How to avoid scams like the fake "Ink Airdrop" platform

What is "Ink Airdrop" scam?

Our team has checked the site (inkairdrop.pages[.]dev) and determined that it is a scam website promoting a fake airdrop (cryptocurrency giveaway). It is created to trick users into believing that they can receive cryptocurrency for free. However, engaging in this scam can result in a significant financial loss.

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.

"Ink Airdrop" scam in detail

The scam website presents itself as a platform for decentralized finance (DeFi). It uses the slogan "Ink the future" and offers "Simplified DeFi for normies". It encourages visitors to participate in an airdrop, a common tactic used in scams to lure users with promises of free cryptocurrency.

The goal is to trick unsuspecting individuals into connecting their wallets. Once a wallet is connected, the site activates a cryptocurrency drainer. This drainer is designed to steal cryptocurrency by transferring the funds from the victim's wallet to the scammer's.

This process is quick and irreversible, leaving victims with no way to recover their stolen assets due to the irreversible nature of blockchain transactions. These transactions are permanent and do not allow refunds. As a result, it is crucial for users to be vigilant when interacting with unfamiliar platforms.

Users should verify the legitimacy of any website that requests access to their cryptocurrency wallets. Additionally, users should employ robust security practices, such as using hardware wallets, enabling two-factor authentication, and regularly monitoring their accounts for suspicious activity to protect their funds from potential threats.

Threat Summary:

Name	Fake Ink Airdrop
Threat Type	Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud
Fake Claim	Participants can receive cryptocurrency for free
Disguise	Legitimate crypto giveaway
Related Domain	inkairdrop.pages[.]dev
Detection Names	Kaspersky (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

These fraudulent platforms aim to exploit unsuspecting users by luring them into taking certain actions with enticing tactics, such as offers of free cryptocurrency or other rewards. Falling for these scams often results in the theft of cryptocurrency assets. It is essential for individuals to remain cautious and verify the authenticity of any platform before engaging with it.

Some examples of other fake platforms similar to the one we reviewed in our article are "$DOGE Airdrop", "Usual Airdrop", and "Coinbase Wallet X-Mas Registration".

How did I open a scam website?

Scammers often promote fraudulent cryptocurrency platforms through social media, such as fake or stolen Facebook or Twitter/X accounts, or by hijacking legitimate WordPress sites. Scam websites are also commonly spread via rogue advertising networks associated with torrent sites, illegal streaming platforms, and other questionable pages.

Adware is another tool scammers use to push users toward these fake sites. Additionally, users can be tricked into visiting these scam platforms through deceptive emails with links or attachments, misleading ads, pop-ups, or shady notifications from untrustworthy websites.

How to avoid visiting scam pages?

Be cautious when dealing with links and attachments in unsolicited emails from unfamiliar sources, especially if the message seems suspicious. Always download apps and files from official app stores or well-known, trusted websites, and avoid less reliable sources. Avoid engaging with pop-ups, ads, or any interactive elements on dubious websites.

Ensure your system and software are up to date, use reputable security software, and conduct regular scans to detect possible threats. Do not permit untrustworthy websites to send you notifications, and use reliable search engines like Google. 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 "Ink Airdrop" pop-up scam (GIF):

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Quick menu:

• What is Fake Ink 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?

It is a fraudulent scheme where scammers promise free cryptocurrency, tokens, or other goods in exchange for user participation.

What is the purpose of a fake crypto giveaway?

In most cases, scammers seek to steal cryptocurrency from victims or extract personal information that could be monetized.

Why do I encounter fake giveaways and other online scams?

Scammers promote scams through fake social media profiles, hijacked WordPress sites, and rogue ad networks often used by torrent and illegal streaming sites. They also use adware to redirect users to these scam sites and employ deceptive emails, ads, pop-ups, and notifications to trick people into visiting.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from scams?

Combo Cleaner scans all websites you visit, detecting malicious ones, including those designed to host scams. If you encounter such a site, you will receive an immediate warning, and access will be blocked to protect you.

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