How to identify scams like the fake "HALO Portfolio Tracker"

What is the fake "HALO Portfolio Tracker" website?

Our analysis of the HALO Portfolio Tracker revealed that it is a scam masquerading as a legitimate platform for receiving crypto trading insights and other features. The purpose of this scam page is to lure individuals into taking a certain action that will deplete their cryptocurrency wallets.

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.

"HALO Portfolio Tracker" scam page in detail

The scam page appears to be masquerading as a portfolio tracker named "HALO". It invites users to connect their wallets to gain valuable insights into their trading activity. This scam page suggests that users can visualize their holdings and identify missed opportunities. However, it is a deceptive attempt to steal cryptocurrency.

On the site, users are instructed to connect their wallets to take advantage of the offered feature. However, connecting a wallet while on this page actually signs a malicious contract. Once this contract is signed, a cryptocurrency drainer is activated. Scammers use this tool to drain cryptocurrency wallets.

Once activated, the drainer transfers crypto holdings from the victim's wallet to the scammer's. Since cryptocurrency transactions are irreversible, victims of such scams lose their digital assets permanently. Thus, it is important to be careful when dealing with crypto platforms.

Users are advised to thoroughly research any platform before entrusting it with personal or financial information or cryptocurrency. It is recommended to look for reviews, check the platform's reputation, and verify its legitimacy. Additionally, users should be wary of platforms promising unrealistic returns.

Threat Summary:

Name	Fake HALO Portfolio Tracker site
Threat Type	Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud
Fake Claim	Users can receive insights on their crypto trading and use other features
Related Domain	paperhand-portfolio-tracker.pages[.]dev, orb-halo.pages[.]dev, orbs-wallet.pages[.]dev, paperhanded-halos.pages[.]dev
Detection Names (paperhand-portfolio-tracker.pages[.]dev)	CRDF (Malicious), Emsisoft (Phishing), MalwareURL (Phishing), Full List Of Detection (VirusTotal)
Disguise	Legitimate platform
Distribution methods	Compromised websites, rogue online pop-up ads, potentially unwanted applications.
Damage	Loss of sensitive private information, monetary loss, identity theft, possible malware infections.
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Conclusion

Recently, schemes involving cryptocurrency drainers became popular among scammers aiming to steal cryptocurrency from unsuspecting individuals. As a rule, these scams exploit the names of legitimate cryptocurrency platforms and use offers of free cryptocurrency as a lure. It is important to be aware of such scams to avoid monetary loss.

Some examples of similar scams are the fake "Aerodrome $veAERO Voting Rewards", "Manta Galaxies Registration", and "$PunkAI Airdrop Registration" pages.

How did I open a scam website?

Scam websites are frequently accessed through deceptive emails containing links or attachments. Links to fraudulent pages can also be shared via social media posts or direct messages. It is common for scammers to exploit stolen social media accounts or hijacked WordPress sites to promote sites employing cryptocurrency drainers.

Moreover, pages that host scams can be encountered through deceptive advertisements, pop-ups, counterfeit download buttons, and notifications from untrustworthy sources. Additionally, users may stumble upon various scams via torrent sites, illegal platforms offering movie streaming services, and similar sites that employ rogue advertising networks.

How to avoid visiting scam pages?

Always verify URLs before clicking, particularly in dubious emails or messages from unfamiliar senders. Be skeptical of ads, warnings, offers, etc., on dubious websites, and do not permit such sites to send notifications. Obtain applications and files exclusively from reputable sources, such as official websites and authorized app stores.

Ensure all installed applications, as well as the operating system, are always up to date. Moreover, utilize a trusted security program and routinely scan your computer for unwanted applications and potential threats. 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 "HALO Portfolio Tracker" scam website (GIF):

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Quick menu:

• What is Fake HALO Portfolio Tracker site?
• 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 fake giveaway?

It is a scam involving offers of free cryptocurrency or other prizes/rewards.

What is the purpose of a fake giveaway?

Scammers use fake airdrops/giveaways to trick unsuspecting individuals into providing sensitive information or transferring cryptocurrency. Also, these scams are often used to lure users into activating cryptocurrency drainers.

Why do I encounter fake giveaways and other scams?

Scam websites are frequently stumbled upon by users through deceptive pop-ups (e.g., warnings or offers), advertisements, and phishing emails. Moreover, users might unknowingly access these sites via platforms employing rogue advertising networks. Additionally, users may open scam pages via links posted via counterfeit or compromised social media profiles or advertisements presented by untrustworthy adware.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from pages hosting scams?

Combo Cleaner has the capability to analyze web pages and identify suspicious ones, particularly those associated with scams. Upon detecting such sites, it promptly alerts users and blocks access, ensuring protection against potential threats.

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