How to avoid scams like "Coinbase Wallet X-Mas Registration"
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
What is "Coinbase Wallet X-Mas Registration"?
We have inspected the page (alpha-coinbase[.]com) and found that it is a fraudulent site imitating coinbase.com. This deceptive page aims to trick individuals into taking actions that could lead to the theft of their cryptocurrency. Recognizing scam sites like alpha-coinbase[.]com is important to avoid potential consequences.
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.
"Coinbase Wallet X-Mas Registration" in detail
Coinbase.com (Coinbase) is a legitimate online platform allowing users to buy, sell, and store cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, etc. The fake page attempts to impersonate Coinbase by promoting a bogus "Coinbase Wallet X-Mas event". It creates a sense of urgency by claiming that only those who register within the next 24 hours will be eligible.
The page encourages users to "Register Now". Clicking this button leads to requests to connect a wallet. This action results in activating a cryptocurrency drainer. This drainer is designed to transfer cryptocurrency holdings from the victim's wallet to the scammer's. Simply put, it can drain the victim's wallet.
It is important to note that fraudulent cryptocurrency transactions cannot be undone. Once funds are sent, they are gone forever unless the scammer chooses to return them, which is very unlikely. This highlights the importance of being cautious when connecting wallets, sharing personal details, or making transactions.
Users should always verify the authenticity of platforms and offers before proceeding.
| Name | Fake Coinbase Wallet X-Mas Registration platform |
| Threat Type | Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud |
| Fake Claim | Only those who register in the next 24 hours are eligible. |
| Disguise | Legitimate Coinbase platform |
| Related Domain | alpha-coinbase[.]com |
| Detection Names | 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. |
| 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
Fraudulent websites using crypto drainers often mimic legitimate platforms to trick users into connecting their wallets or taking other actions by offering free tokens or other benefits. Their primary objective is to steal cryptocurrency from unsuspecting victims. Examples of similar scams are "CLAIM YOUR $PENGU ALLOCATION", "SyncAI Wallet Connection", and "Astherus Airdrop".
Recognizing these fake sites and taking appropriate precautions is crucial to protect yourself from falling for such scams.
How did I open a scam website?
It is common for fake platforms that involve cryptocurrency drainers to be promoted using fake social media profiles (e.g., fake Facebook or Twitter/X accounts) or hijacked WordPress web pages. Scammers also spread their schemes using rogue advertising networks commonly linked to torrent sites, illegal streaming platforms, and similar pages.
They can also use adware. In most cases, users are tricked into visiting these scam sites rather than accessing them intentionally. Moreover, scams can be unintentionally accessed via deceptive emails with links or attachments, misleading ads, pop-ups, links on untrustworthy websites, and shady notifications from dubious websites.
How to avoid visiting scam pages?
Exercise caution with links and attachments in unsolicited emails from unknown senders, and avoid opening them if the email appears suspicious. Refrain from interacting with pop-ups, ads, buttons, or similar elements on questionable websites. Only download apps or files from official app stores or reputable websites, and steer clear of other sources.
Do not allow shady websites to send you notifications. Keep your operating system and software up to date, install reliable security software, and perform regular scans to detect potential threats. Additionally, use trusted search engines to minimize exposure to unsafe 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 "Coinbase Wallet X-Mas Registration" scam website (GIF):
The official Coinbase website (coinbase.com):
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is Fake Coinbase Wallet X-Mas Registration platform?
- 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 crypto-related scam?
A crypto scam can involve a fake investment opportunity, fraudulent ICO (Initial Coin Offering), or another deceptive platform that promises high returns, rewards, or other benefits to potential victims as a lure.
What is the purpose of a crypto scam?
A crypto-related scam usually aims to deceive individuals into giving up their cryptocurrency or personal information (e.g., log-in details for crypto wallets).
Why do I encounter scam web pages?
Typically, users are lured into opening such web pages. Scam sites are often promoted through fake social media profiles, hijacked WordPress pages, or rogue ad networks linked to torrent sites and illegal streaming platforms. Scammers also use adware, deceptive emails, ads, pop-ups, and shady notifications.
Will Combo Cleaner protect me from scams?
Combo Cleaner is designed to scan all websites you visit and can detect malicious ones. This includes sites that host various cams, which will be flagged immediately, and access to them will be blocked.
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