How to spot scams like the fake "Infrared (IR) Airdrop"

What is "Infrared (IR) Airdrop" scam?

We examined the website (infrared-finance[.]pro) and discovered that it is a clone of the Infrared site, infrared.finance. It is a fraudulent website created to steal cryptocurrency from users' wallets. To avoid losing funds, users should steer clear of this and other unofficial copies.

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 "Infrared (IR) Airdrop" in detail

Infrared (infrared.finance) is a platform that builds tools for Proof of Liquidity on the Berachain network. It offers liquid staking for BERA tokens, a liquid version of BGT, yield-optimized vaults, and runs network validators. Infrared makes it easier for users to earn rewards with their BGT and BERA tokens and allows staked assets to be used in multiple ways across Berachain.

The fake website (infrared-finance[.]pro) offers visitors to check their allocation and claim their IR airdrop. Essentially, the site promotes a fake cryptocurrency giveaway. Its goal is to deceive unsuspecting visitors into connecting their wallets. Doing so leads to the activation of a cryptocurrency drainer.

A crypto drainer is a malicious tool that empties wallets. It transfers cryptocurrency from the connected wallet to the one controlled by fraudsters. Typically, victims of such scams are unable to recover the stolen funds, as blockchain transactions are irreversible. Therefore, it is highly advisable to verify a website's legitimacy before connecting a wallet, entering personal information, or taking any other action.

Conclusion

Infrared-finance[.]pro scam demonstrates how fraudsters copy platforms like Infrared to steal cryptocurrency. Victims of such scams can lose their funds permanently. This highlights the need to be cautious when encountering websites that claim to offer free crypto or similar rewards. Here are examples of similar scams: "VOOI Airdrop Scam", "Brevis Snapshot Scam", and "Fake Rarible Website Scam".

How did I open a scam website?

Cryptocurrency scams and similar fraud schemes are frequently promoted through deceptive material on unsafe websites. These pages often use fake buttons, pop-ups, ads, and links to trick users into interacting with them. Hijacked WordPress websites and fake or compromised social media accounts on platforms like Facebook and X (Twitter) are also used to spread such scams.

In other cases, users end up on these untrustworthy pages after clicking scam links in emails, responding to fake website notifications, or interacting with ads delivered by adware. Rogue advertising networks, commonly seen on torrent sites, illegal streaming platforms, and similar services, are another channel used to distribute scam-related content.

How to avoid visiting scam pages?

Make sure your operating system and programs are always up to date, and run frequent scans using reliable security software. Download applications from official sources or well-known app stores. While browsing the web, avoid clicking pop-ups, ads, or other elements on untrustworthy sites, and do not allow questionable pages to send notifications.

Stay cautious with emails or messages that are unexpected or irrelevant, especially if they come from unknown senders. Do not click on links or open attachments in such communications. 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 "Infrared (IR) Airdrop" scam (GIF):

The original Infrared website (infrared.finance):

Instant automatic malware removal:

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Quick menu:

• What is Fake Infrared (IR) 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?

A fake crypto airdrop is a fraudulent scheme that promises free cryptocurrency to attract users. Scammers often present it as a bonus for early supporters or require people to complete actions, such as connecting their wallets, to claim the supposed reward.

What is the purpose of a crypto scam?

These scams aim to steal cryptocurrency from users. Scammers often try to access wallets directly or use deceptive tactics to persuade victims to send their crypto.

Why do I encounter scam websites?

Scams are frequently spread through scam links in fraudulent emails, notifications from shady sites, and rogue ad networks on torrent or illegal streaming platforms. They can also be promoted using fake ads, pop-ups, and misleading links on shady sites, as well as through compromised or fake social media accounts.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from scams?

Yes, Combo Cleaner examines websites for unreliable content, identifies scams or unusual activity, and warns users about possible threats.