How to identify scams like "Onyx Vote Rewards"

What kind of scam is "Onyx Vote Rewards"?

Our examination of the page (event-onyxs[.]org) has revealed that it is a fake site posing as the original Onyx website (onyx.org). The scammers behind the fraudulent page aim to trick visitors into believing that they can claim rewards, and their intention is to steal cryptocurrency.

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.

"Onyx Vote Rewards" scam in detail

Onyx (onyx.org) is a Layer 3 blockchain built for financial-grade applications. It operates on Ethereum, Base, and Arbitrum, offering scalability, low transaction fees, and enhanced security for decentralized applications (dApps). The network uses Onyxcoin (XCN) as its native token.

The scam website (event-onyxs[.]org) claims that holders can now vote on the upcoming rewards date, and those who vote in the first 24 hours will receive an early token reward. It instructs visitors to connect their wallets to receive a reward. When a wallet is connected, a malicious drainer is activated.

This malicious tool automatically transfers assets from connected wallets to addresses controlled by cybercriminals. As blockchain transactions cannot be reversed, recovery of stolen funds is generally not possible. Users should therefore never trust websites like event-onyxs[.]org to avoid financial loss.

Conclusion

The scam website event-onyxs[.]org impersonates Onyx and attempts to trick users into connecting their wallets by promising token rewards. Doing so activates a malicious drainer that steals funds, which cannot be recovered due to the irreversible nature of blockchain transactions. Users should avoid such sites and only interact with official and reliable platforms.

More examples of fake platforms designed to steal cryptocurrency are "Keeta ($KTA) Vote Rewards", "Fake Fleek Website", and "Dione Protocol ($DIONE) Vote Rewards".

How did I open a scam website?

Scams often spread through fake or stolen social media accounts on platforms like X/Twitter and Facebook, as well as through compromised (hijacked) WordPress websites. Users can also be directed to fraudulent sites via rogue advertising networks, which frequently appear on torrent sites, illegal streaming platforms, adult websites, and similar channels.

Scams may also reach users through unwanted apps (e.g., adware), fraudulent emails, or notifications from untrustworthy sites. Overall, scams are promoted using various deceptive methods.

How to avoid visiting scam pages?

Always download software from official sources (official websites or app stores). Be careful when receiving unexpected or suspicious emails and messages - do not open attachments or click on any links they contain. Avoid allowing untrusted websites to send notifications.

Do not trust ads, links, or other content on suspicious pages. In addition, maintain your system's security by regularly scanning with reliable antivirus software and keeping the operating system and all applications up to date. 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 "Onyx Vote Rewards" scam (GIF):

The original Onyx site (onyx.org):

Instant automatic malware removal:

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Quick menu:

• What is Fake Onyx Vote 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 airdrop?

Cybercriminals often present these scams as legitimate offers, leading users to take steps that directly benefit the attackers.

What is the purpose of a fake crypto giveaway?

These scams aim to steal cryptocurrency by tricking users into giving wallet access, sending funds, or revealing private information.

Why do I encounter scam websites?

Scammers use various deceptive methods to trick users. Scams often spread through fake social media accounts, compromised websites, rogue advertising networks used by dubious sites, and untrustworthy apps, deceptive emails, or notifications from unreliable pages.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from scams?

Yes, Combo Cleaner detects malicious or fraudulent websites, warns the user, and blocks access automatically.