Avoid losing digital assets to fake "Uniswap ($UNI) Airdrop" websites
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
What is the fake "Uniswap ($UNI) Airdrop"?
This fake "Uniswap ($UNI) Airdrop" is presented as a giveaway on the Uniswap exchange (uniswap.org). The scam operates as a cryptocurrency drainer – by siphoning funds from exposed digital wallets. It must be emphasized that this scheme is in no way associated with the real Uniswap or any other existing projects, platforms, and entities.
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 $1 billion in crypto to scams – that's about one out of every four dollars reported lost, more than any other payment method.
Fake "Uniswap ($UNI) Airdrop" overview
Our researchers discovered this scam promoted on app.uniswapweb-launch[.]org, but it could be hosted on other domains as well. The scheme is disguised as the Uniswap decentralized exchange platform (uniswap.org). The fraudulent page endorses an airdrop of its native governance token (UNI) from a pool of ten million. It has to be reiterated that this airdrop is fake, and it is not associated with the actual Uniswap.
When a user attempts to check their eligibility for this bogus giveaway, they are prompted to connect their wallet. Thus, they are lured into signing a malicious contract that facilitates the cryptocurrency drainer. Essentially, funds are transferred from victims' cryptowallets to those in the scammers' position.
This activity may appear vague – thereby remaining unnoticed for a significant amount of time. Drainers can have the ability to roughly estimate the value of digital assets and target them first.
It must be mentioned that cryptocurrency transactions are irreversible due to their nearly untraceable nature. Therefore, victims of scams like this fake "Uniswap ($UNI) Airdrop" cannot recover their funds.
| Name | "Uniswap ($UNI) Airdrop" crypto drainer |
| Threat Type | Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud, Cryptocurrency Drainer |
| Disguise | Airdrop on Uniswap |
| Related Domains | app.uniswapweb-launch[.]org |
| Detection Names | N/A (VirusTotal) |
| Serving IP Address | 172.67.208.161 |
| 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. |
Cryptocurrency drainer scam examples
"$MSC Token Airdrop", "$EBULL Airdrop", and "Mantle Rewards Station" are merely a couple of our newest articles on drainers. Aside from using draining mechanisms, crypto-centered schemes either target wallet log-in credentials or deceive users into manually transferring assets to scammer-owned wallets.
While online scams are often poorly made and riddled with mistakes, they can be competently put together, and some even perfectly copy the design of genuine websites. Therefore, we highly recommend exercising caution when browsing and investing.
How did I open a scam website?
In general, online scams are promoted through websites that utilize rogue advertising networks, intrusive ads (malvertising), spam (e.g., emails, DMs/PMs, social media/ forum posts, SMSes, browser notifications, etc.), mistyped URLs (typosquatting), and adware.
It is noteworthy that crypto drainers are often endorsed via intrusive pop-up adverts. These pop-ups may be fully functional drainers themselves; they entice users into "connecting" digital wallets by promising various benefits. Advertisements of this kind have been encountered on legitimate sites that had been hacked.
Additionally, cryptocurrency-specific schemes are promoted through social media spam. Posts and direct/private messages pushing this content can be made using accounts stolen from real projects, companies, entrepreneurs, celebrities, influencers, and so on.
How to avoid visiting scam websites?
Vigilance is essential to online safety. Therefore, be wary of the ads and sites making promises that sound too good to be true. Pay attention to URLs and type them carefully. Do not enable dubious pages to deliver browser notifications; instead, ignore or deny such requests (i.e., press "Block", "Block Notifications", etc.).
Do not use websites offering pirated programs/media or other questionable services (e.g., Torrenting, illegal streaming/downloading, etc.), as these webpages typically use rogue advertising networks. Approach incoming emails and other messages with care; do not open attachments or links found in suspicious mail.
Download only from official/verified channels and treat installations with caution (e.g., read terms, study options, use "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opt out of additional apps, extensions, etc.) – to prevent bundled/harmful software (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 "Uniswap ($UNI) Airdrop" website (GIF):
Screenshot of the official Uniswap website (uniswap.org):
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is "Uniswap ($UNI) Airdrop" 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?
An online scam is a type of deceptive content promoted on the Web. It aims to trick users into performing specific actions, such as connecting digital wallets to crypto drainers, disclosing sensitive information, making monetary transactions, purchasing products, downloading/installing programs, subscribing to services, and so forth.
What is the purpose of online scams?
The purpose of online scams is to generate revenue at victims' expense. Cyber criminals primarily profit by acquiring funds through deception, promoting content (e.g., sites, software, products, services, etc.), abusing/selling private data, and distributing malware.
I have lost digital assets to the "Uniswap ($UNI) Airdrop" scam, can I get my money back?
No, cryptocurrency transactions cannot be reversed because of their practically untraceable nature. Therefore, victims of scams like this fake "Uniswap ($UNI) Airdrop" webpage cannot get their money back.
Why do I encounter online scams?
Widespread promotional techniques include: various types of spam (e.g., emails, social media posts, DMs/PMs, browser notifications, etc.), sites using rogue advertising networks, intrusive ads (malvertising), misspelled URLs (typosquatting), and adware.
Will Combo Cleaner protect me from online scams?
Yes, Combo Cleaner can scan visited websites for deceptive/malicious content. Should you happen upon such a page – you will be immediately warned, and further access to it will be restricted.
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