Avoid getting scammed by fake "Claim Your Merlin Chain ($MERL) Token" sites

What is the fake "Claim Your Merlin Chain ($MERL) Token" website?

After inspecting "Claim Your Merlin Chain ($MERL) Token", as hosted on merlinrewards[.]xyz, we determined that it is fake. This scheme impersonates the Merlin Chain platform (merlinchain.io). The imitator supposedly runs an airdrop, trying to participate in it – exposes digital wallets to a cryptocurrency drainer.

It must be emphasized that this "Claim Your Merlin Chain ($MERL) Token" site is not associated with the real Merlin Chain or any other platforms/entities.

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 Your Merlin Chain ($MERL) Token" website overview

The "Claim Your Merlin Chain ($MERL) Token" scheme mimics the graphic design of Merlin Chain (merlinchain.io) – an ecosystem that interacts with the Bitcoin network and has its own native token – MERL. We discovered this scam on merlinrewards[.]xyz, but it could be promoted on other domains.

It must be reiterated that regardless of how legitimate "Claim Your Merlin Chain ($MERL) Token" may appear – it is fake, and it is in no way associated with Merlin Chain or other exiting platforms and entities.

The scam endorses a fraudulent airdrop; attempting to take part in this event prompts the user to link their cryptowallet. This executes scripts that drain funds from victims' wallets by transferring them to the scammers. Drainers may be able to approximate the value of digital assets and prioritize their theft. These transactions may appear vague, thus not raising immediate suspicion.

Cryptocurrency transactions are irreversible due to their practically untraceable nature. Therefore, victims of scams like this fake "Claim Your Merlin Chain ($MERL) Token" webpage cannot get their money back.

Threat Summary:

Name	"Claim Your Merlin Chain ($MERL) Token" crypto drainer scam
Threat Type	Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud, Cryptocurrency Drainer
Disguise	Airdrop on Merlin Chain ecosystem.
Related Domains	merlinrewards[.]xyz
Detection Names	Forcepoint ThreatSeeker (Suspicious), Trustwave (Suspicious), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal)
Serving IP Address	104.21.72.57
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. ▼ 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.

Cryptocurrency drainer scam examples

We have written about countless online scams; "MEE6 Connect", "Grayscale ($GRAY) Airdrop", "Renzo ($REZ) Token Allocation", "Meson ($MSN) Airdrop Claim", "$SWOT Token Airdrop", and "SatoshiVM Airdrop" are just some examples of our latest articles on cryptocurrency drainers.

Victims are lured into trusting this deceptive content by a variety of bogus claims, such as ones relating to airdrops/giveaways, new coin/token promotions, account/wallet issues, security upgrades, system infections/errors, software updates, package shipping mishaps, lotteries, etc.

Due to how widespread online schemes are and how well-made they can be – we highly recommend caution when browsing and investing.

How did I open a scam website?

Online scams are primarily endorsed via websites using rogue advertising networks, spam (e.g., emails, SMSes, PMs/DMs, social media/ forum posts, browser notifications, etc.), typosquatting (mistyped URLs), malvertising (intrusive adverts), and adware.

Cryptocurrency-specific schemes are prevalent on social media networks, especially on X (more commonly known by its former name – Twitter). Promotional posts and private/direct messages can be made using hacked accounts (i.e., originally belonging to real influencers, entrepreneurs, celebrities, projects, companies, organizations, etc.).

These scams are also endorsed through intrusive pop-up ads. Some are capable of executing drainer scripts; they entice users into "connecting" digital wallets by promising various benefits. It is noteworthy that these pop-ups have been hosted on legitimate sites that had been compromised.

How to avoid visiting scam websites?

We strongly recommend being vigilant while browsing, as the Internet is full of deceptive and malicious content. Therefore, pay attention to URLs and enter them carefully. Do not allow suspicious pages to deliver browser notifications (i.e., do not click "Allow", "Allow Notifications", etc.), and instead ignore or deny these requests (i.e., select "Block", "Block Notifications", etc.). Be wary of ads and do not trust ones making offers that are too good to be true.

Do not use sites offering pirated programs/media or other questionable services (e.g., Torrenting, illegal streaming/downloading, etc.), as these webpages are usually monetized via rogue advertising networks. Treat incoming emails/messages with vigilance; do not open attachments or links found in suspect/irrelevant mail.

Additionally, download only from official/trustworthy sources and treat installations with caution (e.g., study terms and options, use "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opt out of all supplements) – to prevent bundled/harmful 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 "Claim Your Merlin Chain ($MERL) Token" website (GIF):

Screenshot of the official Merlin Chain website (merlinchain.io):

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 Your Merlin Chain ($MERL) Token" crypto drainer scam?
• 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 deceptive messages intended to trick users into carrying out specific actions. For example, victims may be enticed/scared into connecting digital wallets to crypto drainers, sending money to scammers, disclosing sensitive information, downloading/installing software, buying products, subscribing to services, calling fake helplines, etc.

What is the purpose of online scams?

Online scams are designed to generate revenue for scammers. Profit can be made by obtaining funds through deception, promoting content (e.g., sites, software, products, services, etc.), selling/abusing vulnerable data, and spreading malware.

I have lost digital assets to the "Claim Your Merlin Chain ($MERL) Token" scam, can I get my money back?

No, these transactions cannot be reversed because of their nearly untraceable nature. Hence, victims of scams like "Claim Your Merlin Chain ($MERL) Token" cannot recover their funds.

Why do I encounter online scams?

The most widespread promotional techniques include: spam (e.g., social media posts, DMs/PMs, emails, SMSes, browser notifications, etc.), webpages using rogue advertising networks, typosquatting (misspelled URLs), malvertising (intrusive advertisements), and adware.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from online scams?

Combo Cleaner can scan visited sites and detect rogue, scam, and malicious webpages. Hence, should you find yourself visiting such a website – you will be immediately warned, and further access to it will be restricted.

▼ Show Discussion