How to spot scams like the fake "KIMCHI Airdrop"

What is "KIMCHI Airdrop" scam?

We have analysed kimchipump[.]com and kimchiofficial[.]live and found that these are two deceptive websites that promote the same scam, a fraudulent cryptocurrency airdrop. The site is designed to trick visitors into believing they can receive free crypto for participating. However, victims never receive any crypto and risk losing theirs.

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.

"KIMCHI Airdrop" in detail

A cryptocurrency airdrop is when a blockchain project gives free tokens to users. It is often used to promote a new project or reward existing users. Recipients usually need a wallet to receive the airdropped cryptocurrency. However, there are various scams pretending to be legitimate airdrops.

Kimchipump[.]com and kimchiofficial[.]live promote a fake $KIMCHI airdrop. These fake sites are presented as platforms offering direct $KIMCHI airdrops, claiming that users can receive free cryptocurrency rewards. They assert that visitors can track, participate in, and claim airdrops from leading blockchain projects within the Solana ecosystem.

The goal is to trick visitors into connecting their wallets. When a wallet is connected, a harmful program called a drainer activates, transferring assets from the user's wallet to the attacker's wallet. Cryptocurrency transactions cannot be undone, so any stolen funds are usually lost forever. Most victims of these attacks permanently lose their digital assets.

Users should therefore be very careful with sites claiming to offer free tokens and avoid connecting their wallets to untrusted or suspicious platforms.

Conclusion

While legitimate cryptocurrency airdrops distribute free tokens to promote projects or reward users, scammers exploit this concept to steal assets. Fake sites like kimchipump[.]com and kimchiofficial[.]live pose as airdrop platforms to trick users into taking actions that can result in theft.

Some examples of similar scams are "Meme Liquid ($LIQUID) Airdrop", "Purple Pepe ($PURPE) Distribution Scam", and "Trump Crypto Giveaway Scam". It is important to recognize such scams to avoid falling for them.

How did I open a scam website?

Scammers distribute scam sites using fake or hacked social media accounts on platforms like Facebook and X. They also exploit compromised WordPress websites and shady ad networks, often linked to torrent or illegal streaming pages and similar sites.

Deceptive content can also be pushed through misleading pop-ups, banners, buttons, or links on untrustworthy websites. Clicking links in phishing emails, allowing notifications from suspicious sites, or engaging with ads pushed by adware can also direct users to unsafe platforms.

How to avoid visiting scam pages?

Regularly keep the operating system and applications up to date. Only download software or files from official websites and trusted app stores, and avoid pirated versions, cracks, or key generators.

Be cautious with emails or messages from unknown senders - do not open unexpected or irrelevant links or attachments. Avoid interacting with suspicious ads, pop-ups, or unfamiliar links on untrustworthy websites, and never allow questionable sites to send 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 "KIMCHI Airdrop" scam, kimchipump[.]com (GIF):

Second fake site (kimchiofficial[.]live):

Instant automatic malware removal:

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Quick menu:

• What is Fake $KIMCHI 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 tricks users by promising free tokens that are never actually delivered.

What is the purpose of a crypto scam?

Instead of delivering tokens, it tricks people into connecting their wallets, sharing private keys, or sending funds, allowing attackers to steal their digital assets.

Why do I encounter scam websites?

Scammers distribute their schemes through hijacked or fake social media accounts, phishing emails, and compromised websites. Deceptive pop-ups, buttons, and notifications may also lead users to unsafe platforms. Additionally, visiting certain sites, such as torrent pages that rely on rogue ad networks, can redirect users to fraudulent websites.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from scams?

Combo Cleaner performs scans of websites to detect any signs of malicious activity and provides users with notifications about potential threats while browsing.