How to spot fake offers like "Spheron (SPON) Reward"

What is the fake "Spheron (SPON) Reward" site?

Our analysis has revealed that claims-spheron[.]network imitates the official Spheron web page to trick visitors into taking actions that can lead to the theft of their cryptocurrency. Like most similar scams, the fake Spheron site offers users rewards as a lure. This and similar deceptive pages should be avoided.

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.

"Spheron (SPON) Reward" scam in detail

Spheron (spheron.network) is a decentralized network that connects GPU providers with users in need of high-performance computing resources. It enables individuals and organizations to lease or monetize idle GPU power for tasks such as AI, simulations, and rendering. The platform features an on-chain marketplace, automated matchmaking, and a secure payment system powered by a native token.

The fake website (claims-spheron[.]network) offers individuals the chance to claim the native token ($SPON) by connecting their wallets. However, once a wallet is connected, the site activates a cryptocurrency drainer. This drainer gets inside a wallet and automatically transfers funds from the victim's wallet to the scammer's.

Since blockchain transactions cannot be reversed, recovering stolen cryptocurrency is extremely difficult and often not possible. As a result, victims of these scams commonly experience permanent financial losses.

To avoid such risks, always verify the legitimacy of a crypto platform before taking part in an airdrop, especially when it involves connecting a wallet or sharing personal information.

Conclusion

In conclusion, fake websites like claims-spheron[.]network exploit the popularity of legitimate platforms (like spheron.network) to steal cryptocurrency through deceptive tactics. Usually, they offer free tokens or other rewards for participation. It is important to recognize such scams to avoid cryptocurrency theft.

More examples of scams using similar methods to steal crypto are the fake "SoDEX Rewards", "DappWallet Node Airdrop", and "Solaxy (SOLX) Airdrop" pages.

How did I open a scam website?

Scammers use fake or hijacked social media accounts, particularly on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook, to promote crypto drainer scams. They also exploit hijacked WordPress websites to spread these scams. Phishing emails with links or attachments are also commonly used as a lure.

Users can also be directed to scam sites via adware, misleading pop-ups, deceptive notifications from unreliable pages, or ads on untrustworthy web pages. Rogue advertising networks, commonly embedded in torrent sites, adult platforms, and illegal streaming services, can also take users to scams.

How to avoid visiting scam pages?

Exercise caution with emails or messages from unknown senders, especially if they include links or attachments. Only download software and files from trusted sources, such as official websites or app stores. Keep your operating system and applications updated, and use reliable antivirus software to perform regular scans.

When visiting unfamiliar websites, avoid clicking on pop-ups, ads, or suspicious elements, and never allow notification permissions from untrusted 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 "Spheron (SPON) Reward" scam (GIF):

The official Spheron site (spheron.network):

Instant automatic malware removal:

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Quick menu:

• What is Fake Spheron (SPON) Reward 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 fake crypto giveaway?

A fake crypto giveaway is a deceptive scheme in which scammers claim to offer free cryptocurrency to entice users into connecting their wallets or taking other steps, with the true intent of stealing their funds.

What is the purpose of a fake crypto giveaway?

These scams are usually crafted to trick users into performing actions that grant scammers access to their cryptocurrency.

Why do I encounter scam websites?

Scam websites are commonly distributed through deceptive advertising networks, often embedded in torrent platforms and similar sites. Users may also come across these scams through misleading emails, fraudulent ads, or links shared on social media channels using fake or stolen accounts.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me scams?

Combo Cleaner scans websites for harmful or deceptive content, including scams. When it identifies a dangerous site, it notifies the user and blocks access to protect against threats.