How to identify scams like the fraudulent "Claim Arbus" platform

What is "Claim Arbus" scam?

Our examination of the website (arbus[.]claims) has revealed that it is a fraudulent site crafted to steal cryptocurrency from unsuspecting individuals. The scammers copied the look of the legitimate Arbus site (arbus.ai) to deceive users. Users should be careful when landing on such pages to avoid monetary loss or other issues.

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.

"Claim Arbus" scam in detail

Arbus (arbus.ai) is an AI-powered market intelligence platform designed for InfoFi and the agentic economy. It supports native products such as Arbus Terminal, Arbus Agent, and the Data Marketplace. Additionally, Arbus offers a structured, real-time data infrastructure for external AI and DeFAI agents, swarms, and decentralized applications (dApps).

On the fake website (arbus[.]claims), users are lured with an offer to "claim" what appears to be a token reward or cryptocurrency airdrop. Users are instructed to connect their cryptocurrency wallets, which allows scammers to steal funds directly from them. Once a wallet is "connected", the fake site activates a cryptocurrency drainer.

Once triggered, this drainer transfers funds held in the victim's crypto wallet directly to the attackers. Because crypto transactions are typically irreversible, the stolen assets are permanently lost.

To avoid such losses, users should exercise caution when using crypto platforms, especially those offering free tokens, and always verify the legitimacy of a website before connecting wallets, sharing personal information, or making any transactions.

Similar scams in general

These scam websites often mimic legitimate projects and tempt users with promises of free tokens or rewards. Their purpose is to deceive users into taking actions allowing fraudsters to drain crypto wallets. It is important to be careful online and examine crypto-related platforms to avoid monetary loss (or other negative consequences).

Some examples of other fake airdrops utilizing crypto drainers to steal cryptocurrency are "Flare Airdrop", "Wall Street Pepe ($WEPE) Airdrop", and "$MOG Coin Airdrop".

How did I open a scam website?

Scammers typically use fake or hijacked X/Twitter accounts and compromised WordPress sites to promote fraudulent links leading to scams designed to trick users into executing cryptocurrency drainers. Phishing emails containing attachments or URLs are another common method used to lure users to scam pages.

These fraudulent websites may also be promoted through misleading advertisements on shady websites, intrusive pop-ups, or push notifications from unreliable websites. Users are sometimes redirected to these scams while visiting torrent sites, illegal streaming services, or other platforms that rely on rogue ad networks.

Additionally, users may be bombarded with ads promoting various scams if a device has adware on it.

How to avoid visiting scam pages?

Be careful when receiving unexpected emails or messages on social media, particularly from unknown sources. Avoid opening attachments or clicking on links in such messages. Download apps and software from official websites or reputable app stores. Do not allow questionable websites to send notifications.

Avoid interacting with ads, pop-ups, or links on suspicious sites. Keep your operating system and applications up to date, use trusted antivirus software, and perform regular system scans. 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 "Claim Arbus" scam websites (GIF):

The original Arbus website (arbus.ai):

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:

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.

Quick menu:

• What is Fake Claim Arbus airdrop?
• 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 airdrop?

A fake airdrop is a type of cryptocurrency scam where scammers trick users into believing they can receive free tokens or other rewards.

What is the purpose of a fake airdrop?

Scammers use fake cryptocurrency giveaways to trick users and steal their funds through methods like crypto drainers, phishing attacks, or other deceptive tactics.

Why do I encounter scam websites?

Scammers often spread scams using fake or hacked social media accounts, compromised or deceptive sites, and fraudulent emails. They also use misleading ads, pop-ups, and push notifications delivered by untrustworthy websites. Additionally, users may encounter scams while browsing torrent or illegal streaming sites, or if their device has adware.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from scam sites?

Combo Cleaner protects users by scanning websites for malicious or deceptive content and blocking access to dangerous or fraudulent pages. This helps prevent users from falling victim to online scams and other cyber threats.