How to avoid scams like the fake "Ledger Security Check"

What is "Ledger Security Check" scam?

We have analysed the website (ledger-notice-portal[.]com) and discovered that it is disguised as the official Ledger page (ledger.com). Scammers operating the deceptive site aim to steal personal information from unsuspecting visitors. This website should not be trusted and should be closed if visited.

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.

"Ledger Security Check" scam in detail

Ledger (ledger.com) is a French company best known for making hardware wallets used to securely store cryptocurrencies (like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and many others). Since Ledger wallets deal with crypto security, scammers often create fake websites that look like ledger.com, and ledger-notice-portal[.]com is one of these scam pages.

This fraudulent page presents itself as a Ledger security update. It urges visitors to perform a security check to see if their Ledger device has been compromised. The site instructs users to follow the steps and enter their recovery phrase. It claims that if the current phrase is compromised.

The site's purpose is to steal submitted seed phrases so that scammers can access crypto wallets and drain them (steal cryptocurrency by transferring it from the victims' wallets to the scammers'). It is important to note that blockchain transactions are irreversible, meaning that once funds are stolen, they cannot typically be retrieved.

This makes it important to be cautious when dealing with crypto-related platforms. Users are advised to research any service carefully before entering personal information, such as seed phrases.

Conclusion

In conclusion, ledger-notice-portal[.]com is a fraudulent site designed to trick users into revealing their Ledger recovery phrases, allowing scammers to steal cryptocurrency. This case underscores the importance of exercising caution with crypto services and thoroughly verifying the legitimacy of any platform before entering sensitive information like seed phrases.

More examples of crypto-related scams are "Priceless Treasury Allocation", "Fake ApeX Protocol Website", and "Microbiome DAO Airdrop".

How did I open a scam website?

Crypto scams frequently propagate through hacked or fake social media accounts, particularly on X/Twitter or Facebook, as well as through compromised (hijacked) WordPress sites. Scammers also use phishing emails containing deceptive links or attachments to trick users into visiting fraudulent websites.

Additionally, malicious advertising networks on torrent sites, pirated streaming platforms, adult websites, etc., ads generated by adware, push notifications from untrustworthy websites, and misleading links, banners, or pop-ups on suspicious pages can be used to promote scams.

How to avoid visiting scam pages?

Exercise caution when receiving suspicious (e.g., irrelevant or unexpected) emails or messages from unknown senders, and avoid clicking on any links or opening attachments. Do not interact with ads or links on untrustworthy websites, and never allow these sites to send notifications.

Only download software from official websites or trusted app stores. Additionally, protect your system by using reputable security software and keeping your operating system and applications up to date with the latest updates. 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 "Ledger Security Check" scam (GIF):

The official Ledger website (ledger.com):

Instant automatic malware removal:

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Quick menu:

• What is Fake Ledger Security Check?
• 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 website?

It is a fraudulent website designed to look like a legitimate cryptocurrency platform, such as an exchange, wallet service, or investment site, but its real purpose is to deceive visitors into taking actions that benefit scammers.

What is the purpose of a fake crypto page?

In most cases, the main goal is to steal cryptocurrency. A fake crypto site can use a crypto drainer, extract sensitive information required to gain access to wallets, offer cryptocurrency in exchange for investments, etc.

Why do I encounter scam websites?

Crypto scams often spread through hacked or fake social media accounts, compromised websites, and phishing emails with deceptive links or attachments. They can also be promoted via malicious ad networks, adware-generated ads, push notifications, and misleading links or pop-ups on untrustworthy sites.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from scams?

Combo Cleaner identifies suspicious websites while browsing, notifies the user, and blocks access to harmful pages.