How to identify scams like the fake Claim Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC) site

What is the fake "Claim Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC)" website?

We have inspected the website (ipfs.interface[.]social) and found that it mimics the original/official Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC) website. The fake site offers individuals to claim WBTC rewards as a lure. Its purpose is to trick unsuspecting users into taking actions that can lead to significant financial losses.

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.

"Claim Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC)" fake site in detail

Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC) is a version of Bitcoin designed to work on the Ethereum blockchain. It takes Bitcoin and wraps it into an ERC-20 token, which makes it compatible with Ethereum-based apps like decentralized exchanges (DEXs) and DeFi platforms. The official Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC) website is wbtc.network.

Fraudsters created a fake website (ipfs.interface[.]social) to trick visitors into believing they can claim WBTC rewards through it. This site instructs individuals to connect their wallets to "claim" the supposed rewards. However, doing so activates a cryptocurrency drainer.

This drainer is a malicious tool that automatically transfers cryptocurrency from the victim's wallet to the scammer's. Once a cryptocurrency transaction is completed, it cannot be undone—there is no way to reverse or retrieve the funds. This makes falling for scams especially dangerous, as any stolen assets are lost for good.

It is highly advisable to always check if the site is official and can be trusted before connecting a wallet, entering personal information, or taking other actions to avoid monetary loss and other problems.

Similar scams in general

Fake websites such as ipfs.interface[.]social are designed to deceive users and steal their assets through malicious tools like crypto drainers. Because crypto transactions are permanent and irreversible, falling for such scams often results in unrecoverable losses. It is important to be careful when visiting crypto-related sites to avoid potnetial monetary losses.

Some examples of deceptive platforms like the fake Claim Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC) page are "SOON NFT Mint", "$PEPU Staking", and "TGE Trading Carnival".

How did I open a scam website?

Scammers often use fake accounts on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook to direct users to fraudulent websites that use crypto-draining tools. These scams can also spread through phishing emails or hacked WordPress sites. Additionally, users can stumble upon scam sites through shady ad networks, commonly found on torrent sites or illegal streaming platforms.

In other cases, notifications from untrustworthy websites and misleading ads, pop-ups, links, or buttons on shady websites can lead users to scam pages.

How to avoid visiting scam pages?

Exercise caution with unexpected emails or messages on social media, especially those from unfamiliar senders or containing links and attachments you were not expecting. While browsing, avoid clicking on ads, pop-ups, or links encountered on shady sites, and avoid accepting notification requests from sites of this kind.

Only download applications and software from reputable sources, such as official developer websites or verified app stores. Install updates regularly to keep your system and programs secure. It is also important to run routine scans with trusted antivirus software. 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 "Claim Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC)" scam website (GIF):

The official Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC) website (wbtc.network):

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 Fake Claim Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC) 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 scam website?

Pretty often, it is a deceptive website that imitates a legitimate platform/website crafted to deceive users into performing actions that serve the scammers' interests.

What is the purpose of a crypto scam?

Crypto-related scams are typically designed to steal digital assets or gather sensitive data, such as login credentials, recovery phrases, or private keys. The main objective of these scams is often to gain unauthorized access to the victim's wallet and steal their funds.

Why do I encounter scam websites?

Scammers create fake profiles on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook to trick users into visiting scam websites. They also use phishing emails, compromised sites, or misleading ads on suspicious sites. Deceptive notifications from dubious pages can also lead users to unreliable pages.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from scams?

Combo Cleaner checks the websites users visit, detecting potentially harmful or fraudulent pages. It issues alerts about identified threats and prevents access to unsafe sites, helping to protect users from online risks.