrelevant, unexpected, and similar emails. Keep your system and applications up to date and use reputable security software.

Avoid interacting with ads or pop-ups on questionable websites, and do not agree to receive notifications from them. It is also best to avoid torrent sites and similar risky pages. 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 a fake "Maestro" website (GIF):

The original page (maestrobots.com):

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 Maestro 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?

A scam website is a fraudulent site designed to deceive users. These pages can appear legitimate but are created to trick individuals into taking actions that could result in monetary loss, identity theft, and other issues.

What is the purpose of a scam website?

Scammers use web pages of this kind to steal money (including cryptocurrency), sensitive information (e.g., credit card details or passwords), or distribute malicious software.

Why do I encounter scam websites?

Scams are often promoted through hijacked sites, fake social media accounts, or rogue ad networks (often used by torrent, streaming, adult, and similar sites). Users may also land on scam pages by clicking on unreliable ads, pop-ups, or suspicious links, including those in fraudulent emails. Adware can also direct users to fraudulent sites.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from scam websites?

Combo Cleaner scans websites for threats, detects malicious sites, and notifies users about them. It also blocks access to scam sites and other risky pages.

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