How to avoid scams like "Pepe Unchained ($PEPU) Vote Rewards" fake site

What is "Pepe Unchained ($PEPU) Vote Rewards"?

During our inspection of pepusunchained.votings.workers[.]dev, we found that it is a fraudulent website posing as the Pepe Unchained site (pepeunchained.com). The scammers behind it seek to steal cryptocurrency by tricking visitors into connecting their crypto wallets. Users should avoid visiting such pages.

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.

"Pepe Unchained ($PEPU) Vote Rewards" in detail

Pepe Unchained (pepeunchained.com) is a meme-focused cryptocurrency ecosystem built on Ethereum Layer 2. The platform includes features like a decentralized exchange (DEX), staking, bridges, and launchpads for meme-based tokens. Its native token is called $PEPU. However, there is a scam website pretending to be the original Pepe Unchained site.

The fraudulent page promotes a "PEPU Rewards Update" and claims that voters will receive an early PEPU allocation from the TPF (Treasury Pool Funds). It implies that users can receive free tokens. On this site, visitors are instructed to connect their wallets to "vote". However, taking this step launches a malicious tool.

Connecting a wallet activates a cryptocurrency drainer, which is designed to steal cryptocurrency by transferring the victim's funds from their wallet directly to the fraudster's wallet. Since cryptocurrency transactions are irreversible, any crypto sent to scammers is typically unrecoverable.

Therefore, it is essential to verify that a crypto platform is trustworthy before using it, especially if it offers free tokens.

Conclusion

Users should exercise caution when interacting with websites claiming to offer free tokens or rewards, even if they appear related to projects like Pepe Unchained. Fraudulent sites can deploy malicious tools that steal cryptocurrency, and because transactions on blockchain networks are irreversible, any funds lost are usually unrecoverable.

Some examples of similar scams are "Morphware (XMW) Vote Rewards", "Beam Vote Rewards", and "PunkStrategy ($PNKSTR) Vote Rewards".

How did I open a scam website?

Scammers use hacked social media profiles (especially on X/Twitter and Facebook) and hijacked WordPress sites to advertise fake crypto airdrops and other scams designed to steal digital currency. Scams can also be encountered by clicking on misleading ads, unsafe links (or similar content on unreliable sites), fake notifications from shady pages, etc.

Additionally, users can land on scam pages through adware or shady ad networks, often used on torrent, adult, or illegal movie streaming websites.

How to avoid visiting scam pages?

Avoid clicking on pop-ups, ads, or links when visiting suspicious websites, and never allow such sites to send notifications. Be careful with unexpected emails or messages from questionable senders - do not click links or open attachments in them.

Only download software from official websites or trusted app stores. Keep your operating system and apps up to date, and regularly scan your device with reliable security software. 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 "Pepe Unchained ($PEPU) Vote Rewards" scam (GIF):

The original Pepe Unchained website (pepeunchained.com):

Instant automatic malware removal:

Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:

By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by RCS LT, the parent company of PCRisk.com.

Quick menu:

• What is Fake Pepe Unchained ($PEPU) Vote Rewards page?
• 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 allocation?

A fake crypto allocation is a scam in which scammers claim that a user is entitled to receive cryptocurrency tokens, often as part of a "reward", "airdrop", or "early allocation" from a project's treasury or token pool.

What is the purpose of a fake crypto allocation?

The main danger posed by these scams is the theft of cryptocurrency. Scammers often utilize wallet-draining tools or manipulate users into providing sensitive information required to access their crypto.

Why do I encounter scam websites?

Scammers are promoted through phishing emails, hacked or fake social media accounts, and compromised websites. They can also be pushed using misleading pop-ups, notifications from untrustworthy sites, and shady advertising networks (often found on torrent sites, illegal streaming platforms, adult content pages, and similar sources).

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from scams?

Combo Cleaner identifies websites that may be malicious or unsafe, provides warnings to users, and restricts access to potentially fraudulent pages.