How to recognize scams like the fake "$STAKE Token Airdrop"

What is "$STAKE Token Airdrop"?

We have examined the page (stake-giveaways.pages[.]dev) and discovered that it promotes a fake $STAKE token giveaway. In order to deceive users, this site poses as the real one, stake.com, and has a very similar design. The purpose of the fake web page is to steal cryptocurrency from unsuspecting individuals. Thus, it 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.

"$STAKE Token Airdrop" scam website overview

Stake (stake.com) is an online casino that offers a wide range of traditional casino games, sports betting, and live dealer options, with users typically transacting in cryptocurrencies. The fake website (stake-giveaways.pages[.]dev) looks pretty similar and offers individuals an opportunity to participate in a $STAKE token airdrop (cryptocurrency giveaway).

On the deceptive page, users are requested to connect their wallets to participants in an airdrop. However, doing so activates a cryptocurrency drainer. This malicious tool drains a wallet by automatically transferring funds from the victim's wallet to the scammer's. Simply put, the drainer steals cryptocurrency from victims.

Recovering stolen cryptocurrency is extremely difficult because crypto transactions are irreversible. Once the funds are taken, they are essentially lost, making it crucial to exercise caution when using platforms that ask to connect wallets. Users should always ensure the legitimacy of such platforms before engaging.

Threat Summary:

Name	Fake $STAKE token airdrop
Threat Type	Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud
Disguise	Legitimate Stake website
Related Domain	stake-giveaways.pages[.]dev
Detection Names (stake-giveaways.pages[.]dev)	Trustwave (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.
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Online scams in general

These scam pages are designed to appear trustworthy, often by mimicking the original sites, to trick users. Victims who fall for scams involving cryptocurrency drainers usually face significant financial loss. Therefore, it is crucial to thoroughly inspect websites before entering any personal details, connecting wallets, or engaging in other ways.

Examples of similar scams are the deceptive "$PAW Token Exchange", "LINGO Airdrop", and "Trust Wallet Airdrop" websites.

How did I open a scam website?

Scammers often use fake or stolen Twitter/X or Facebook accounts or hijacked WordPress pages to trick users into opening websites with cryptocurrency drainers hidden in them. Misleading advertisements, pop-ups, buttons, and links on shady sites are also used to promote scams.

Furthermore, users can land on scam sites through links in fraudulent emails, advertisements generated by adware, and websites that use rogue advertising networks (e.g., torrent sites, illegal movie streaming pages, adult sites).

How to avoid visiting scam pages?

Avoid clicking links or opening attachments in irrelevant, unexpected, or similar emails and messages. Do not click ads or pop-ups on suspicious websites, and avoid allowing such sites to display notifications. Only download software from official pages (or app stores) and regularly scan your device for threats.

Use a reliable security tool and do not visit questionable pages, especially those hosting pirated software, cracking tools, or other illegal content. 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 "$STAKE Token Airdrop" scam website (GIF):

The original website (stake.com):

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Quick menu:

• What is Fake $STAKE 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 airdrop?

A fake airdrop is a scam where attackers promise free cryptocurrency tokens.

What is the purpose of a fake airdrop?

Fake airdrops are used to steal personal information (e.g., seed phrases) and/or cryptocurrency from users.

Why do I encounter scam websites?

Scams are frequently propagated through hacked websites, fake social media profiles, or harmful ad networks, which are often linked to torrent, streaming, adult, and other questionable platforms. Misleading ads, pop-ups, suspicious links in emails, and adware are examples or other tactics used to deceive users into visiting scam websites.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from scams sites?

Combo Cleaner can scan every website you visit, detecting malicious sites. This includes scam websites. Thus, you will be immediately warned and blocked from accessing them.

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