Do not trust the fake Ethereum giveaway
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Ethereum Giveaway scam?
The main purpose of crypto giveaway scams is to convince unsuspecting people to send cryptocurrency to scammers. Usually, scammers attempt to trick people into believing that they can receive twice as much cryptocurrency as they would send to them.
This particular giveaway scam is used to trick people into transferring Ethereum (ETH) cryptocurrency to the provided wallet. It is noteworthy that it is common for such scams to be promoted via YouTube, Twitter, and other platforms.
They can be promoted through deceptive advertisements and potentially unwanted applications (PUAs) as well.
Scammers behind this giveaway scam use Vitalik Buterin's name (co-founder of Ethereum) to give it legitimacy. Their main goal is to trick people into believing that they can double their Ethereum by simply sending from 1 ETH to 500 ETH to the provided wallet.
They offer to receive 2 ETH for 1 ETH, 10 ETH for 5 ETH, 50 ETH for 25 ETH, and so forth. In order to extract larger amounts of ETH, scammers offer bonuses, for example, they claim that people will receive 10% for 10+ ETH, 20% for 25+ ETH, 40% for 100+ ETH, and 50% for 250+ ETH.
They also claim that this is a one-time chance to double their Ethereum - people can only participate once. Additionally, it is stated that this is a 50 000 ETH giveaway, and a third of it is already given away.
It is important to remember that almost all types of crypto giveaways are fake scams and follow a more or less similar pattern - they are disguised as giveaways sponsored by real people (e.g., Changpeng Zhao, Elon Musk, Steve Wozniak, and so on).
Another important thing to know that crypto transactions cannot be reversed. Therefore, people who fall for such scams have no way to get their crypto back.
Name | Fake Ethereum giveaway |
Threat Type | Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud |
Hoax | The more cryptocurrency is sent, the more will be received in return |
Disguise | Ethereum giveaway sponsored by Vitalik Buterin |
Related Domains | ethereumceo[.]live |
Detection Names (ethereumceo[.]live) | Certego (Malicious), Emsisoft (Phishing), ESTsecurity-Threat Inside (Phishing), Fortinet (Phishing), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal) |
Serving IP Address (binance-btc[.]fund) | 63.250.38.204 |
Distribution methods | Compromised websites, rogue online pop-up ads, potentially unwanted applications. |
Damage | Cryptocurrency loss |
Malware Removal (Windows) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. |
There are many similar giveaway scams on the Internet. A couple more examples are "Doge Giveaway Scam", "Binance Giveaway Scam", and "SAFEMOON Giveaway Scam". In some cases, scammers behind these scams attempt to trick people into providing sensitive information (they do not ask to send them cryptocurrency).
Either way, these scams must be ignored. As mentioned in the first paragraph, scam websites (and other untrustworthy) pages can be promoted through potentially unwanted applications. It is common that apps of this kind are designed to generate advertisements and (or) gather various information as well.
They generate banners, coupons, surveys, pop-up ads, etc., and (or) collect IP addresses, URLs of visited websites, entered search queries, geolocations and other browsing-related data. In some cases, apps of this kind can access passwords, credit card details, and other sensitive information. Typically, users download and install them inadvertently.
How did potentially unwanted applications install on my computer?
Sometimes PUAs are distributed via deceptive advertisements by designing them to run certain scripts that download or install those apps. However, the aforementioned ads cannot cause unwanted downloads, installations if users do not click them.
A more popular way to distribute PUAs is to include them in downloaders or installers for programs as additional offers. Usually, undesired offers can be declined via settings like "Advanced", "Custom", "Manual", or by unticking certain checkboxes that those downloaders or installers have.
However, not all users check and change them, and that is how they allow for included apps to be downloaded or installed alongside the programs that those apps included in their download or installation setups.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
Files or programs distributed via third-party downloaders, eMule, torrent clients, other Peer-to-Peer networks, unofficial pages, and so on, or third-party installers should not be trusted. It is common that their users install unwanted, potentially malicious software on their computers or browsers.
Apps and files should be downloaded from official websites and via direct links. Downloaders and installers that have "Custom", "Advanced," and other similar settings (or checkboxes) can have additional offers.
Downloads and installations should not be finished without declining those offers. Ads that appear on shady pages should not be clicked as well.
Quite often, those ads open dubious pages or even cause unwanted downloads, installations. Suspicious, unknown, or unwanted extensions, plug-ins, or add-ons installed on a browser or programs of this kind installed on a computer, then they should be removed/uninstalled.
If your computer is already infected with PUAs, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate them.
The appearance of Ethereum Giveaway scam (GIF):
Text in this page:
Giveaway Rules FAQ Transactions
Hurry up and take part in the giveaway of
50 000 ETH
During this unique event we will give you a chance to win 50 000 ETH, have a look at the rules and don't miss on your chance!
More info Participate in the giveaway
Marketplace Price Predictions Live Event 50 000 ETH Giveaway
Ethereum (ETH)
50 000 ETH
About
We believe that Blockchain and Ethereum will make the world more fair. To speed up the process of cryptocurrency mass adoption, We decided to run 50 000 ETH giveaway.
