How to spot scams like the "Fake Tari XTM Airdrop"

What is "Fake Tari XTM Airdrop"?

We have reviewed the site (airdrop.tariprotocol[.]com) and determined that it is a scam page posing as the original Tari platform, airdrop.tari.com. The fraudulent copy is operated by scammers who seek to steal cryptocurrency from unsuspecting visitors. It should not be trusted to avoid financial loss.

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 Tari XTM Airdrop" in detail

Airdrop.tari.com is a website associated with the Tari cryptocurrency ecosystem that is used as an online claim portal for the project's airdrop event, where users can participate in token distribution. However, fraudsters created a fake website designed to trick visitors into participating in a bogus airdrop.

The fake website (airdrop.tariprotocol.com) instructs users to connect their wallets to check if they are eligible and claim their tokens instantly. Once a wallet is connected, the page activates a cryptocurrency drainer. This malicious tool is designed to empty connected wallets by transferring cryptocurrency holdings to the scammers' wallet.

Getting back stolen cryptocurrency is very difficult. Crypto transactions are irreversible, so once funds are sent to a scammer's wallet, they usually cannot be recovered. Thus, falling for scams like the fake airdrop promoted on airdrop.tariprotocol[.]com usually results in permanent financial loss.

It is important to ensure that a cryptocurrency platform is legitimate before interacting with it.

Conclusion

Fake crypto airdrops trick people claiming that they can receive free tokens. However, victims never receive any crypto and risk losing theirs. Users should only participate in airdrops from verified projects, avoid clicking suspicious links, and never share sensitive account information or private keys.

Examples of similar scams are "KIMCHI Airdrop Scam", "$PUNCH Airdrop Scam", and "Meme Liquid ($LIQUID) Airdrop Scam".

How did I open a scam website?

Scammers promote fraudulent websites through fake or stolen social media accounts on platforms such as Facebook and X. They also utilize hacked WordPress sites and unreliable advertising networks, which are often found on torrent platforms, illegal streaming pages, and similar websites.

In addition, unsafe sites may be promoted through misleading pop-ups, banners, buttons, or embedded links on untrustworthy pages. Users can also be directed to scam platforms after clicking links in fraudulent emails, allowing browser notifications from suspicious websites, or interacting with advertisements delivered by adware.

How to avoid visiting scam pages?

Be careful when dealing with emails or messages from unknown sources - avoid opening unexpected links or attachments, especially if they seem unrelated or suspicious. While browsing, do not click on questionable ads, pop-ups, or links on unreliable websites, and never permit doubtful sites to send notifications.

Download programs and files only from official websites or trusted app stores. Never use pirated software, cracks, or key generators. Additionally, make sure your operating system and all installed applications are regularly updated. 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 "Fake Tari XTM Airdrop" scam (GIF):

The original Tari airdrop website (airdrop.tari.com):

Instant automatic malware removal:

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Quick menu:

• What is Fraudulent Tari XTM 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?

Scam crypto airdrops lure users with the offer of free tokens, but the tokens are never sent.

What is the purpose of a crypto scam?

These scams are used to steal sensitive information, trick users into launching malicious tools, sending crypto, or performing other actions. The goal is to steal cryptocurrency.

Why do I encounter scam websites?

Scammers spread fake websites using stolen social media accounts, hacked sites, and unreliable ad networks on shady platforms like torrent or streaming pages. They also use misleading pop-ups, links, banners, fraudulent emails, and adware to trick users into visiting these scam sites.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from scams?

Combo Cleaner scans websites for signs of malicious activity and alerts users about potential threats, including scams.