How to spot scams like "Bonus For Solana Users"

What is "Bonus For Solana Users" scam?

Our analysis of the website (so-promotion[.]org) has revealed that it impersonates the official Solana site (solana.com). The operators of this fake site are attempting to steal cryptocurrency. Their goal is to deceive visitors into activating a malicious tool that can drain funds from their crypto wallets.

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.

"Bonus For Solana Users" scam in detail

Solana.com is the official website for the Solana blockchain, a high-performance platform designed for decentralized applications and cryptocurrency transactions. It offers fast transaction speeds and low fees compared to many other blockchains. Solana's native cryptocurrency is SOL.

However, there are various scam sites mimicking the official page, and so-promotion[.]org is one of them. This fraudulent page invites visitors to claim a "welcome bonus" and encourages them to spin a wheel for a chance to receive a certain amount of Solana cryptocurrency. Ultimately, visitors are instructed to connect their wallets to "claim a reward".

In reality, connecting a wallet activates a malicious tool called a crypto drainer. This tool can empty wallets by transferring cryptocurrency from the connected wallets to the ones controlled by scammers. Because blockchain transactions cannot be undone, any cryptocurrency that is stolen is permanently lost.

Therefore, it is crucial for users to confirm that a crypto platform is legitimate before interacting with it (connecting a wallet, entering personal information, or sending cryptocurrency).

Conclusion

In conclusion, this scam exploits Solana's name to trick users into connecting their wallets and losing their funds. It highlights the dangers of fake crypto websites offering "free" tokens or other rewards. Users should always verify a platform's legitimacy before interacting with it.

Here are some examples of similar scams: "Fake MegaETH Sale Scam", "ZERA Distribution Scam", and "$COMMON Airdrop Scam".

How did I open a scam website?

Scammers distribute their schemes through fake or compromised social media accounts, particularly on X (Twitter) and Facebook. Another popular method to promote scams is through hacked websites (e.g., hijacked WordPress pages). Scammers may also use misleading links, ads, or buttons on unreliable websites to lure victims.

In addition, scam pages are pushed via deceptive browser notifications, phishing emails, adware, and suspicious ad networks. These networks are commonly found on torrent sites, adult content platforms, illegal streaming services, and other high-risk websites.

How to avoid visiting scam pages?

Avoid opening attachments or clicking links in emails or messages that look suspicious or unexpected and (or) are sent from unknown senders. Download apps and files from official websites or trusted app stores. Regularly update your operating system and software, and run scans with reputable security programs.

Additionally, avoid clicking pop-ups, ads, or links on untrustworthy websites and do not allow these sites to show 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 "Bonus For Solana Users" scam (GIF):

The original Solana website (solana.com):

Instant automatic malware removal:

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Quick menu:

• What is Bonus For Solana Users fake offer?
• 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 giveaway?

A fake crypto giveaway is a scam that tricks people into believing they can receive free cryptocurrency, often by completing certain actions.

What is the purpose of a fake crypto giveaway?

The purpose of a fake crypto giveaway is to deceive users into giving scammers access to their cryptocurrency or personal information.

Why do I encounter scam websites?

Fraudsters use hijacked or fake social media accounts, compromised websites, and misleading links or ads on unreliable pages to distribute their schemes. They also rely on deceptive emails, adware, fake notifications, and suspicious ad networks often seen on torrent sites, adult platforms, and illegal streaming websites.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from scams?

Combo Cleaner protects users by spotting malicious websites, issuing warnings, and blocking access.