How to identify scams like the fake "Boundless (ZKC) Airdrop"

What is the fraudulent "Boundless (ZKC) Airdrop"?

Our inspection has revealed that this is a fake website (airdrop.boundlless[.]digital) posing as the official Boundless platform (boundless.network). It promotes a fake airdrop with the intention to lure unsuspecting individuals into connecting their wallets. The scammers behind this scheme seek to steal cryptocurrency from victims.

IMPORTANT NOTE: We do not review crypto projects, please do your own research when investing money.

Federal Trade Commission (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 "Boundless (ZKC) Airdrop" in detail

Boundless (boundless.network) is a protocol that brings zero-knowledge (ZK) technology to all blockchains. It lets developers build fast, flexible apps without worrying about block size or gas limits. Developers submit proof requests, and provers compete to complete them, earning rewards.

On the deceptive (fake) page, airdrop.boundlless[.]digital, visitors are offered to participate in the ZKC token airdrop. They are encouraged to register their address and confirm eligibility to claim tokens. The site instructs visitors to connect their wallets to participate in the fake airdrop.

When a user connects their wallet, a malicious site can activate a crypto drainer that transfers funds from the connected wallet to the scammer's wallet. Since blockchain transactions cannot be reversed, stolen funds are almost always permanently lost. Therefore, it is important to connect wallets only to trusted websites and to avoid entering private information on unfamiliar platforms.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this fraudulent site poses as the Boundless platform to promote a fake airdrop and steal cryptocurrency from connected wallets. Blockchain transactions are irreversible, so victims risk permanent loss of their funds. It is important to note that many scams of this kind exist. Thus, users should be able to recognize them.

Some examples of similar scams are "NFTStrategy Airdrop", "Troll Coin Airdrop", and "River Pts Airdrop".

How did I open a scam website?

Scammers spread fraudulent websites in several ways, including through hacked or fake social media accounts, compromised sites, and phishing emails. They also use malicious advertising networks, commonly found on torrent pages, pirated streaming services, adult sites, and other risky platforms.

Additionally, users may be directed to these scams through fake download buttons, misleading links, ads injected by adware, or notifications pushed by untrustworthy websites.

How to avoid visiting scam pages?

Regularly update your operating system and applications, use trusted security software, and perform regular scans. Always download apps, files, and other content from official websites or reliable app stores. Avoid clicking on ads or links found on untrustworthy sites, and never permit them to send notifications.

Be cautious with unexpected emails or messages, especially from unknown senders, and do not open attachments or click on the links they include. 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 "Boundless (ZKC) Airdrop" scam (GIF):

The original Boundless website (boundless.network):

Instant automatic malware removal:

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Quick menu:

• What is Fake Boundless (ZKC) airdrop (giveaway)?
• 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 airdrop?

These schemes often pretend to be legitimate exchanges or services, aiming to deceive individuals into performing actions that benefit the fraudsters.

What is the purpose of a fake crypto giveaway?

Scammers try to trick people into connecting their wallets, sending cryptocurrency, or revealing personal information. In nearly all cases, their main goal is to steal cryptocurrency.

Why do I encounter scam websites?

Scammers distribute scams using hacked or fake social media accounts, compromised websites, phishing emails, and malicious advertisements. They also use rogue advertising networks commonly used on torrent sites, pages offering illegal movie streaming, and simialr plarforms. Users may also be led to fraudulent sites through notifications from shady pages.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from scams?

Combo Cleaner checks websites for malicious or scam content and automatically alerts the user while blocking access if a threat is detected.