How to avoid falling for scams like the "PIJSwap Voting" scam

What is "PIJSwap Voting" scam?

We have analyzed the site (vote-pijswap[.]co) and concluded that it is a scam web page designed to steal cryptocurrency holdings from unsuspecting individuals. Like most scams of this type, it promises participants rewards to lure them into taking harmful actions. Such sites should be avoided to protect crypto funds.

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.

"PIJSwap Voting" scam in detail

The deceptive website displays a message stating that this is a final reminder for holders to participate in voting on the date of the upcoming reward. It claims that voters will receive an early allocation from the Treasury Pool Funds (TPF) and urges users to "Vote Now". Clicking the displayed button leads to a request to connect a wallet.

Connecting a wallet through vote-pijswap[.]co executes a cryptocurrency drainer, a malicious tool designed to steal cryptocurrency from victims. This tool is created to automatically transfer crypto holdings from the victim's wallet to the scammer's wallet. As a result, victims may lose all assets stored in the connected wallet within seconds.

Recovery is typically impossible, as crypto transactions are irreversible and anonymous, leaving victims with no way to trace or reclaim their stolen funds. Thus, it is important to examine crypto platforms before connecting wallets or disclosing personal information to avoid monetary loss or other negative consequences.

Similar scams in general

Scams like this typically involve deceptive websites that impersonate legitimate platforms or events—such as token launches, voting portals, or airdrops—to trick users into connecting their cryptocurrency wallets. The goal is to steal cryptocurrency. It is highly advisable to always ensure that the platform is legitimate before taking any action.

Examples of similar scams are "$TRUMP Token Distribution Scam", "Beefy ($BIFI) Rewards Scam", and "Morpho Voting Scam".

How did I open a scam website?

Scammers often create fake profiles on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook to lure users into visiting malicious websites designed to steal cryptocurrency. These scams can also be spread through deceptive emails and hijacked WordPress sites.

In addition, users may encounter scam pages after clicking deceptive ads or links found on shady web pages or notifications from dubious sites. Torrent sites, illegal streaming platforms, and similar pages that use rogue advertising networks are also used to promote scam web pages.

How to avoid visiting scam pages?

Be wary of unsolicited emails or social media messages, particularly those from unknown sources or containing unexpected links or attachments. When browsing, avoid clicking ads, pop-ups, or links on questionable websites and decline notification requests from untrustworthy sources.

Download apps and software only from trusted sources, such as official websites or verified app stores. Regularly update the operating system (and installed programs). Perform scans using a reputable antivirus or anti-malware tool. 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 "PIJSwap Voting" scam (GIF):

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Quick menu:

• What is Fraudulent PIJSwap Voting platform?
• 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 crypto scam?

A crypto scam is a type of online fraud where scammers aim to trick users into performing certain actions (e.g., connecting wallets or transferring funds).

What is the purpose of a crypto scam?

These scams are usually employed to steal cryptocurrency through crypto drainers or phishing techniques.

Why do I encounter scam websites?

Scammers use fake social media profiles, phishing emails, and hijacked or deceptive websites to lure users to scam sites. These scams are also promoted through deceptive ads, notifications from shady websites, and pages associated with rogue advertising networks.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from scam sites?

Combo Cleaner scans visited websites for potential threats, flags dangerous or deceptive pages, and blocks access to protect users from scams, malware, and other online dangers.