How to spot scams like the fake "Kite Airdrop"

What is the fake "Kite Airdrop"?

We have checked claim-kitefoundation[.]com and found that it imitates the original Kite website (gokite.ai). On the fake website, visitors are encouraged to participate in an airdrop. However, this is a scam designed to trick unsuspecting individuals into taking actions that can result in the theft of their 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.

"Kite Airdrop" scam in detail

Kite (gokite.ai) is a Layer‑1 blockchain built specifically for AI assets, models, and agents. Its goal is to enable decentralised collaboration and payments across AI data, models, and services, using a consensus mechanism called "Proof of Attributed Intelligence" (PoAI) to fairly reward contributors.

However, there is a scam website mimicking the Kite platform. This website (claim-kitefoundation[.]com) promotes a fake KITE airdrop. It encourages visitors to connect their wallets to check if they are eligible for the KITE airdrop (crypto giveaway). The purpose of this fraudulent page is to steal cryptocurrency.

If visitors connect their wallets, the site activates a cryptocurrency drainer. This drainer allows scammers to automatically transfer crypto holdings from the connected wallet to their own. Blockchain transactions cannot be undone, so any stolen funds are lost permanently (in most cases).

For this reason, it is important to check if the platform is legitimate, especially if it offers free cryptocurrency. If it seems suspicious, a wallet should not be connected, and personal information should not be disclosed.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the scam website pretends to be part of the Kite platform but is designed to steal cryptocurrency through a fake airdrop. Connecting a wallet to this site can result in permanent loss of funds. Users should avoid sharing personal information or connecting wallets on suspicious sites.

Examples of similar scams are "Fake Trade[XYZ] Website", "MoveQuest Boost Allocation", and "Aster Allocation".

How did I open a scam website?

Scams are often distributed through hacked social media accounts. Scammers often use platforms like Twitter/X and Facebook to send fraudulent messages. They also use hijacked WordPress websites to promote scams. Users can also be directed to scam sites after clicking on misleading ads, fake buttons, or deceptive links on unsafe websites.

Additionally, scams can spread via fake browser notifications, phishing emails with links or attachments, and malicious ad networks commonly found on torrent sites, adult content pages, streaming platforms, and other high-risk websites. Sometimes, adware can lead to fraudulent sites.

How to avoid visiting scam pages?

Do not open attachments or links in unsolicited emails and other types of messages from unknown senders. Be careful when browsing the web - avoid interacting with pop-ups, ads, suspicious links, or buttons, and never allow untrusted sites to send notifications. Download software and files only from official sites or trusted app stores.

Keep your operating system and applications up to date, and perform regular scans with reputable 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 "Kite Airdrop" scam (GIF):

The original Kite website (gokite.ai):

Instant automatic malware removal:

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Quick menu:

• What is Fake Kite giveaway?
• 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?

It is a scam that pretends to give away free cryptocurrency to users. In reality, no free cryptocurrency is sent to victims.

What is the purpose of a crypto giveaway?

In most cases, scammers ask users to connect their crypto wallets, provide private keys, or complete other steps that allow them to steal crypto holdings.

Why do I encounter scams?

Scams are commonly spread through hacked social media accounts, compromised websites, and misleading links or ads on unsafe sites. They can also appear via fake browser notifications, phishing emails, and malicious ad networks on high-risk platforms like torrent, streaming, or adult sites. Adware may also lead users to fraudulent pages.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from scams?

Combo Cleaner detects harmful websites and scam pages, warning users immediately and preventing access.