How to spot scams like the fake "SOON NFT Mint"

What is the fake "SOON NFT Mint" platform?

In our analysis of the site (airdrop.soonetwork[.]org), we uncovered that it is a deceptive web page masquerading as the official SOON (soo.network) platform. We also found that the purpose of the fake web page is to steal cryptocurrency from victims through a malicious tool. It is highly advisable not to visit sites like this one to avoid potential risks.

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.

"SOON NFT Mint" scam website in detail

SOON (soo.network) is a fast and scalable blockchain solution designed to help more people and businesses start using blockchain technology. It includes three main parts: the SOON Mainnet (the main blockchain), SOON Stack (tools for developers), and InterSOON (for connecting with other networks).

The fake website (airdrop.soonetwork[.]org) is designed to deceive visitors by promoting a fraudulent SOON NFT mint (it claims to offer exclusive NFTs through an airdrop or minting event). In reality, the site has no connection to the official SOON network and is a scam aimed at tricking users into connecting their cryptocurrency wallets.

Once a user connects their wallet, the scammers can drain their cryptocurrency assets through a cryptocurrency drainer. This drainer automatically transfers crypto holdings from the victim's wallet to the scammer's.

Cryptocurrency transactions are irreversible, so once funds are sent, they cannot be recovered. This makes scams particularly risky, as any loss is permanent. For this reason, it is crucial to be careful when connecting crypto wallets, providing personal information, or taking other actions while on unofficial websites.

Similar scams in general

Scams involving cryptocurrency drainers often appear as fake giveaways, promising free tokens or rewards to lure users in. Once users connect their wallets, the site’s hidden malicious code can execute transactions and steal funds. Always be skeptical of sites offering free crypto or other benefits to protect yourself and confirm their legitimacy.

Some examples of scams that use crypto drainers are "$PEPU Staking", "TGE Trading Carnival", and "WhiteRock ($WHITE) Proposal".

How did I open a scam website?

Cybercriminals often use fake profiles on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook to trick users into opening scam websites associated with crypto drainers. These scams are also spread through phishing emails and hijacked WordPress sites. Another common tactic involves using deceptive notifications from unreliable sites.

Users can also stumble upon scam pages while visiting sites connected to shady ad networks, including torrent services or illegal movie streaming pages, or clicking on misleading ads, pop-ups, links, buttons, etc., on questionable pages.

How to avoid visiting scam pages?

Avoid clicking sketchy ads, pop-ups, or suspicious links when browsing, and never approve notification requests from unfamiliar sites. Exercise caution with unsolicited emails, especially if they come from unknown senders or contain unexpected attachments or links. Download apps and programs only from reliable sources, such as verified app stores or official developer websites.

Keep your system and all installed software current by applying security updates as soon as they’re available. Also, regularly scan your device using a reputable antivirus solution. 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 "SOON NFT Mint" scam (GIF):

The official SOON website (soo.network):

Instant automatic malware removal:

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Quick menu:

• What is Fake SOON NFT Mint event?
• 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 scam website?

These are deceptive web pages that usually imitate legitimate platforms in order to mislead users into performing specific actions for the scammers' gain.

What is the purpose of a crypto scam?

Crypto-related scams are typically designed to steal cryptocurrency or harvest sensitive data like login credentials, secret phrases, private keys, etc. In most cases, fraudsters aim to steal cryptocurrency from victims.

Why do I encounter scam websites?

Cybercriminals use fake social media profiles, phishing emails, and hijacked websites to promote scam websites. They also rely on deceptive notifications and misleading ads or rogue advertising networks often found on shady sites like torrent or illegal streaming platforms to lure victims.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from scams?

Combo Cleaner scans websites visited by users, detecting harmful sites, including those hosting scams. It alerts users about potential threats and prevents access to unsafe pages.