How to spot fraudulent platforms like the "Fake PendleSwap Website"

What is the "Fake PendleSwap website"?

Our analysis shows that this site (pendle-f[.]finance) mimics the original one (app.pendle.finance) to trick users into connecting their wallets. The purpose of the fake Pendle site is to steal cryptocurrency. Thus, users should not trust it and avoid similar pages.

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 PendleSwap website" in detail

Pendle (app.pendle.finance) is a platform in decentralized finance (DeFi). It lets users split their future earnings from investments into two parts: the original amount they invested and the interest or yield they expect to earn. Users can deposit assets that generate yield, get special tokens representing their investment and future earnings, and trade those tokens.

The fake website has a similar design and instructs users to connect their wallets to continue using the platform. However, once a wallet is connected, the site launches a cryptocurrency drainer. This drainer is a malicious tool utilized to steal cryptocurrency holdings from victims.

It can transfer cryptocurrency from the connected wallet to the scammer's address. It is important to note that blockchain transactions cannot be undone, and getting back stolen cryptocurrency is extremely challenging or even impossible. Losing money to crypto scams can result in serious financial damage.

That is why it is crucial for users to carefully check the legitimacy of any crypto platform, particularly those promising free tokens or rewards, to avoid monetary loss (or other issues).

Similar scams in general

These scams often use fake airdrops or similar tactics to trick users into performing actions that can result in cryptocurrency loss. Because crypto transactions are irreversible, victims usually cannot recover their stolen assets. Thus, it is important to check the credibility of any crypto platform before connecting a wallet or interacting with it in other way.

A couple of examples of similar fraudulent schemes are "$TRADE Airdrop", "Mamo Rewards", and "Humanity Protocol Airdrop".

How did I open a scam website?

Scammers often use fake or compromised X (Twitter) and Facebook accounts, along with hijacked WordPress websites, to direct users to scam pages that deploy crypto drainers to steal funds. These fraudulent sites may also be reached through misleading ads, pop-ups, suspicious links, or notifications from untrustworthy websites.

In addition, users can be directed to scams by adware infections, fraudulent emails, or rogue advertising networks commonly associated with torrent platforms, adult content sites, and pages offering illegal movie streaming services.

How to avoid visiting scam pages?

Regularly update your operating system and software, and run scans with a reputable security tool. Only download applications from official websites or trusted app stores. Be wary of unexpected or irrelevant emails and messages - avoid opening links or attachments they contain.

In addition, never allow notification requests from questionable websites, and do not trust ads, pop-ups, or other elements on unreliable 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 the "Fake PendleSwap website" (GIF):

The original site (app.pendle.finance):

Instant automatic malware removal:

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Quick menu:

• What is Fraudulent PendleSwap site?
• 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 crypto scam?

These scam pages often pretend to be legitimate crypto exchanges, wallets, or investment platforms but are created to trick users into taking harmful actions.

What is the purpose of a crypto scam?

These scams are designed to trick unsuspecting users into giving away their cryptocurrency, personal information, or login details.

Why do I encounter scam sites?

Scammers use fake social media accounts, hijacked websites, misleading ads, pop-ups, suspicious links, or notifications to lead users to crypto scam pages that steal funds. These sites can also be accessed through adware, fake emails, or rogue advertising networks often linked to torrent sites, adult content, and illegal streaming platforms.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from scams?

Combo Cleaner can scan websites and identify harmful ones. It can detect scam sites, notify users, and block access to such pages.