Avoid losing your digital assets to fake "Claim Obol" websites
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
What is the fake "Claim Obol" website?
After inspecting this "Claim Obol" website (claim.obol[.]bet; other domains are not unlikely), we determined that it is fake. It imitates the official site of the Obol Collective (obol.org), yet it is in no way associated with this platform. The imitator page promotes a cryptocurrency drainer that 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 "Claim Obol" website overview
This fake site masquerades as Obol Collective (obol.org) – a decentralized operator ecosystem. We found this scam on claim.obol[.]bet, but keep in mind that it could also be hosted on other domains. The fraudulent page states that eligible users can claim OBOL tokens.
It must be reiterated that this webpage is fake and not associated with the actual Obol Collective or any other existing projects, platforms, and entities.
Once a user connects their digital wallet through the scam site – they inadvertently expose it to a crypto drainer. Essentially, scripts are executed that facilitate the draining of funds from victims' wallets. These outgoing transactions are automated and may appear vague – thus, they can remain unnoticed for a significant amount of time. Drainers may also be capable of roughly estimating the value of digital assets and prioritizing their theft.
It must be mentioned that due to the nearly untraceable nature of cryptocurrency transactions – they cannot be reversed. Hence, victims of scams like this fake "Claim Obol" website cannot recover their assets.
Name | "Claim Obol" crypto drainer |
Threat Type | Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud, Cryptocurrency Drainer |
Fake Claim | Eligible users can claim OBOL tokens. |
Disguise | Obol Collective |
Related Domains | claim.obol[.]bet |
Detection Names (claim.obol[.]bet) | N/A (VirusTotal) |
Serving IP Address (claim.obol[.]bet) | 172.67.206.10 |
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
We have examined thousands of online scams; "Jupiverse Wallet Connection", "DApp Rectification", "HyperLiquid Wallet Connection", and "Melania Trump Meme Coin" are just a few of our newest articles on drainers.
There are three primary ways in which cryptocurrency-targeting schemes operate – by using draining mechanisms to siphon funds from wallets, phishing for wallet log-in credentials, and tricking users into manually transferring assets to scammer-owned wallets.
Prevalent lures for these scams include claims concerning new coins/token promotions, airdrops/giveaways, pre-sale events, accounts/wallet issues, and so forth.
Due to how widespread deceptive and malicious content is on the Internet – we highly recommend exercising caution when browsing and investing.
How did I open a scam website?
Crypto drainers are often promoted through malvertising, specifically – intrusive pop-up ads. Some of these pop-ups are capable of executing draining scripts themselves; they entice users into "connecting" digital wallets by promising various boons. Advertisements of this kind have even been encountered on genuine websites that had been compromised.
Additionally, cryptocurrency-specific schemes are pushed via social media spam. Promotional posts and direct/private messages can be made using accounts stolen from real projects, companies, entrepreneurs, influencers, etc.
However, other endorsement techniques are not unlikely. In general, online scams are promoted via different types of spam (e.g., emails, SMSes, browser notifications, forum posts, etc.), webpages that use rogue advertising networks, typosquatting (mistyped URLs), and adware.
How to avoid visiting scam websites?
Vigilance is key to ensuring your online safety. Therefore, be wary of websites, advertisements, and messages making promises that sound too good to be true. Take note of URLs and enter them carefully.
Do not use sites offering pirated programs/media or other dubious services (e.g., illegal streaming/downloading, Torrenting, etc.), as these webpages are usually monetized through rogue advertising networks.
Approach incoming emails and other messages with caution; do not open attachments or links found in suspect/irrelevant mail. Do not allow questionable pages to deliver browser notifications; instead, ignore or deny their requests (i.e., press "Block", "Block Notifications", etc.).
Download from official/verified sources and be attentive when installing content (e.g., study terms and options, use "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opt out of supplementary apps, extensions, etc.) – to prevent bundled/dangerous 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 "Claim Obol" website (GIF):
Screenshot of the official Obol Collective website (obol.org):
Instant automatic malware removal:
Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
▼ 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 "Claim Obol" 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?
Basically, online scams are a type of content hosted on the Web. It aims to trick users into performing specific actions, e.g., connecting cryptowallets to drainers, sending money to scammers, disclosing private information, purchasing products, downloading/installing programs, subscribing to services, etc.
What is the purpose of online scams?
Online scams are designed to generate revenue at victims' expense. Cyber criminals predominantly profit by acquiring funds through deception, promoting content (e.g., sites, products, services, etc.), selling/abusing sensitive data, and distributing malware.
I have lost digital assets to the "Claim Obol" scam, can I get my money back?
Cryptocurrency transactions are irreversible due to their nearly untraceable nature. Hence, victims of scams like this fake "Claim Obol" site cannot retrieve their funds.
Why do I encounter online scams?
Online scams are primarily endorsed via websites using rogue advertising networks, intrusive ads (malvertising), spam (e.g., social media/ forum posts, DMs/PMs, emails, SMSes, browser notifications, etc.), misspelled URLs (typosquatting), and adware.
Will Combo Cleaner protect me from online scams?
Combo Cleaner can scan visited websites and detect rogue, scam, and malicious pages. Therefore, should you happen upon such a site – you will be immediately warned, and further access to it will be restricted.
▼ Show Discussion