Avoid getting scammed by the fake "MicroStrategy Crypto Giveaway"
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
What is "MicroStrategy Crypto Giveaway"?
While inspecting suspicious websites, we discovered the "MicroStrategy Crypto Giveaway" scam. It promises to double the amount of BTC (Bitcoin cryptocurrency) or ETH (Ethereum cryptocurrency) that participants contribute to the event. It must be emphasized that this giveaway is fake; not only will victims receive no return, but they will lose all the cryptocurrency that they transfer to this scam.
"MicroStrategy Crypto Giveaway" scam overview
As mentioned in the introduction, this scam promises to double the amount of cryptocurrency that users transfer to the provided cryptowallet addresses. Additionally, those who have not previously participated in this giveaway will supposedly receive an additional bonus.
To participate - the scam instructs transferring either 0.5 ETH to 250 ETH or 0.05 BTC to 250 BTC to the "contribution address". At the time of writing, the sums range from 600.00 to over 300,000.00 USD for Ethereum, and 900 to nearly 5,000,000.00 USD for Bitcoin (note that exchange rates constantly fluctuate).
However, all the claims made by "MicroStrategy Crypto Giveaway" are false. Therefore, users will not receive anything in return and will merely lose all the cryptocurrency they transfer.
Furthermore, due to the nature of cryptocurrencies, their transactions are practically impossible to trace - reversing them is virtually impossible. Therefore, the financial loss is highly likely to be irreversible.
| Name | "MicroStrategy Crypto Giveaway" scam website |
| Threat Type | Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud |
| Fake Claim | Twice the amount of cryptocurrency will return to users who contribute to the event. |
| Cyber Criminal Cryptowallet Address | 1DHwyKvJMDFVuvESUL7ooMu2UrJBVPNJdd (BTC), 0xa9998Ad432e86FD73B32d62376CF6E738177F55a (ETH) |
| Related Domains | saylor-giving[.]org |
| Detection Names (saylor-giving[.]org) | N/A (VirusTotal) |
| Serving IP Address (saylor-giving[.]org) | 31.31.196.219 |
| Distribution methods | Compromised websites, rogue online pop-up ads, potentially unwanted applications. |
| Damage | Monetary loss, loss of sensitive private information, identity theft, possible malware infections. |
| Malware Removal (Windows) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. |
Similar scam examples
We have analyzed thousands of scams; "ELON MUSK Twitter Giveaway", "ARK Invest Crypto Giveaway", "Official Solana NFT Launch", and "Twitter Crypto Giveaway" are just a few examples of those akin to "MicroStrategy Crypto Giveaway".
Countless scam models are used to gain and abuse users' trust; they range from fake giveaways to bogus virus alerts. However, regardless of what this deceptive content promises, claims, or warns about - the end-goal is practically always to generate revenue at victims' expense. Therefore, we strongly recommend exercising caution when browsing.
How did I open a scam website?
Scam sites can be accessed via others that use rogue advertising networks. These rogue pages can force-open websites immediately upon access or when hosted content is clicked/ interacted with (e.g., ads, buttons, text input fields, etc.).
Misspelling a site's domain can likewise result in a redirect (or a redirection chain leading) to a deceptive webpage. Spam browser notifications and intrusive adverts promote them as well. Adware can also display scam-endorsing advertisements or force-open pages that run them.
How to avoid visiting scam websites?
Deceptive websites are primarily accessed through redirects caused by pages using rogue advertising networks, mistyped URLs, spam browser notifications, intrusive ads, or installed adware.
Therefore, we advise against using sites that offer pirated software/media or questionable services (e.g., Torrenting, illegal streaming/downloading, etc.) since they typically employ rogue advertising networks for monetization purposes. We recommend paying attention to URLs and being careful when typing them. Furthermore, we advise caution when browsing since illegitimate and malicious content usually appears ordinary and harmless.
To avoid receiving unwanted browser notifications, do not enable suspicious sites to deliver them (i.e., do not click "Allow", "Allow Notifications", etc.). Instead, ignore or deny notification delivery requests (i.e., select "Block", "Block Notifications", etc.).
Another recommendation is to download only from official/verified sources and approach installation with care (e.g., read terms, use the "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.
Text presented in "MicroStrategy Crypto Giveaway" scam:
MicroStrategy Live Event
Participate and take part in the giveaway of 100,000 ETH and 10,000 BTC
During this unique event we will give you a chance to participate in giveaway of 100 000 ETH / 10,000 BTC , have a look at the rules and don’t miss on your chance to double your crypto wallet amount!
Participate in the giveaway
HOW IT WORKS
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 100,000 ETH Giveaway.
ABOUT
To participate you just need to send from 0.5 ETH to 250 ETH to the contribution address and we will immediately send you back 1 ETH to 500 ETH (x2 back) to the address you sent it from.
NEW EVENT FROM ETH
Enter the giveaway, and x2 your ETH balance
RULES
Follow the rules to participate
Send1+ ETH, you will get 2+ ETHback
Send5+ ETH, you will get 10+ ETHback
Send10+ ETH, you will get 20+ ETHback
Send25+ ETH, you will get 50+ ETHback
Send50+ ETH, you will get 100+ ETHback
Send100+ ETH, you will get 200+ ETHback*The higher the amount, the higher the percentage
239,540 ETH / 100,000
Participate and take part in the giveaway of 100,000 ETH
You can send ETH to the following address:
0xa9998Ad432e86FD73B32d62376CF6E738177F55a
Load
Waiting for the payment...
Code
Or scan the QR Code
Check your wallet for bonuses
The bonus is available for wallets that have not previously participated in this distribution
Your wallet
Check
Please fill out this field.
Calculate your prize
Use our calculator to calculate your profit
You will send
FAQ
What do I have to do to participate in the giveaway?
To participate you need to send from 0.5 ETH to 250 ETH to the contribution address and we will immediately send you back from 1 ETH to 500 ETH (x2) to the address you sent it from.
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?
Participate and take part in the giveaway of 100,000 ETH
You can send ETH to the following address:
0xa9998Ad432e86FD73B32d62376CF6E738177F55a
The appearance of "MicroStrategy Crypto Giveaway" scam (GIF):
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 "MicroStrategy Crypto Giveaway" scam website?
- 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?
Essentially, online scams are messages intended to deceive users into performing specific actions. To elaborate, victims can be tricked into making monetary/cryptocurrency transactions, disclosing private data, downloading/installing software, calling fake support lines, and so forth.
What is the purpose of online scams?
Practically all scams have the sole goal of generating revenue for their designers. Scammers profit primarily by obtaining funds (e.g., cryptocurrency, etc.) through deception, abusing or selling private data, promoting content (e.g., software, products, services, etc.), and proliferating malware.
I have sent cryptocurrency to the address presented in the "MicroStrategy Crypto Giveaway" scam, can I get my money back?
Since cryptocurrency transactions are practically untraceable - they are virtually irreversible. Hence, transaction reversal is impossible.
Why do I encounter online scams?
Scams like "MicroStrategy Crypto Giveaway" are promoted on various rogue webpages, which are rarely accessed intentionally. Most users enter them via redirects caused by sites using rogue advertising networks, misspelled URLs, spam browser notifications, intrusive ads, or installed adware.
Will Combo Cleaner protect me from online scams?
Combo Cleaner is designed to scan visited websites and detect malicious ones (including those that run scams). Therefore, should you enter such a page - you will be warned immediately, and further access to it will be restricted.
Outstanding!
▼ Show Discussion