How to avoid scams like the fake "WWDC25 Crypto Giveaway" website

What is the fake "WWDC25 Crypto Giveaway"?

During our analysis of the site (wwdc25[.]com), we found that it is a scam website posing as the official Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) website. This fraudulent site promotes a fake cryptocurrency giveaway. Scammers behind this scheme seek to steal cryptocurrency from victims.

Fake "WWDC25 Crypto Giveaway" in detail

Apple hosts the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) each year as a major technology and software development event. The conference highlights upcoming updates and innovations across Apple's platforms. The official WWDC website is developer.apple.com.

The fraudulent website uses a different domain, wwdc25[.]com, and falsely presents itself as the official site for Apple's 2025 Worldwide Developers Conference. On this fake page, users are invited to participate in a limited-time "Crypto Giveaway Event". It claims that each participant must send a set amount of crypto from a unique wallet address to receive a reward.

The page uses fake limitations, such as one entry per wallet and strict amount requirements, to make the offer seem legitimate. It also states that the offer is limited and will close when a set pool runs out. These tactics are used to pressure users into acting quickly without examining the site.

The purpose of this scam is to steal cryptocurrency from unsuspecting users. The scammers aim to trick people into sending crypto to wallet addresses they control. Once the funds are sent, the scammers never deliver the promised rewards. In most cases, it is not possible to retrieve stolen cryptocurrency.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the fake WWDC giveaway site is a scam designed to exploit trust in Apple’s brand to steal cryptocurrency. It uses urgency, fake rules, and misleading claims to pressure users into sending funds. Users should be cautious, verify official sources, and avoid engaging with offers that promise returns in exchange for crypto.

Some examples of similar scams (fake giveaways) are "WalletConnect Token (WCT) Airdrop Scam", "Hedera (HDR) Airdrop Scam", and "Origin Ether (oETH) Airdrop Scam".

How did I open a scam website?

Scam websites can be accessed through links sent by scammers via email or social media (e.g., X/Twitter or Facebook) and through fraudulent links included below videos posted by fraudsters on platforms like YouTube. Misleading ads, pop-ups, buttons, and links on shady websites can also lead to scams.

In other cases, users can land on scam sites via pages that use rogue advertising networks. These are often used by torrent sites, pages hosting adult content, offering illegal movie streaming, etc. Notifications from dubious pages and adware can also be used to promote scams.

How to avoid visiting scam pages?

Avoid interacting with notifications sent by dubious pages and pop-ups, ads, or links found on websites of this kind. Always download software and files from trusted sources like official websites or app stores. Make sure your operating system and all programs are kept up to date. Be cautious with emails from unfamiliar senders—avoid opening any attached files or clicking on links.

Use a reputable antivirus or security program to scan your device regularly. 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 "WWDC25 Crypto Giveaway" scam (GIF):

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Quick menu:

• What is Fake WWDC25 Crypto Giveaway?
• 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?

It is a scam designed to convince people that by sending cryptocurrency to the scammers' wallet (r taking other actions) they will get free tokens or a larger return, which never happens.

What is the purpose of a fake crypto airdrop?

Scammers typically seek to steal cryptocurrency or personal information from their victims.

Why do I encounter scam websites?

Scammers often use hacked or fake social media accounts and compromised websites to spread their scams. They may also direct users to fraudulent sites through fake browser notifications, pop-ups, ads, or suspicious ad networks associated with various torrent and illegal streaming websites (or similar platforms). Furthermore, scammers can use adware and scam emails as a lure.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from scams?

Combo Cleaner monitors all websites you visit, identifying malicious and scam sites. It alerts users immediately and blocks access to these harmful pages.