How to avoid fake sites like "Telcoin ($TEL) Rewards"

What is the fake "Telcoin ($TEL) Rewards" site?

Our analysis of the site (rewards-telcoin[.]xyz) has shown that it is deceptive. This page mimics the original Telcoin site (telco.in) to trick users into interacting with it. Falling for this scam can lead to cryptocurrency loss, as the site uses a malicious tool to drain 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.

"Telcoin ($TEL) Rewards" scam website in detail

Telcoin (telco.in) uses blockchain technology to offer affordable and reliable decentralized financial services to mobile users worldwide. It works with mobile network providers and mobile money platforms across the globe to deliver quick and cost-effective DeFi solutions to communities everywhere.

The purpose of the fake page (rewards-telcoin[.]xyz) is to trick users into believing that $TEL token holders are invited to vote on the upcoming rewards date. It says that voters will receive an early allocation of $TEL from TPF (Treasury Pool Funds). The site encourages users to vote through the provided link ("Vote now" button).

After interaction, this page requests users to connect their wallets. When users connect their wallets, a crypto drainer is triggered, which can transfer victims' cryptocurrency to the scammer's account. Since blockchain transactions are irreversible, recovering stolen funds is very difficult or impossible.

Overall, falling for such crypto scams can lead to significant losses. Therefore, users should always verify any crypto platform, especially ones offering free tokens or rewards.

Similar scams in general

Scams like these typically involve fake airdrops or similar offers to deceive users into taking actions that can lead to the theft of their crypto. Since cryptocurrency transactions cannot be reversed, stolen funds are almost never recovered. It is essential to carefully review crypto platforms before connecting wallets or taking other actions.

Examples of similar scams are "$TRADE Airdrop", "Mamo Rewards", and "Humanity Protocol Airdrop".

How did I open a scam website?

In most cases, fraudsters use fake or stolen X (Twitter) or Facebook accounts and hijacked WordPress sites to lure users into web pages that use crypto drainers to steal funds. Scam sites can also be accessed via deceptive advertisements, pop-ups, links, etc., on unreliable sites or notifications from websites of this kind.

Adware, scam emails, and rogue advertising networks (often used by torrent, adult, and illegal movie streaming sites) can also lead users to scam web pages.

How to avoid visiting scam pages?

Keep your operating system and applications up to date, and use a trusted security tool to scan your computer regularly. Always download software from official websites or reputable app stores. Be cautious with unexpected, irrelevant emails and other messages. Do not open their contents (links or files).

Also, avoid agreeing to receive notifications from suspicious websites, and do not interact with ads, pop-ups, or other content on untrustworthy pages. 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 "Telcoin ($TEL) Rewards" scam (GIF):

Screenshot of the original site (telco.in):

Instant automatic malware removal:

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Quick menu:

• What is Fake Telcoin ($TEL) Rewards platform?
• 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 crypto giveaway?

This scam involves enticing users with offers of free cryptocurrency or rewards to deceive them into interacting with a malicious website (into taking actions benefiting scammers).

What is the purpose of a fake airdrop?

These scams aim to steal cryptocurrency from unsuspecting victims by employing different techniques, such as deploying crypto drainers.

Why do I encounter scam sites?

Scammers rely on fake or hijacked social media profiles and misleading ads to push their schemes. Users can also be exposed to scams by visiting torrent sites, illegal streaming platforms, and adult websites that run rogue ad networks. Additionally, deceptive emails or ads created by adware may trick users into landing on scam websites.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from scams?

Combo Cleaner monitors websites for signs of suspicious activity. When it finds a malicious or scam site, it immediately alerts the user and blocks access to the page.