How to avoid getting scammed by fake Yala airdrops

What is the fake "Yala Airdop" website?

Our researchers discovered this fake "Yala" airdrop during a routine investigation. This webpage is supposedly associated with Yala; in fact, this page is in no way connected to the real protocol of this name (yala.org). The purpose of this scam site is to deceive users into exposing their digital wallets to a crypto 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 "Yala Airdop" website overview

We discovered this scam on claimyala[.]org; however, it must be mentioned that it might also be hosted on other domains. This webpage is presented in a way that implies a connection to Yala (yala.org) and entices victims by claiming that eligible users can participate in an airdrop.

Yala is a DeFi (Decentralized Finance) protocol focused on combining Bitcoin liquidity with the $YU stablecoin. It must be stressed that this airdrop is fake, and this scam is not associated with Yala or any other existing projects, platforms, and entities.

When a user connects their digital wallet to try verifying their eligibility for the airdrop, they inadvertently sign a malicious contract that facilitates the crypto drainer. Essentially, the victim's assets are transferred through automated transactions to scammer-owned wallets. Drainers may be capable of approximating the value of digital assets and prioritizing the theft of those with the highest worth.

It is noteworthy that these transactions may appear innocuous – thus, they can remain unnoticed for a significant amount of time. What is more, cryptocurrency transactions are irreversible due to their practically untraceable nature. Therefore, victims of scams like this fake "Yala Airdop" site cannot recover the stolen funds.

Cryptocurrency drainer scam examples

We have written about thousands of online scams; fake Web3 Crypto Exchange Platform website, "FUEL Points Program", fake "PendleSwap" website, and "T3rn ($TRN) Airdrop" are just a few of our newest articles on cryptocurrency drainers.

However, this is not the only mode of operation for crypto scams. There are two other prevalent methods – phishing for wallet log-in credentials and deceiving users into manually transferring assets to scammer-owned wallets.

Due to how widespread scams are on the Internet and how well-crafted they can be – we highly recommend exercising caution when browsing and investing online.

How did I open a scam website?

Cryptocurrency scams are often promoted via social media spam. The posts and direct/private messages (DMs/PMs) endorsing this content can be made using hacked accounts (i.e., ones originally belonging to real projects, companies, entrepreneurs, celebrities, influencers, etc.).

Another widely used promotional technique is malvertising, specifically – intrusive pop-up advertisements. Some of these pop-ups are fully functional drainers themselves (i.e., capable of executing draining scripts). It is worth mentioning that these ads have been encountered on legitimate sites that had been compromised.

However, other methods are not unlikely. Aside from those previous previously listed, online scams are commonly endorsed through websites utilizing rogue advertising networks, different types of spam (e.g., emails, forum posts, browser notifications, SMSes, robocalls/ cold calls, etc.), typosquatting (misspelled URLs), and adware.

How to avoid visiting scam websites?

Caution is vital to ensuring your online safety. Therefore, be wary of websites, advertisements, and communications that make unbelievable promises or warn about severe threats. Pay attention to URLs and type them carefully.

Do not use sites offering pirated programs/media or other questionable services (e.g., illegal streaming/downloading, Torrenting, etc.), as these webpages are typically monetized via rogue advertising networks. Be vigilant with incoming emails and other messages; do not open attachments or links found in suspicious mail.

Do not enable dubious webpages to deliver browser notifications; ignore or block their notification requests. Download only from official/trustworthy sources and be attentive when installing (e.g., study terms and options, use "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opt out of supplementary 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 "Yala Airdop" website (GIF):

Screenshot of the official Yala website (yala.org):

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 "Yala Airdop" 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 hosted on the Web. These scams aim to trick users into performing specific actions, such as connecting digital wallets to crypto drainers, disclosing sensitive information, sending money to scammers, buying products, subscribing to services, downloading/installing software, and so on.

What is the purpose of online scams?

The purpose of online scams is to generate revenue for scammers. Cyber criminals primarily profit by acquiring funds through deception, endorsing content (e.g., websites, products, services, etc.), selling/abusing vulnerable information, and spreading malware.

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

No, cryptocurrency transactions cannot be reversed because they are nearly untraceable. Therefore, victims of scams like this fake "Yala Airdop" page cannot get their money back.

Why do I encounter online scams?

Online scams are predominantly encountered via sites that employ rogue advertising networks, spam (e.g., social media posts, DMs/PMs, emails, browser notifications, etc.), intrusive adverts, mistyped URLs, and adware.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from online scams?

Yes, Combo Cleaner can scan visited websites and detect rogue, deceptive, and malicious pages. Therefore, should you happen upon such a webpage – Combo Cleaner will immediately warn you and restrict all further access to it.