How to identify fake "$STARS Airdrop" websites

What is the fake "$STARS Airdrop" website?

Our researchers discovered this fake "$STARS Airdrop" while investigating untrustworthy websites. It must be emphasized regardless of any visual similarities to existing projects/platforms – this bogus airdrop is not associated with any of them. This scam operates as a cryptocurrency drainer – i.e., it steals funds from exposed digital 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.

Fake "$STARS Airdrop" website overview

We discovered this scam on claim-stars-obelisk[.]xyz, yet it could also be hosted on different domains. This deceptive page claims to be running an airdrop for the STARS token. It must be reiterated that this webpage is fake, and it is in no way associated with any existing projects, platforms, or entities.

When a user "connects" their cryptowallet to this scam page – they inadvertently sign a malicious contract that facilitates the cryptocurrency drainer. Essentially, the victim's funds are transferred into scammer-owned wallets. These transactions are automated and may appear innocuous – thus, they can remain unnoticed for a significant amount of time.

It is noteworthy that some drainers can approximate the value of digital assets and determine which to steal first. Furthermore, cryptocurrency transactions cannot be reversed because of their nearly untraceable nature. Therefore, victims of scams like this fake "$STARS Airdrop" site cannot get their money back.

Cryptocurrency drainer scam examples

Fake "Galxe" website, "Mind Of Pepe ($MIND) Airdrop", and fake "Vulcan" website are just a couple of our latest articles on drainers. In addition to using draining mechanisms, cryptocurrency-specific scams commonly operate by phishing for wallet log-in credentials or tricking users into manually transferring assets to wallets in the scammers' possession.

Oftentimes, online scams are poorly made and full of mistakes. However, this deceptive content can be competently made and even perfectly copy the design of legitimate websites. Hence, we highly recommend exercising caution when browsing and investing.

How did I open a scam website?

Online scams are predominantly promoted via intrusive advertisements (malvertising), spam (e.g., social media/ forum posts, DMs/PMs, emails, browser notifications, SMSes, cold calls/ robocalls, etc.), websites that use rogue advertising networks, misspelled URLs (typosquatting), and adware.

Crypto drainers are commonly endorsed through intrusive pop-up ads. Some are fully functional drainers themselves; they entice users into "connecting" cryptowallets by promising incredible boons. These adverts have even been encountered on genuine sites that had been hacked.

Social media spam is also widespread in cryptocurrency-centered scam promotion. The posts and direct/private messages endorsing this content can be made using accounts stolen from real entrepreneurs, celebrities, influencers, projects, companies, and so on.

How to avoid visiting scam websites?

Caution is essential to online safety. Therefore, be wary of websites, advertisements, and messages that make unbelievable promises or warn of critical threats. Take note of URLs and enter them carefully. Do not use sites offering pirated software/media or other dubious services (e.g., illegal streaming/downloading, Torrenting, etc.), as these webpages usually employ rogue advertising networks.

Do not permit dubious pages to deliver browsing notifications; ignore or block their notification requests. Be vigilant with incoming emails and other messages; do not open attachments or links present in suspicious/irrelevant mail.

Download only from official/verified sources and approach installations with care (e.g., study terms and options, use "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opt out of supplementary apps, extensions, tools, etc.) – to prevent bundled/dangerous software 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 "$STARS Airdrop" website (GIF):

Instant automatic malware removal:

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Quick menu:

• What is "$STARS Airdrop" 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?

An online scam is a type of deceptive Internet content. Like most scams, these aim to trick victims into performing specific actions – e.g., connecting digital wallets to drainers, sending money to scammers, disclosing sensitive information, downloading/installing software, etc.

What is the purpose of online scams?

The purpose of online scams is to generate revenue for scammers. They may profit by acquiring funds through deception, promoting content (e.g., sites, products, services, software, etc.), selling/abusing private information, and spreading malware.

I have lost digital assets to the "$STARS Airdrop" scam, can I get my money back?

Cryptocurrency transactions are irreversible due to their nearly untraceable nature. Therefore, victims of scams like this fake "$STARS Airdrop" webpage cannot recover their funds.

Why do I encounter online scams?

Online scams are most commonly endorsed via malvertising, websites using rogue advertising networks, spam (e.g., social media posts, PMs/DMs, emails, browser notifications, etc.), typosquatting, and adware.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from online scams?

Combo Cleaner can scan visited websites for deceptive/malicious content. It can also restrict all further access to sites that host such content.