How to identify fake "Chainbase" airdrops

What is the fake "Chainbase Airdrop" website?

While investigating dubious websites, our researchers discovered this fake "Chainbase" airdrop. It must be emphasized that this phishing scam is in no way associated with the real Chainbase platform. The purpose of this fraudulent page is to deceive victims into disclosing their cryptocurrency wallet log-in credentials.

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 "Chainbase Airdrop" website overview

We discovered this scam on chainbz[.]vip, but keep in mind that it could be promoted on different domains as well. It is presented as the official Chainbase website (chainbase.com) running an airdrop. Chainbase is a dApp (Decentralized Application) developer solution platform that aids with blockchain data for building and scaling dApps.

It must be reiterated that this airdrop is fake, and the scam is not associated with Chainbase or any other existing platforms, projects, or entities.

When a user connects their digital wallet to check their eligibility for the bogus airdrop and chooses theirs – they are presented with a cryptowallet update. Following the completion of the fake update, the user is asked to enter their wallet's passphrase. The webpage then records the provided data and sends it to scammers, thus enabling them to steal the exposed digital wallet.

It must be mentioned that cryptocurrency transactions are irreversible because of their practically untraceable nature. Therefore, the digital assets lost to this fake "Chainbase Airdrop" airdrop cannot be recovered.

Cryptocurrency-targeting scam examples

We have investigated numerous online scams; fake "MultiBit Dashboard" website, "MakerDAO Rewards", and "Yala Airdop" are merely a couple of our newest articles on crypto scams. Aside from seeking wallet log-in credentials, these scams commonly utilize draining mechanisms to siphon funds from exposed wallets or trick victims into manually transferring assets to scammer-owned wallets.

Online scams are often poorly put together and riddled with mistakes, but they can be competently made and even convincingly disguised as content associated with legitimate entities (e.g., companies, organizations, institutions, service providers, etc.).

Due to how widespread scams are on the Web and how believable they can be – we strongly advise vigilance when browsing and investing online.

How did I open a scam website?

Generally, online scams are promoted through websites employing rogue advertising networks (redirects), spam (e.g., social media/ forum posts, DMs/PMs, emails, browser notifications, cold calls/ robocalls, SMSes, etc.), malvertising (intrusive adverts), typosquatting (misspelled URLs), and adware (ads/redirects).

Crypto scams are prevalent on social media platforms, especially on X (more commonly referred to by its former name – Twitter). These spam posts and direct/private messages can be made using accounts stolen from real projects, companies, organizations, entrepreneurs, celebrities, influencers, etc.

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

How to avoid visiting scam websites?

To ensure your online safety, always be cautious. Be wary of websites, advertisements, and communications that make unbelievable promises or aim to cause undue stress. Take note of URLs and type them carefully. Do not use sites offering pirated content or other questionable services (e.g., illegal streaming/downloading, Torrenting, etc.), as these webpages are typically monetized through rogue advertising networks.

Do not permit suspicious pages to deliver browser notifications; ignore or deny their request (i.e., select "Block", "Block Notifications", etc.). Do not open attachments or links found in dubious/irrelevant emails and other messages.

Download only from official/trustworthy sources and be attentive when installing (e.g., read terms, study options, use "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opt out of supplementary apps, extensions, tools, etc.) – to prevent bundled/hazardous software from infiltrating the system.

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 "Chainbase Airdrop" website (GIF):

Screenshot of the official Chainbase website (chainbase.com):

Instant automatic malware removal:

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Quick menu:

• What is "Chainbase Airdrop" scam 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 an online scam?

"Online scams" refer to a type of Internet content that aims to deceive users into performing certain actions. For example, victims can be enticed/scared into disclosing sensitive information (like log-in credentials), sending money to scammers, connecting digital wallets to crypto drainers, buying products, subscribing to services, downloading/installing software, calling fake support lines, etc.

What is the purpose of online scams?

The purpose of online scams is to generate revenue for scammers. They may profit by selling/abusing private information, endorsing content (e.g., websites, software, products, services, etc.), acquiring funds through deception, spreading malware, or by relying on other nefarious means.

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

Cryptocurrency transactions cannot be reversed due to their nearly untraceable nature. Therefore, victims of scams like this fake "Chainbase Airdrop" airdrop cannot get their money back.

Why do I encounter online scams?

Online scams are most commonly promoted through spam (e.g., emails, social media posts, PMs/DMs, browser notifications, etc.), websites that use rogue advertising networks, intrusive ads, mistyped URLs, and adware.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from online scams?

Combo Cleaner can scan visited websites and detect rogue, scam, and malicious pages. It can also block all further access to such sites.