How to spot scams like "Vanguard ($VWA) Airdrop"

What kind of scam is "Vanguard ($VWA) Airdrop"?

Our team reviewed the website (vwa.allocation[.]pro) and determined that it mimics the original Vanguard site (vwa.to) to trick users. It is a fraudulent site designed to steal cryptocurrency through a malicious tool, and should not be trusted or visited. Falling for this scam can lead to irrecoverable losses.

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 "Vanguard ($VWA) Airdrop" in detail

Vanguard (vwa.to) is a platform focused on tokenizing real-world assets on the XRP blockchain. It claims to bring precious metals and gemstones to the blockchain and offers new ways to create and transfer value. The platform highlights everyday accessibility and a community-oriented approach.

The fraudulent website (vwa.allocation[.]pro) promotes a $VWA airdrop - a cryptocurrency giveaway. It is designed to deceive users into participating in a scam. The site instructs visitors to "claim airdrop" by connecting their crypto wallets.

If users connect their cryptocurrency wallets, the site can run a crypto-draining tool that moves funds from the connected wallet directly to the scammers' wallet. Once cryptocurrency is stolen, it cannot be recovered, because blockchain transactions are irreversible. That is why it is important to research crypto platforms before interacting with them.

If a site seems suspicious and offers free cryptocurrency in exchange for connecting a wallet or providing personal details, it should not be trusted.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while Vanguard (vwa.to) presents itself as a legitimate platform for tokenizing real-world assets on the XRP blockchain, vwa.allocation[.]pro is a scam site. It falsely advertises a $VWA cryptocurrency airdrop to steal crypto holdings from victims. Here are some examples of similar scams: "Trust Wallet Security Breach", "Morphware (XMW) Vote Rewards", and "Beam Vote Rewards".

How did I open a scam website?

Fraudsters often exploit hacked or fake social media profiles, particularly on X (Twitter) and Facebook, or compromised websites to advertise fake cryptocurrency giveaways and other crypto-related scams. Users can also encounter scams through unsafe links, deceptive ads, buttons, on untrustworthy websites, or notifications from such pages.

In other situations, adware, deceptive emails, and unreliable advertising networks (commonly seen on torrent sites, adult content platforms, or illegal streaming websites) are used to trick users into opening fraudulent websites.

How to avoid visiting scam pages?

Exercise caution when receiving unsolicited or unexpected emails or messages from unknown senders. Avoid clicking links or opening attachments in these kinds of messages. Only download software or apps from official websites or trusted app stores. Keep the operating system and all installed programs up to date, and perform regular scans with trusted security software.

Do not interact with pop-ups, ads, or links on suspicious websites, and never grant them permission to send notifications. 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 "Vanguard ($VWA) Airdrop" scam (GIF):

The original Vanguard website (vwa.to):

Instant automatic malware removal:

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Quick menu:

• What is Fake Vanguard ($VWA) Airdrop?
• 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?

A fake crypto airdrop is a deceptive event that imitates legitimate token giveaways. It typically appears on fraudulent websites or social media posts claiming to distribute free cryptocurrency.

What is the purpose of a fake crypto airdrop?

In most cases, cybercriminals behind these scams aim to drain wallets (steal cryptocurrency) from unsuspecting individuals.

Why do I encounter scam websites?

Fraudsters distribute their scams through fake or hacked social media profiles, deceptive emails, compromised websites, misleading pop-ups or ads on shady pages, fake alerts from untrustworthy pages, and rogue advertising networks often found on adult, torrent, and illegal streaming sites.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from scams?

Combo Cleaner detects harmful and deceptive websites, alerts users to potential threats, and blocks access to unsafe or fraudulent pages.