How to identify scams like the bogus "Liquid Staking Airdrop"

What is the fake "Liquid Staking Airdrop"?

Our examination of tech-lsd[.]live has revealed that it is a scam website that promotes a fake cryptocurrency airdrop. Scammers use it to steal cryptocurrency from unsuspecting individuals. Falling for this scam can result in irreversible financial loss. Therefore, it is highly advisable to exercise caution when visiting such sites.

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.

"Liquid Staking Airdrop" scam in detail

A cryptocurrency airdrop is when a crypto project gives away tokens to users. It is usually done to promote a new project or reward early supporters. Sometimes, airdrops are used in scams, so they should be approached with caution. The airdrop promoted on tech-lsd[.]live is also a scam.

The site claims that it provides a legitimate liquid staking service on the Solana network. It states that it automatically allocates users' SOL to the most efficient staking opportunities based on yield, incentives, and risk. It promotes an active airdrop and encourages visitors to check their eligibility.

The purpose of this scam is to trick visitors into connecting their cryptocurrency wallet. After a wallet is connected, the website triggers a crypto drainer designed to steal funds. This tool automatically moves cryptocurrency from the victim's wallet to the scammer's wallet.

Because blockchain transactions are irreversible, any stolen assets cannot be recovered. For this reason, users should be wary of offers promising free tokens or rewards and avoid connecting wallets or providing sensitive information on untrusted or unofficial sites.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the airdrop promoted on tech-lsd[.]live is a scam. The site pretends to be a legitimate Solana liquid staking service to trick users into connecting their wallets. The goal is to drain wallets. Users should avoid suspicious airdrops and never connect wallets when visiting untrusted websites.

Similar scams are "Steer Finance ($STEER) Token Allocation", "Nft Now ($NOW) Airdrop", and "Chainlink Airdrop".

How did I open a scam website?

Scam sites such as tech-lsd[.]live are often spread through hacked WordPress websites and fake or stolen social media accounts on platforms like Facebook and X (formerly Twitter). They are also promoted using untrustworthy advertising networks found on torrent pages, pirated streaming services, and other low-quality websites.

People may also be led to these scams through deceptive pop-ups, buttons, or links on suspicious pages, browser notifications from unsafe sites, emails with malicious links or attachments, or advertisements generated by adware on their devices.

How to avoid visiting scam pages?

Keep your operating system and applications up to date, and use reputable security software to run regular scans for threats. Be cautious with unexpected or irrelevant messages from unknown senders, and never open attachments or click links in such communications.

Only download software from official websites or trusted app stores, avoid ads, pop-ups, buttons, and links on suspicious sites, and do not allow notification permissions for questionable pages. 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 "Liquid Staking Airdrop" scam (GIF):

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Quick menu:

• What is Fake Liquid Staking 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?

Fake airdrops claim to give away cryptocurrency, but the promised rewards do not exist.

What is the purpose of a crypto scam?

The purpose of these scams is to gain access to wallets, trigger cryptocurrency drainers, or deceive victims into sending their assets directly to scammers.

Why do I encounter scam websites?

Users can come across scam sites through misleading pop-ups, links, browser notifications, malicious emails, or ads injected by adware. These sites are also promoted via compromised websites, fake social media profiles, and untrustworthy advertising networks.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from scams?

Combo Cleaner identifies risky activity on websites and alerts users to potential threats to help keep them protected.