Rules
To participate you just need to send from 1 ETH to 500 ETH to the contribution address and we will immediately send you back 2 ETH to 1 000 ETH (x2) to the address you sent it from.
For example
If you send 1+ ETH , you will get2+ ETH back.
If you send 5+ ETH, you will get 10+ ETH back.
If you send 10+ ETH, you will get 20+ ETH back.
If you send 25+ ETH, you will get 50+ ETH back.
If you send 50+ ETH, you will get 100+ ETH back.
If you send 100+ ETH, you will get 200+ ETH back.
If you send 250+ ETH, you will get 500+ ETH back.
Extra bonuses
10+ ETH = 10% Bonus
25+ ETH = 20% Bonus
100+ ETH = 40% Bonus
250+ ETH = 50% Bonus
You can only participate once.
15 850 ETH already sent to participants!Hurry up and take part in the giveaway!
Use this QR code to participate15 850 ETH
50 000 ETH
You can send ETH to the following address:
0x7Aa4bCF1BeFfA2d82a1eA237F370A19159795e90Waiting for payment
FAQ
What do I have to do to participate in the giveaway?
How long will it take me to get my bonus?
Who is the sponsor of this giveaway?
How many times can I participate in the giveaway?
How do I get my bonus?
Transactions for Address
0x7Aa4bCF1BeFfA2d82a1eA237F370A19159795e90
Instant automatic malware removal:
Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced computer 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:
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Quick menu:
- What is Ethereum Giveaway scam?
- STEP 1. Uninstall deceptive applications using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove rogue extensions from Google Chrome.
- STEP 3. Remove potentially unwanted plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 4. Remove rogue extensions from Safari.
- STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
- STEP 6. Remove adware from Internet Explorer.
Removal of potentially unwanted applications:
Windows 11 users:
Right-click on the Start icon, select Apps and Features. In the opened window search for the application you want to uninstall, after locating it, click on the three vertical dots and select Uninstall.
Windows 10 users:
Right-click in the lower left corner of the screen, in the Quick Access Menu select Control Panel. In the opened window choose Programs and Features.
Windows 7 users:
Click Start (Windows Logo at the bottom left corner of your desktop), choose Control Panel. Locate Programs and click Uninstall a program.
macOS (OSX) users:
Click Finder, in the opened screen select Applications. Drag the app from the Applications folder to the Trash (located in your Dock), then right click the Trash icon and select Empty Trash.
In the uninstall programs window, look for any suspicious/recently-installed applications, select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted application, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Remove rogue extensions from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove potentially unwanted browser add-ons:
Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "More tools" and click "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons and remove them.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the fake ethereum giveaway, reset your Google Chrome browser settings. Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) and select Settings. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen. Click the Advanced… link.
After scrolling to the bottom of the screen, click the Reset (Restore settings to their original defaults) button.
In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Google Chrome settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
Remove malicious plugins from Mozilla Firefox:
Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click on "Extensions", in the opened window remove all recently-installed suspicious browser plug-ins.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with fake ethereum giveaway removal can reset their Mozilla Firefox settings.
Open Mozilla Firefox, at the top right corner of the main window, click the Firefox menu, in the opened menu, click Help.
Select Troubleshooting Information.
In the opened window, click the Refresh Firefox button.
In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Mozilla Firefox settings to default by clicking the Refresh Firefox button.
Remove malicious extensions from Safari:
Make sure your Safari browser is active, click Safari menu, and select Preferences....
In the opened window click Extensions, locate any recently installed suspicious extension, select it and click Uninstall.
Optional method:
Make sure your Safari browser is active and click on Safari menu. From the drop down menu select Clear History and Website Data...
In the opened window select all history and click the Clear History button.
Remove malicious extensions from Microsoft Edge:
Click the Edge menu icon (at the upper-right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons and click "Remove" below their names.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the fake ethereum giveaway, reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings. Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge) and select Settings.
In the opened settings menu select Reset settings.
Select Restore settings to their default values. In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Microsoft Edge settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
- If this did not help, follow these alternative instructions explaining how to reset the Microsoft Edge browser.
Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:
Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for any recently-installed suspicious browser extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the fake ethereum giveaway, reset your Internet Explorer settings to default.
Windows XP users: Click Start, click Run, in the opened window type inetcpl.cpl In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.
Windows Vista and Windows 7 users: Click the Windows logo, in the start search box type inetcpl.cpl and click enter. In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.
Windows 8 users: Open Internet Explorer and click the gear icon. Select Internet Options.
In the opened window, select the Advanced tab.
Click the Reset button.
Confirm that you wish to reset Internet Explorer settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
Summary:
Commonly, adware or potentially unwanted applications infiltrate Internet browsers through free software downloads. Note that the safest source for downloading free software is via developers' websites only. To avoid installation of adware, be very attentive when downloading and installing free software. When installing previously-downloaded free programs, choose the custom or advanced installation options – this step will reveal any potentially unwanted applications listed for installation together with your chosen free program.
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