How to spot scams like the fake "Bitcoin 20 ($BTC20) Airdrop"

What is "Bitcoin 20 ($BTC20) Airdrop" scam?

Our analysis has revealed that this website (claimbtc20.pages[.]dev) promotes a fake Bitcoin 20 ($BTC20) giveaway to trick visitors into following the provided instructions. The scammers behind this deceptive aim to empty wallets (steal cryptocurrency). This page 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.

"Bitcoin 20 ($BTC20) Airdrop" scam in detail

The site (claimbtc20.pages[.]dev) claims that the first $BTC20 airdrop is currently live. It states that $BTC20 tokens can be put to work by joining a community staking pool to earn additional $BTC20 every 10 minutes. The page encourages participation in an $BTC20 airdrop and instructs users to connect their crypto wallet to check eligibility and claim the airdrop.

A legitimate crypto airdrop is a distribution of free cryptocurrency tokens to users, usually by a blockchain project. However, there are numerous fake giveaways like the one promoted on claimbtc20.pages[.]dev. The purpose of this deceptive site is to trick visitors into connecting their wallets.

After a wallet is connected, the page triggers a crypto drainer, which is a malicious tool designed to move cryptocurrency from the victim's wallet to the cybercriminals' wallet. Once a transaction is confirmed on the blockchain, it is usually irreversible, meaning stolen funds cannot typically be recovered.

For this reason, users should exercise extreme caution when interacting with crypto platforms. They should always confirm that a website or service is legitimate before connecting a wallet or sharing personal information.

Conclusion

This fraudulent crypto airdrop scam tricks users into connecting their wallets, allowing scammers to steal cryptocurrency. Users should avoid interacting with such sites and always verify the legitimacy of any crypto platform before connecting a wallet or entering sensitive information.

Examples of similar scams are "Power Protocol ($POWER) Airdrop", "SatoshiVM Distribution Program", and "American Dominance ($TRUMPUMP) Airdrop".

How did I open a scam website?

These websites are often spread through phishing emails with harmful links. Scammers also use fake or hacked accounts on Facebook and X (Twitter), as well as compromised WordPress sites and shady ad networks tied to torrenting or illegal streaming sites, or similar platforms.

Additionally, users can be taken to these pages through pop-ups, ads, buttons, or links on unsafe websites, or by interacting with ads generated by adware and notifications from unreliable sources (shady websites).

How to avoid visiting scam pages?

Download software only from trusted sources (official sites or app stores) and avoid pirated programs, key generators, and cracking tools. Keep your system and apps up to date. Avoid suspicious ads, pop-ups, and links, and do not allow notifications from unreliable websites.

Also, treat unexpected emails from unknown senders carefully, especially those with links or attachments. Files and links in such emails (or other messages) should not be opened if they seem questionable. 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 "Bitcoin 20 ($BTC20) Airdrop" scam (GIF):

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Quick menu:

• What is Fake Bitcoin 20 ($BTC20) 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 giveaway?

These scams often attract users by promising free cryptocurrency or rewards for joining. They are typically crafted to imitate legitimate platforms or official campaigns in order to seem trustworthy.

What is the purpose of a crypto scam?

These scams aim to steal cryptocurrency by deceiving users into exposing sensitive data like seed phrases, installing or executing malicious software, or sending funds straight to attackers.

Why do I encounter scam websites?

These scams are spread through phishing emails, fake or compromised social media accounts, hacked websites, and unreliable advertising networks associated with high-risk platforms. Users may also come across them via deceptive ads, pop-ups, or links on unsafe websites, as well as notifications pushed by suspicious pages or adware.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from scams?

Yes, Combo Cleaner can identify suspicious website activity and alert users to potential scams, helping them avoid unsafe pages and possible threats.