How to avoid getting scammed by fake "Kelp Staking" websites

What is the fake "Kelp Staking" website?

While browsing dubious sites, our research team found this fake "Kelp Staking" webpage. This fraudulent staking platform promotes a cryptocurrency drainer; basically, it steals funds from exposed digital wallets. It must be emphasized that regardless of any potential similarities with existing projects, platforms, or entities – this "Kelp Staking" page is not associated with any of them.

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 "Kelp Staking" website overview

We discovered this scam on kelpdao.com-chain-v3[.]com, yet it could also be hosted on different domains. This fake page is presented as a platform offering various Web3-related services, including staking, restaking, bridging, and so forth.

Once a digital wallet is connected to this webpage, the action signs a malicious contract. It facilitates the cryptocurrency drainer that enables automated outgoing transactions from the victim's cryptowallet.

These transactions may appear vague, so they can remain unnoticed for a significant amount of time. Some drainers can roughly estimate the value of digital assets and determine which to target first.

It must be mentioned that cryptocurrency transactions cannot be reversed because of their practically untraceable nature. Therefore, victims of scams like this fake "Kelp Staking" page cannot get their funds back.

Cryptocurrency drainer scam examples

We have written about countless online scams; fake "Humanity Protocol" website, fake "GMGN" website, and fake "Ramses Exchange" website are merely a few of our latest articles.

Aside from using draining scripts, crypto scams often target wallet log-in credentials or trick users into manually transferring assets to scammer-owned wallets.

Online scams can be competently put together and even believably disguised as content associated with legitimate entities. Some scams that seek to obtain cryptocurrency have been noted perfectly copying the design of genuine websites. Therefore, we highly recommend vigilance when browsing and investing online.

How did I open a scam website?

Intrusive pop-up ads (a type of malvertising) are commonly used to endorse cryptocurrency drainers. These adverts may be fully functional drainers themselves; they lure users into "connecting" cryptowallets by promising unbelievable benefits. It is pertinent to mention that such pop-ups have been encountered on legitimate sites that had been compromised.

Social media spam is also widely used in crypto scam promotion. We have found many instances of this on X (more often referred to by its former name – Twitter). Promotional posts and direct/private messages (DMs/PMs) can be made using hacked accounts (i.e., ones originally belonging to real projects, companies, entrepreneurs, celebrities, influencers, etc.).

However, other endorsement techniques are not unlikely. Aside from those already mentioned, online scams are promoted via websites that employ rogue advertising networks, different types of spam (e.g., forum posts, emails, browser notifications, SMSes, robocalls/ cold calls, etc.), typosquatting (mistyped URLs), and adware.

How to avoid visiting scam websites?

Caution is key to online safety. Therefore, be wary of sites, advertisements, and messages making promises that sound too good to be true. Take note of URLs and type them carefully. Do not use websites offering pirated content or other questionable services (e.g., illegal streaming/downloading, Torrenting, etc.), as these webpages typically utilize rogue advertising networks.

Do not enable dubious pages to deliver browser notifications; ignore or block their notification requests. Do not open attachments or links found in suspect/irrelevant emails and other messages.

Download from official/verified sources and be attentive when installing (e.g., read terms, inspect options, use "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opt out of supplementary apps, extensions, etc.) – to prevent bundled/dangerous 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 "Kelp Staking" website (GIF):

Instant automatic malware removal:

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Quick menu:

• What is "Kelp Staking" 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 content hosted on the Web. It aims to deceive users into performing certain actions, such as connecting digital wallets to drainers, sending money to scammers, disclosing private information, downloading/installing programs, buying products, or others.

What is the purpose of online scams?

Online scams are designed to generate revenue at victims' expense. These scammers primarily profit by acquiring funds through deception, promoting content (e.g., websites, programs, products, services, etc.), selling/abusing sensitive data, and spreading malware.

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

No, cryptocurrency transactions cannot be reversed because they are nearly untraceable. Hence, victims of scams like this fake "Kelp Staking" webpage cannot recover the stolen assets.

Why do I encounter online scams?

Online scams are most commonly encountered via intrusive ads, sites employing rogue advertising networks, spam (e.g., emails, DMs/PMs, browser notifications, social media posts, SMSes, etc.), misspelled URLs, and adware.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from online scams?

Yes, Combo Cleaner can scan visited websites and detect rogue, deceptive/scam, and malicious pages. Therefore, should you happen upon such a webpage – you will be immediately warned, and further access to it will be blocked.