How to identify scams like the fake "Stacks ($STX) Voting Rewards"

What is the fake "Stacks ($STX) Voting Rewards"?

During our examination of dubious websites, our researchers discovered proposal-stacks[.]co, a page imitating the official Stacks platform. It promotes a fake voting rewards program, claiming participants who vote will receive a bonus $STX allocation upon launch. In reality, this site is a cryptocurrency drainer designed to steal digital assets from visitors.

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.

"Stacks ($STX) Voting Rewards" scam in detail

The legitimate Stacks platform (stacks.co) is a Bitcoin Layer 2 blockchain that enables smart contracts and decentralized applications to be built on top of Bitcoin. Its native token, STX, is used within the network for transaction fees and participation. The platform also features a "Stacking" mechanism that lets STX holders earn Bitcoin rewards by locking their tokens in the network.

The fraudulent page at proposal-stacks[.]co copies the visual design of the official Stacks website, using the same logo, color scheme, and layout. It claims that voting is currently live to determine the "$STX Rewards Date," and that anyone who votes will be granted a bonus token allocation upon launch. These claims are entirely false.

When a visitor clicks the "VOTE NOW" button, they are prompted to connect their cryptocurrency wallet. Once connected, a drainer is activated - a malicious tool that automatically transfers the victim's tokens to a wallet controlled by scammers. The funds are moved without any further action required from the victim.

Since transactions on a blockchain cannot be reversed, stolen funds are typically unrecoverable. Victims who fall for this scam permanently lose their digital assets, with no mechanism available to reclaim them.

It is essential to verify any website offering token rewards or voting programs before connecting a wallet. Always confirm that the domain matches the official project site and check for announcements on verified channels before participating in any program.

Conclusion

Proposal-stacks[.]co is a fraudulent website impersonating the legitimate Stacks platform. It lures visitors with a fake voting rewards program, promising a bonus token allocation to participants. The actual purpose of this site is to drain cryptocurrency from any wallet connected through it.

Many similar scam websites exist, often mimicking well-known blockchain projects with near-identical designs. Some examples of similar scams are "Xaman Monthly $XRP Release", "Spark Voting Rewards", and "Tether Wallet Voting Rewards".

How did I open a scam website?

Scammers frequently distribute fraudulent pages through stolen or fabricated social media accounts on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook. Accounts impersonating well-known crypto projects, influencers, or official development teams are commonly used to post links to fake reward programs. Malicious advertising networks present on torrent sites, illegal streaming platforms, and similar pages are also used to spread these scams.

In addition, users can encounter scam pages by clicking misleading ads or pop-ups on unsafe websites, interacting with links in phishing emails, or receiving push notifications from untrustworthy pages. Adware installed on a device can also redirect users to fraudulent pages or generate deceptive ads promoting scams of this kind.

How to avoid visiting scam pages?

Keep your operating system and all installed applications up to date, and download software exclusively from official websites or trusted app stores. Be cautious with emails from unknown senders - avoid clicking links or opening attachments in unexpected messages, even if they appear to come from a familiar source.

Do not interact with ads, pop-ups, or links on unfamiliar or suspicious websites, and avoid granting notification permissions to pages that have not been verified as legitimate. 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 "Stacks ($STX) Voting Rewards" scam (GIF):

The official Stacks website (stacks.co):

Instant automatic malware removal:

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Quick menu:

• What is Stacks ($STX) Voting Rewards crypto drainer?
• 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 rewards program?

Fake crypto rewards programs are scams that promise free tokens or cryptocurrency in exchange for completing actions such as voting or staking. They are typically disguised as legitimate official promotions tied to real projects in order to appear credible.

What is the purpose of a crypto scam?

These scams are designed to steal cryptocurrency by draining connected wallets, tricking users into sharing their recovery phrases, or manipulating victims into signing malicious transactions that automatically transfer funds to the scammers.

Why do I encounter scam websites?

Fraudulent pages like this are spread through stolen social media accounts, phishing emails, rogue advertising networks, and misleading links or pop-ups on unsafe websites. In some cases, adware installed on a device may also redirect users to such pages.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from scams?

Combo Cleaner can detect suspicious and malicious website activity and alert users before they engage with potentially harmful pages. This helps users avoid scam sites and reduces the risk of encountering crypto drainers or similar threats.