Avoid getting scammed by fake "AZUKI Elementals" websites
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is the fake "AZUKI Elementals" website?
"AZUKI Elementals" is a fake webpage impersonating the official Azuki website. We found this scam under the azuki-elementals-waitlist.pages[.]dev URL, but it could also be promoted on others. The scheme operates as a cryptocurrency drainer.
Victims of such scams experience financial loss by having digital assets stolen from their cryptowallets. It must be emphasized that this scheme is not associated with Azuki or any other existing platforms.
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 "AZUKI Elementals" website overview
The "AZUKI Elementals" scam imitates Azuki – a blockchain-based platform aiming to build a decentralized anime brand, wherein community-driven entertainment is created.
It must be reiterated that this scheme is in no way associated with the real Azuki or any other existing platforms and entities.
When users connect their digital wallets to the fake page, it executes scripts for a crypto drainer. It is a mechanism that facilitates the transfer of funds from victims' wallets to ones in the scammers' possession. These transactions are automated and may appear vague, thus remaining unnoticed for a significant amount of time.
Some drainers can approximate the value of digital assets and target them first. Cryptocurrency transactions are practically untraceable – therefore, they cannot be reversed. This means that victims of scams like this fake "AZUKI Elementals" platform cannot get their money back.
Name | "AZUKI Elementals" crypto drainer |
Threat Type | Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud, Cryptocurrency Drainer |
Disguise | Azuki (azuki.com) |
Related Domains | azuki-elementals-waitlist.pages[.]dev, azukielemental.pages[.]dev |
Detection Names | CRDF (Malicious), Emsisoft (Phishing), G-Data (Phishing), MalwareURL (Phishing), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal) |
Serving IP Address | 172.66.44.179 |
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. |
Cryptocurrency drainer scam examples
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Cryptocurrency-specific schemes operate in one of three primary ways – draining funds from exposed digital wallets, targeting cryptowallet log-in credentials, and deceiving users into manually transferring funds to scammer-owned wallets.
Various lures are utilized to gain victims' trust, such as claims relating to popular/new platforms, coin/token promotions, airdrops/giveaways, wallet/account issues, security upgrades, and so forth.
While online scams are often shoddily put together, they can be competently crafted and even perfectly mimic the design of existing websites. Hence, it is paramount to exercise caution when browsing and investing.
How did I open a scam website?
Generally, online scams are promoted via webpages using rogue advertising networks, spam (e.g., emails, SMSes, PMs/DMs, browser notifications, social media posts, etc.), intrusive advertisements (malvertising), misspelled URLs (typosquatting), and adware.
Crypto drainers specifically are commonly endorsed via intrusive pop-up adverts. Some of these pop-ups operate as drainers themselves; they entice users into "connecting" digital wallets by promising various benefits. It is worth mentioning that these ads may be encountered on legitimate sites that have been compromised.
Additionally, cryptocurrency-targeting schemes are prevalent on social media networks. The spam posts and private/direct messages can be made using accounts stolen from real projects, companies, organizations, celebrities, influencers, entrepreneurs, and so on.
How to avoid visiting scam websites?
Vigilance is crucial to online safety. Therefore, pay attention to URLs and type them carefully. Be selective when clicking advertisements and allowing websites to display browser notifications. Do not enable suspect pages to deliver notifications, and instead ignore or deny such requests (i.e., press "Block", "Block Notifications", etc.).
Do not use sites offering pirated software/media or other dubious services (e.g., Torrenting, illegal streaming/downloading, etc.), as these webpages are typically monetized via rogue advertising networks. Be vigilant with incoming emails and other messages; do not open attachments or links found in suspicious mail.
Download only from official/verified sources and approach installations with care (e.g., read terms, explore options, use "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opt out of additional apps, tools, extensions, etc.) – to prevent bundled/harmful programs (like adware) from infiltrating the system.
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 "AZUKI Elementals" website (GIF):
Screenshot of the official Azuki website (azuki.com):
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is "AZUKI Elementals" crypto drainer?
- 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, an online scam is a deceptive message promoted on the Web that aims to lure users into performing certain actions. To elaborate, victims can be enticed/scared into connecting digital wallets to cryptocurrency drainers, disclosing sensitive information, sending money to scammers, buying products, downloading/installing software, subscribing to services, calling fake helplines, etc.
What is the purpose of online scams?
Online scams are designed to generate revenue for cyber criminals. Profit is primarily made by acquiring funds through deception, promoting content (e.g., websites, products, services, etc.), abusing/selling private data, and spreading malware.
I have lost digital assets to the "AZUKI Elementals" scam, can I get my money back?
These transactions cannot be reversed because they are nearly untraceable.
Why do I encounter online scams?
Widespread promotional techniques include: spam (e.g., social media posts, DMs/PMs, emails, SMSes, browser notifications, etc.), sites employing rogue advertising networks, malvertising (intrusive ads), typosquatting (misspelled URLs), and adware.
Will Combo Cleaner protect me from online scams?
Combo Cleaner is capable of scanning visited websites and detecting rogue, deceptive/scam, and malicious pages. Therefore, should you happen upon such a site – you will be warned immediately, and further access to it will be restricted.
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