How to recognize fake "SoSoValue" airdrop websites

What is the fake "SoSoValue Airdrop" website?

While investigating suspect sites, our researchers discovered this fake "SoSoValue" airdrop. This scam masquerades as the SoSoValue platform (sosovalue.com). The deceptive page uses the promise of an airdrop to lure users into exposing their digital wallets to a cryptocurrency drainer.

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 "SoSoValue Airdrop" website overview

The fraudulent page (ssi.sosovalue[.]link; potentially other domains) claims to be running an airdrop distributing thirty million SOSO tokens. This site impersonates SoSoValue (sosovalue.com) – a cryptocurrency market research platform powered by AI (Artificial Intelligence). This platform has a native token named "SOSO" and offers tools and resources for tracking cryptocurrency news, trends, and prices.

It must be emphasized that this airdrop is bogus, and this scam is not associated with the real SoSoValue or any other existing projects, platforms, and entities.

When a user tries to participate in this airdrop, they are prompted to connect their digital wallet. Doing so signs a malicious contract that facilitates the cryptocurrency drainer. Essentially, the victim's funds are transferred to wallets in the scammers' possession.

These transactions are automated and may appear vague – hence, they can remain unnoticed for a significant amount of time. Some drainers can roughly estimate the value of digital assets and determine which to prioritize.

It must be mentioned that due to the practically untraceable nature of cryptocurrency transactions – they cannot be reversed. Therefore, victims of scams like this fake "SoSoValue Airdrop" website cannot get their digital assets back.

Cryptocurrency drainer scam examples

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There are three primary modes of operation for crypto scams – utilizing draining mechanisms to steal assets from wallets, phishing for wallet log-in credentials, or tricking users into manually transferring funds to scammer-owned wallets.

Online scams are often poorly constructed and full of mistakes, but they can be convincing and even believably disguised as content associated with genuine entities. Therefore, we highly recommend exercising caution when browsing and investing.

How did I open a scam website?

Cryptocurrency drainers are commonly promoted through intrusive pop-up advertisements (malvertising). These pop-ups may be fully functional drainers and could be encountered on legitimate sites that have been compromised.

Another widespread endorsement technique is social media spam; we have discovered many instances of it on X (more often referred to by its former name – Twitter). These posts and direct/private messages (DMs/PMs) can be made using hacked accounts (i.e., ones originally belonging to real projects, companies, organizations, entrepreneurs, influencers, celebrities, etc.).

However, other promotional methods are possible. Aside from the previously mentioned, online scams are endorsed via different types of spam (e.g., emails, SMSes, robocalls/ cold calls, browser notifications, forum posts, etc.), websites using rogue advertising networks, typosquatting (mistyped URLs), and adware.

How to avoid visiting scam websites?

Caution is critical to ensuring your online safety. Therefore, be wary of sites, adverts, and messages that make unbelievable promises or employ scare tactics. Pay attention to URLs and enter them carefully.

Do not use websites offering pirated programs/media or other questionable services (e.g., illegal streaming/downloading, Torrenting, etc.), as these webpages usually utilize rogue advertising networks.

Do not enable suspect pages to deliver browser notifications; instead, ignore or block their requests. Be vigilant with incoming communications, and do not open attachments or links found in dubious emails and other messages.

Download from official/trustworthy sources and be attentive when installing (e.g., read terms, explore options, use "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opt out of supplementary apps, extensions, etc.) – to prevent bundled/hazardous software (like adware) 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 "SoSoValue Airdrop" website (GIF):

Screenshot of the official SoSoValue website (sosovalue.com):

Instant automatic malware removal:

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Quick menu:

• What is "SoSoValue 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?

Online scams are a type of deceptive content promoted on the Web that aims to trick users into performing certain actions. For example, victims can be enticed/scared into connecting digital wallets to crypto drainers, sending money to scammers, disclosing vulnerable information, downloading/installing programs, purchasing products, subscribing to services, and so on.

What is the purpose of online scams?

The purpose of online scams is to generate revenue for scammers. They mainly profit by obtaining funds through deception, endorsing content (e.g., websites, programs, products, services, etc.), selling/abusing private information, and spreading malware.

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

Cryptocurrency transactions cannot be reversed because of their practically untraceable nature. Therefore, victims of scams like this fake "SoSoValue" airdrop cannot recover the stolen funds.

Why do I encounter online scams?

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

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from online scams?

Combo Cleaner is designed to scan every website you visit for deceptive/malicious content. Additionally, Combo Cleaner can block further access to sites hosting such content.