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How to identify fake pages like "Monad Points"

pcrisk.com 2 days ago

What is "Monad Points" fake website?

After reviewing the page (points-monad[.]net), we have determined it to be a fraudulent website impersonating the real Monad platform (monad[.]xyz). The scammers operating this deceptive site intend to deceive individuals into actions that could result in financial loss. Therefore, points-monad[.]net cannot be trusted.

Monad Points scam

IMPORTANT NOTE: We do not review crypto projects, please do your own research when investing money.

Federal Trade Comission (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.

"Monad Points" fake platform in detail

Monad (monad[.]xyz) is a high-performance blockchain platform compatible with Ethereum, significantly enhancing decentralization and scalability. It introduces optimizations like MonadBFT, Deferred Execution, Parallel Execution, and MonadDb. The fake web page (points-monad[.]net) mimicking the real one is a fraudulent site designed to steal cryptocurrency from individuals.

On the deceptive web page, users are offered to configure their profiles in the next 48 hours to receive a 5X points multiplier. Users are instructed to enroll by connecting their wallets. However, this action signs a malicious contract designed to activate a cryptocurrency drainer. This drainer transfers the funds stored in the victim's wallet to the scammer's.

Thus, victims who "connect" their wallets on points-monad[.]net are likely to lose their cryptocurrency holdings. It is important to note that cryptocurrency transactions are irreversible. Thus, victims who fall for scams like the one hosted on points-monad[.]net cannot retrieve lost funds.

It is crucial to exercise caution when dealing with suspicious crypto platforms to avoid potential consequences (data theft or monetary loss). Researching the platform's reputation and verifying its legitimacy can help safeguard against fraudulent schemes and protect personal and financial information from malicious actors.

Threat Summary:
Name Monad Points fake platform
Threat Type Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud
Fake Claim Users can multiply their points
Disguise Legitimate Monad platform
Related Domain
points-monad.net
Detection Names N/A (VirusTotal)
Symptoms Unofficial domain, lack of official verification, unrealistic claims, too good-to-be-true promises.
Distribution methods Compromised social media accounts, hijacked WordPress sites, rogue online pop-up ads, phishing emails, unwanted applications.
Damage Loss of sensitive private information, monetary loss, identity theft, possible malware infections.
Malware Removal (Mac)

To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your Mac with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner.

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Similar scams in general

Scams in the cryptocurrency space, such as those imitating platforms like Monad, usually entice victims with promises of enticing rewards or other benefits. However, victims never receive any rewards, lose money, or have sensitive information stolen from them. Some examples of fake platforms involving cryptocurrency drainers are "Claim $GFOX Tokens", "$CRV Supply", and "Free Penguin NFT".

How did I open a scam website?

Fraudulent websites aimed at deceiving users into activating cryptocurrency drainers are primarily promoted through compromised WordPress pages and stolen or fabricated social media accounts. Scams are also propagated through unreliable notifications generated by shady pages, deceptive pop-ups, misleading ads, and similar channels.

Furthermore, scammers employ email, messaging apps, and similar tools to deceive users into landing on scam websites. Users may also unwittingly access scam sites through sites that utilize rogue advertising networks (e.g., torrent pages and illegal movie streaming platforms).

How to avoid visiting scam pages?

Avoid visiting torrent sites, illegal movie streaming pages, and similar platforms as they often promote scam websites. Do not trust pop-ups, advertisements, links, buttons, and similar elements on shady websites. Do not agree to receive notifications from suspicious sites. Be careful with irrelevant/unexpected emails containing links or files.

Download apps and files from reliable sources, such as official websites or app stores. Keep the operating system and installed software up to date and scan your computer for threats on a regular basis. If your computer is already infected with unwanted apps, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate them.

The appearance of "Monad Points" fake website (GIF):

Appearance of Monad Points scam

Screenshot of the real website (monad[.]xyz):

Monad Points scam real website (monad.xyz)

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By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. Limited seven days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

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:

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 macOS.

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 macOS) - 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 cryptocurrency scam?

Usually, it involves a deceitful scheme, such as a bogus cryptocurrency giveaway, airdrop, or investment opportunity, designed to trick users into believing they will receive something in return for performing certain actions.

What is the purpose of crypto scams?

In most instances, scammers organizing and controlling these schemes aim to steal cryptocurrency or sensitive information, such as login credentials.

Why do I encounter crypto scams?

Scammers use compromised or fake social media accounts to promote cryptocurrency scams. Other deceptive tactics include unreliable notifications, misleading pop-ups, and shady advertisements. Scammers also use emails, messaging apps, and rogue advertising networks on sites like torrent and illegal streaming platforms to lure users to scam websites.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from pop-up scams?

Combo Cleaner can identify malicious websites, including scam pages. When such a site is detected, you will receive an immediate alert, and access to the deceptive website will be restricted.

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