How to identify fake "$AVAIL Vote Rewards" websites

What is the fake "$AVAIL Vote Rewards" website?

While investigating suspicious sites, our research team discovered this "$AVAIL Vote Rewards" scam. This fake website imitates the Avail network running an unspecified poll, takers of which will receive rewards.

It must be emphasized that this scam is not associated with the actual Avail network. "$AVAIL Vote Rewards" operates as a cryptocurrency drainer.

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 "$AVAIL Vote Rewards" website overview

We found this scam on asset-availfoundation[.]net, yet it could also be promoted on other domains. It masquerades as Avail (availproject.org) – a scalable network that allows cross-chain interaction. The fake webpage states that users who vote within 24 hours will receive a multiplier on their allocation as a reward (likely for the AVAIL tokens).

As mentioned in the introduction, this claim is false. It must be reiterated that the scam is not associated with the real Avail network or any other existing platforms and entities.

When a user clicks the "Vote Now" button, they are asked to connect their digital wallet. By doing so, they unintentionally sign a malicious contract that facilitates the cryptocurrency drainer. Basically, victims' funds are siphoned through automatic transactions going into the scammers' cryptowallets.

This activity may appear innocuous – hence, it can remain unnoticed for a significant amount of time. The scope of the financial loss depends on the value of the stolen assets, and some drainers can approximate it in order to prioritize those of the highest worth.

It must be mentioned that due to the nearly untraceable nature of cryptocurrency transactions – they cannot be reversed. Therefore, victims of scams like this fake "$AVAIL Vote Rewards" website cannot recover their funds.

Cryptocurrency drainer scam examples

We have written about countless online scams; "fake AMLBot website", "$VIRTUAL Airdrop", "$SUI Airdrop", and "$OBT Airdrop" are just some of our latest articles on drainers.

Crypto-specific scams typically operate in one of three ways – by using draining mechanisms to steal funds from exposed wallets, targeting wallet log-in credentials, and deceiving users into manually transferring funds to scammer-owned wallets.

While online scams are often poorly put together and riddled with mistakes, they can be competently crafted and even convincingly disguised as content associated with legitimate entities (e.g., companies, organizations, institutions, authorities, etc.).

How did I open a scam website?

The most commonly used promotional methods for pushing online scams include: sites that employ rogue advertising networks, spam (e.g., emails, PMs/DMs, SMSes, robocalls/ cold calls, social media/ forum posts, browser notifications, etc.), intrusive advertisements (malvertising), mistyped URLs (typosquatting), and adware.

Drainers are often promoted through intrusive pop-up ads. Some are fully functional drainers themselves; they entice users into "linking" digital wallets by promising unbelievable benefits. It is noteworthy that these pop-ups may be encountered on genuine websites that have been hacked.

Additionally, the use of social media spam is prevalent in crypto-centered scam promotion. Posts and private/direct messages endorsing this content can be made using accounts stolen from real projects, companies, entrepreneurs, celebrities, influences, etc.

How to avoid visiting scam websites?

We strongly advise caution when browsing. Be wary of sites, ads, and communications making promises that sound too good to be true. Take note of URLs and enter them carefully. Approach incoming mail with vigilance; do not open attachments or links found in suspicious emails/messages since they can be malicious.

Do not use websites offering pirated content or other dubious services (e.g., Torrenting, illegal streaming/downloading, etc.), as these webpages usually utilize rogue advertising networks. Do not enable suspect pages to deliver browser notifications; instead, ignore or block their requests.

Download only from official/verified channels and be attentive when installing (e.g., study terms and options, use "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opt out of supplementary apps, extensions, etc.) – to prevent bundled/hazardous software from infiltrating the device.

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 "$AVAIL Vote Rewards" website (GIF):

Screenshot of the official Avail website (availproject.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:

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.

Quick menu:

• What is "$AVAIL Vote Rewards" 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 hosted on the Web. Its purpose is to lure users into performing specific actions. For example, victims can be tricked into connecting digital wallets to crypto drainers, sending money to scammers, providing sensitive information, buying products, subscribing to services, downloading/installing programs, calling fake helplines, etc.

What is the purpose of online scams?

The purpose of online scams is to generate revenue for scammers. Profit can be made by acquiring funds through deception, endorsing content, abusing/selling private information, and proliferating malware.

I have lost digital assets to the "$AVAIL Vote Rewards" scam, can I get my money back?

No, these transactions cannot be reversed because of their practically untraceable nature. Hence, victims of scams like this fake "$AVAIL Vote Rewards" site cannot get their money back.

Why do I encounter online scams?

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

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from online scams?

Combo Cleaner is designed to scan visited websites for deceptive/malicious content. Should you happen upon a page hosting said content – you will be immediately warned, and further access to it will be denied.