Avoid losing digital assets to fake "NodePay Claims" websites

What is the fake "NodePay Claims" website?

During a routine investigative session, our researchers discovered this fake "NodePay Claims" webpage (event-nodepay[.]site; possibly other domains). This scam impersonates Nodepay's official website, yet it is in no way associated with it. The scheme operates as a cryptocurrency drainer and steals funds from exposed digital wallets.

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 "NodePay Claims" website overview

We discovered this scam on event-nodepay[.]site, but it could also be hosted on other domains. It imitates the site of the NodePay browser extension (nodepay.ai) that allows users to share their idle Internet bandwidth and anonymized data in order to contribute to AI (Artificial Intelligence) training.

It must be emphasized that this fake page is not associated with the actual Nodepay or any other existing projects, platforms, and entities.

After a user tries to apply for early access on the fraudulent webpage, they are prompted to connect their digital wallet. Doing so triggers the crypto drainer. Essentially, a malicious contract is signed that facilitates automated transfers from victims' wallets to those in the scammers' possession.

Some drainers can approximate the value of digital assets and prioritize their theft. This activity may appear vague, thus it can remain unnoticed for a long time.

Furthermore, due to the nearly untraceable nature of cryptocurrency transactions – they cannot be reversed. Therefore, victims of scams like this fake "NodePay Claims" website cannot get their funds back.

Threat Summary:

Name	"NodePay Claims" crypto drainer
Threat Type	Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud, Cryptocurrency Drainer
Disguise	Nodepay
Related Domains	event-nodepay[.]site
Detection Names (event-nodepay[.]site)	G-Data (Phishing), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal)
Serving IP Address (event-nodepay[.]site)	104.21.84.209
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. ▼ 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.

Cryptocurrency drainer scam examples

"Claim Strategic Bitcoin Reserve", "Claim 3D NFT", "MAV Token Eligibility Check", and "Uniswap ($UNI) Airdrop" are just a few of our newest articles on cryptocurrency drainers.

Crypto-specific schemes operate in one of three primary ways – using draining mechanisms to steal assets from exposed wallets, targeting wallet log-in credentials, and transferring funds to scammer-owned wallets.

While online scams differ in appearance and utilized mechanisms, their end goal is the same – to generate revenue at victims' expense. Due to how prevalent scams are on the Web and how well-made they can be – we strongly recommend vigilance when browsing and investing.

How did I open a scam website?

Online scams are primarily endorsed via malvertising (intrusive ads), websites using rogue advertising networks, spam (e.g., emails, PMs/DMs, SMSes, browser notifications, social media/ forum posts, etc.), typosquatting (mistyped URLs), and adware.

Crypto drainers are often promoted through intrusive pop-up advertisements. Some of these pop-ups are fully functional drainers themselves; they entice users into "linking" cryptowallets by promising various benefits. It is pertinent to mention that ads of this kind have been encountered on legitimate sites that had been compromised.

Additionally, crypto-centered schemes are endorsed via social media spam. Promotional posts and private/direct messages can be made using hacked accounts (i.e., ones originally belonging to real celebrities, influencers, projects, companies, organizations, etc.).

How to avoid visiting scam websites?

Caution is key to ensuring online safety. Therefore, always pay attention to URLs and enter them carefully. Be wary of adverts and webpages making promises that sound too good to be true. Do not permit dubious sites to deliver browser notifications; instead, ignore or deny their requests (i.e., click "Block", "Block Notifications", etc.).

Do not use websites offering pirated content or other questionable services (e.g., Torrenting, illegal streaming/downloading, etc.), as these webpages are usually monetized through rogue advertising networks. Approach incoming emails and other messages with vigilance; do not open attachments/links found in suspect/irrelevant mail.

Download only from official/verified channels and treat installations with care (e.g., study terms and options, use "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opt out of additional apps, extensions, etc.) – to prevent bundled/hazardous 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 "NodePay Claims" website (GIF):

Screenshot of the official Nodepay website (nodepay.ai):

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▼ 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 "NodePay Claims" 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 content hosted on the Internet that aims to deceive users into connecting digital wallets to crypto drainers, making monetary transactions, providing sensitive information, purchasing products, downloading/installing programs, subscribing to services, etc.

What is the purpose of online scams?

Online scams are designed to generate revenue for scammers. Profit can be made by acquiring funds through deception, promoting websites/software, selling/abusing private information, and spreading malware.

I have lost digital assets to the "NodePay Claims" scam, can I get my money back?

Cryptocurrency transactions cannot be reversed because of their practically untraceable nature. Hence, victims of scams like this fake "NodePay Claims" webpage cannot recover the stolen assets.

Why do I encounter online scams?

Online scams are mainly promoted via sites using rogue advertising networks, spam (e.g., PMs/DMs, social media/ forum posts, emails, browser notifications, etc.), malvertising, typosquatting, and adware.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from online scams?

Combo Cleaner can scan every website that you visit for deceptive and malicious content. Therefore, should you happen upon such a site – you will be immediately warned, and further access to it will be blocked.

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