How to avoid scams like the fake "MakerDAO Rewards" page

What is "MakerDAO Rewards" scam?

We have inspected the page (maker-events[.]net) and discovered that it is a fraudulent copy of the original MakerDAO site (makerdao.com). The fake web page promises free tokens as a lure. Its purpose is to trick visitors into taking actions that allow fraudsters to steal their cryptocurrency.

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 "MakerDAO Rewards" site in detail

MakerDAO is a decentralized system on the Ethereum blockchain that lets users generate the stablecoin Dai by locking up crypto as collateral. It started with only ETH as collateral but later expanded to support multiple assets. The project is controlled by a global community through smart contracts.

The fake site, maker-events[.]net, poses as an official MakerDAO promotion, claiming that visitors are eligible to receive free MKR tokens. It encourages users to click a "Claim now" button to start the "claim" process. This is a deceptive site designed to trick users into connecting their wallets.

After a wallet is connected, the fake site runs a malicious tool (a crypto drainer) that can move funds without the user's further interaction. This method is used to drain crypto assets by automatically transferring them from the victim's wallet into the scammer's account.

Because blockchain transactions are irreversible, stolen cryptocurrency cannot be recovered (or is very difficult to recover). These scams are a considerable threat, often resulting in significant financial losses. To avoid such risks, users should always verify the authenticity of any crypto-related site or offer before connecting their wallet or taking other action.

Similar scams in general

These scams are often disguised as legitimate crypto projects and offer fake rewards to lure users into connecting their wallets. Once this is achieved, malicious tools can steal funds in irreversible transactions, leading to major financial losses. Users should always double-check the legitimacy of any crypto-related platform to avoid the associated risks.

Some examples of similar scams are the fake "Manyu Airdrop", "FUEL Points Program", "Telcoin ($TEL) Rewards" sites.

How did I open a scam website?

Scammers often spread crypto drainer schemes using fake or hacked accounts on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook. They may also compromise legitimate WordPress sites or use misleading online ads, fake pop-ups, and push notifications from unreliable pages to lure users into their scams.

In other cases, users are directed to scams through adware, phishing emails containing links or files, or rogue ad networks. These networks are commonly found on shady websites, including those offering torrents, adult content, illegal movie streaming services, etc.

How to avoid visiting scam pages?

Avoid clicking on ads, pop-ups, or any suspicious content found on untrustworthy websites, and never accept notifications from questionable pages. Be cautious when dealing with unexpected emails or messages, particularly those from unknown senders. Do not click included links or open attached files.

Keep your operating system and apps up to date, and perform routine scans using reliable antivirus tools. Download software from reputable sources or official app stores. 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 "MakerDAO Rewards" scam (GIF):

The original MakerDAO site (makerdao.com):

Instant automatic malware removal:

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Quick menu:

• What is Fake MakerDAO Rewards 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 a fake crypto giveaway?

Typically, it is a scam where fraudsters offer cryptocurrency in exchange for "participation".

What is the purpose of a fake crypto giveaway?

Scammers behind these scams usually aim to drain wallets (steal cryptocurrency from victims).

Why do I encounter scam sites?

Scammers use fake or hacked social media accounts, compromised websites, misleading ads, and push notifications to trick users into opening scam websites. They also rely on adware, phishing emails, and rogue ad networks often found on shady sites like torrent or adult content platforms to direct victims to their scams.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from scams?

Combo Cleaner inspects websites and can identify malicious ones. It detects sites that deliver scams and immediately warns users while blocking access to those sites.