How to identify fake "Pi Network Airdrop" websites

What is the fake "Pi Network Airdrop" website?

While investigating suspicious sites, our researchers discovered this fake "Pi Network Airdrop". It is a phishing scam targeting cryptocurrency wallet log-in credentials; victims are lured into exposing this information by the promise of an airdrop. It must be emphasized that this scam is not associated with the actual Pi network project.

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 "Pi Network Airdrop" website overview

At the time of research, this scam was promoted on 2pidays[.]net and 2pidays[.]us, yet it could also be hosted on other domains. The deceptive page is disguised as the official website of the Pi network (minepi.com). Pi network is a decentralized crypto project that allows users to interact with its native Pi token and even mine it using mobile phones.

The imitator page runs a supposed airdrop in celebration of the network's sixth birthday. Sixty-two thousand eight hundred eligible digital wallets will be able to claim from 62 to 628 Pi tokens.

It must be reiterated that this airdrop is fake, and this scam is not associated with the real Pi network or any other existing projects, platforms, and entities.

When a user attempts to claim the tokens, they are requested to enter their cryptowallet log-in credentials. This information is recorded and sent to scammers, thus enabling them to steal the exposed wallet and the funds stored therein.

It must be mentioned that cryptocurrency transactions cannot be reversed because of their practically untraceable nature. Therefore, victims of scams like this fake "Pi Network Airdrop" cannot recover the stolen funds.

Crypto scam examples

We have written about countless online scams; "HyperSwap ($SWAP) Airdrop", "Trump Coin Airdrop", fake "Rabby Wallet" website, "AMLBot Crypto Checking", and fake "Xverse" website are merely a few of our latest articles on ones targeting cryptocurrency.

The most prevalent modes of operation for these scams include phishing for wallet log-in credentials, utilizing draining mechanisms to steal assets from wallets, or deceiving users into manually transferring funds to wallets in the scammers' possession.

The Internet is rife with scams, and they may be incredibly competently crafted. Hence, we highly recommend exercising when browsing and investing online.

How did I open a scam website?

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

It is noteworthy that adverts promoting crypto scams may be encountered on legitimate sites that have been hacked. It is likewise worth mentioning that some of these ads are fully functional drainers (i.e., capable of executing draining scripts).

How to avoid visiting scam websites?

Caution is paramount to online safety. Therefore, be wary of websites, ads, and messages that make unbelievable promises or warn of severe threats. Pay attention to URLs and enter them carefully. Do not use sites offering pirated content or other dubious services (e.g., Torrenting, illegal streaming/downloading, etc.), as these webpages are typically monetized via rogue advertising networks.

Do not permit questionable pages to deliver browser notifications; ignore or block their notification requests. Do not open attachments or links present in suspicious/irrelevant emails and other messages.

Download from official/trustworthy sources and be cautious when installing (e.g., study terms and options, use "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opt out of additional apps, extensions, etc.) – to prevent bundled/harmful software (like adware) from infiltrating the device.

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 "Pi Network Airdrop" website (GIF):

Screenshot of the official Pi network website (minepi.com):

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 "Pi Network Airdrop" scam 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 an online scam?

Online scams are a type of deceptive Web content. These scams are designed to trick users into performing specific actions, such as disclosing private data (like log-in credentials), connecting digital wallets to crypto drainers, sending money to scammers, downloading/installing software, 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. Profit is predominantly made by abusing/selling private data, promoting content (e.g., websites, applications, products, services, etc.), obtaining funds through deception, and proliferating malware.

I have provided my personal information when tricked by an online scam, what should I do?

If you have provided your log-in credentials – change the passwords/passphrases of all potentially exposed accounts and inform their official support. However, if you've disclosed other private information (e.g., ID card details, passport scans/photos, credit card numbers, etc.) – immediately contact the appropriate authorities.

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

Cryptocurrency transactions are irreversible due to their practically untraceable nature. Therefore, victims of scams like this fake "Pi Network Airdrop" cannot recover their funds.

Why do I encounter online scams?

Online scams are primarily endorsed via intrusive ads, sites using rogue advertising networks, spam (e.g., emails, PMs/DMs, social media posts, browser notifications, etc.), mistyped URLs, and adware.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from online scams?

Combo Cleaner can scan visited websites and detect rogue, deceptive, and malicious pages. It can also deny all further access to such sites.