How to spot scams like the fake "Chailink Treasury Reward" platform

What is the fake "Chailink Treasury Reward" site?

We have inspected the site (rewarding-chainlink[.]com) and found that it is a fake website mimicking the official Chainlink (chain.link) page. Scammers use this fraudulent page to lure visitors into taking steps that can lead to significant financial losses. It is important to be careful when interacting with unofficial crypto-related sites.

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.

"Chailink Treasury Reward" scam website in detail

Chainlink (chain.link) is a system that helps blockchains get real-world data. It connects smart contracts with information from outside the blockchain so they can work properly. Scammers created a fake website (rewarding-chainlink[.]com) resembling the original one to deceive users into taking specific actions benefiting fraudsters.

The fake site falsely states that Chainlink holders are invited to claim $LINK Interest Reward Shares from the Chainlink Treasury Pool, suggesting that eligible users can receive free tokens. It also claims that all unclaimed tokens will be burnt. The site's goal is to trick users into activating a malicious tool that can drain their crypto assets.

If users try to "claim" $LINK tokens on the fake website, they are instructed to connect their wallets. This action activates a cryptocurrency drainer designed to automatically transfer cryptocurrency from the victim's wallet to the scammer's.

Due to cryptocurrency transactions' irreversible and anonymous nature, recovering stolen funds is extremely difficult. Thus, users should always confirm the authenticity of crypto platforms before connecting their wallets or providing personal information to protect themselves from financial loss and other threats.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while Chainlink serves as a trusted decentralized system, fraudulent websites like rewarding-chainlink[.]com exploit this trust to deceive users. These scams promise free tokens but ultimately trick individuals into connecting their wallets and activating malicious tools that steal their assets.

Here are more examples of similar fraudulent platforms: "Haedal Airdrop", "TON Guard", and "PIJSwap Voting" scams.

How did I open a scam website?

Fraudsters often create fake profiles or accounts on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook to trick users into visiting web pages that employ cryptocurrency drainers. They also exploit hijacked WordPress sites to promote these scams.

Users can unknowingly land on scam websites through links or files in deceptive emails, misleading ads, pop-ups, or links found on unreliable sites. Sites associated with rogue ad networks (e.g., torrent sites or illegal streaming platforms) are also used to promote scam websites and other shady pages.

How to avoid visiting scam pages?

Be cautious while browsing—avoid clicking on ads or pop-ups on suspicious websites, and never accept notifications from untrustworthy pages. Always download apps and software from official sources, such as trusted websites or app stores. Do not trust shady emails, and never open links or files included in them.

Keep your system and programs up to date, and use a reliable security tool to regularly scan your device and eliminate any 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 "Chailink Treasury Reward" scam website (GIF):

The official Chainlink website (chain.link):

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Quick menu:

• What is Fake Chailink Treasury Reward 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 a crypto scam?

A crypto scam is a scheme where fraudsters aim trick users into taking harmful actions, such as connecting their wallets or transferring cryptocurrency.

What is the purpose of a crypto scam?

Ultimately, in most cases, the goal is to steal cryptocurrency. Scammers achieve it through crypto drainers, fake offers, and similar tactics.

Why do I encounter scam websites?

Fraudsters create fake profiles on social media platforms or use fake (or hijacked) websites, deceptive emails, misleading ads, and similar methods to trick users into opening scam websites. Additionally, rogue ad networks, often found on torrent or illegal streaming sites, are used to promote scam pages.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from scam sites?

Combo Cleaner scans the websites users visit for potential threats, detects harmful or deceptive pages, and blocks access to them, providing protection against scams, malware, and other online dangers.