How to spot scams like "MasterBOT ($BOT) Airdrop"

What is "MasterBOT ($BOT) Airdrop" scam?

We have inspected the website (drop-masterbot[.]app) and concluded that it promotes a fake cryptocurrency giveaway (airdrop). The site mimics the original MasterBOT page (masterbot.app) to appear legitimate. Its purpose is to steal cryptocurrency by tricking visitors into taking specific steps.

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 "MasterBOT ($BOT) Airdrop" in detail

MasterBOT (masterbot.app) is a Web3 platform where users help train AI systems for robotics by predicting which of three AI strategies will succeed in daily virtual challenges. Its native token, $BOT, is used to stake and make these predictions. However, there is a scam website (drop-masterbot[.]app) pretending to be the MasterBOT site.

The fake site presents itself as a platform offering an exclusive $BOT airdrop. It claims that users can receive free crypto rewards. It also promotes the ability to track, join, and claim airdrops from major Solana-based projects. This scam website is designed to trick visitors into connecting their wallets.

Upon connecting a wallet, the site triggers a cryptocurrency drainer, a malicious tool that automatically transfers funds from the user's wallet to the attacker's address. Because blockchain transactions are irreversible, any stolen crypto cannot be recovered. For this reason, users should always examine websites before sending funds, entering personal information, or connecting wallets.

Conclusion

In conclusion, drop-masterbot[.]app is a fraudulent site impersonating the real MasterBOT platform to steal cryptocurrency by luring users into connecting their wallets. Once connected, it drains funds. It is important to ensure crypto sites are legitimate before interacting with them.

Examples of similar scams are "APRO ($AT) Airdrop", "Bonus For Solana Users", and "MegaETH Token Distribution".

How did I open a scam website?

Fake or hacked social media accounts (e.g., X/Twitter, Facebook) and compromised WordPress sites are common tools for scammers to promote their schemes. They can also trick users with misleading links, buttons, and ads on dubious sites.

Scam pages are also spread through fake notifications from dubious web pages, phishing emails containing links or files, ads generated by adware, and shady ad networks on torrent, adult, streaming, and other unsafe platforms.

How to avoid visiting scam pages?

Never open attachments or click links in emails or messages that look suspicious or come from unknown senders. Also, do not click pop-ups, ads, or links on unsafe websites, and always reject requests from shady pages to show notifications. Download apps and files only from official pages or app stores.

Keep your system and programs up to date and run regular scans with trusted 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 "MasterBOT ($BOT) Airdrop" scam (GIF):

The original MasterBot website (masterbot.app):

Instant automatic malware removal:

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Quick menu:

• What is Fake MasterBOT ($BOT) 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 giveaway?

These giveaway scams lure people with free crypto offers, then trick them into connecting wallets, revealing personal information, or taking other actions.

What is the purpose of a fake crypto giveaway?

Usually, scammers aim to steal cryptocurrency from victims. They achieve this through crypto drainers or other methods.

Why do I encounter scam websites?

Fraudsters spread their schemes through hijacked websites, stolen or fake social media accounts, deceptive emails, misleading links or ads on untrustworthy pages, adware, notifications from unreliable sites, and suspicious advertising networks. These networks often appear on torrent sites, adult platforms, and illegal streaming websites.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from scams?

Combo Cleaner protects users from harmful websites by detecting them, sending warnings, and preventing access.