Bitcoin Forum

Hi everybody,

I'm curious to know, especially from safety point of view, what's up with all these bogus Airdrops?

Now, I'm not talking about those that ask for your private keys, because that's obvious, but I'l more interested to know what a scammer can gain from simply having a list of ETH address and emails. Granted, they can see the list of emails, use it for spam etc., but is there any way they can use the information gleaned in a more malicious manner? Can they somehow use ETH address to target the unsuspecting user later on?

even if an Airdrop seems legit I still make it a point to always use a disposable MEW when signing up, but I don't know of a few people in another group that have fallen prey to this sort of scam.

Cheers and thanks for your thoughts.

yes you are right, there are so many airdrops that have appeared in recent months. if there is an airdrop scammer maybe they will check  eth address in etherscan and if wallet have any assets they may have targeted the email registered for hacked and get other information from us. this is just my guess and analysis alone.

Yeah, I thought as much. So more "social" engineering that possible exploits could makes us loose assets if we're not careful. Did see someone mention that a carefully crafted smart contract could trick the user, sending less assets that what he paid for, so there's that too.

Thanks for sharing. Actually I haven't been in any Airdrop before, but it looks like the current craze right now. I want to join to earn free coins of course, but I didn't know how they works and your post summarized it. If what you are saying is correct then its possible that they can used those emails for marketing ploy in the future or even sell those emails to other company to spam mail. Expect unsolicited emails coming their way.

Don't join in airdrop is the best way to prevent you got email spam from them.
Currently there are a lot of scam airdrops after eBTC was announced and the price got pumped up so high. Then people start to make their imitaition of eBTC, there are eLTC, eDash, eZEC, eripple, e btcash....e-etc

I just think to give my opinion regarding your question, In my view that those icos are interesting to collect your email to distribute or make a verification process to avoid those cheaters of the airdrop. But in other reason that are not closing the possibility about to use your email to gain your data or something else that related to the criminalsm, But this wav obvious true about never try to give your email that has used to store all of your personal data.

That would be pure stupidity and mindlessness if you provide your myetherwallet private key simply because of an airdrop which you might not even have checked yourself properly. But even if the project looks legit, I would not give my MEW private key. That is a big NO NO. But some fools are easily drawn to it simply because of free tokens which end up worthless.

That is beyond obvious and I did mention I wasn't referring to this scams that ask for your private key (that is obvious and too big a red flag). I was more curious about what possible exploits there could exist or what they could gain other than your email for spam.

I'm talking about bogus airdrops that just ask for your ETH address and an email, nothing more. This came about because a person in a telegram group fell for an airdrop scam recently. https://exrp.io is the official site and just closed their airdrop, however she signed up for this one: https://eripple.io

From what I saw, all they ask for is ETH address and email, so I was curious what they could gain and if there was an exploit I wasn't seeing.

Having said all this, she's been cautioned to use a disposable MEW which little to no funds in it and maybe even a burnable email if it doesn't seem too legit. I know I'm paranoid, but rather safe than sorry ;)

There are always people that will try to scam you. So watch out guys ;)

Some people fell for the private key scam. Always be cautious and use junk mail / fake names on the airdrops that seem way too cheeky made.

I have joined just a couple of airdrop. One has "scammed" me without paying but saving my personal info + email :( (ATS TOKEN).
I don't know anymore if there is really a profit following these "free"coins giveaway.

Airdrops should be in aridrops section!

I do not know the purpose of people making airdrop, but there is absolutely no benefit to people who make airdrop.

Airdrops by definition are not scams. They literally give you free coins, so it cannot be a scam. :P

Ico's, airdrops, what's next? People like them because it's free or easy money but I personally tend to stay away from them. I've heard of some airdrops being legit and quite profitable, like ebtc, but it only takes one scam and the term airdrop gets the same stigma as ico's nowadays. I'm not sure if you can get scammed by an airdrop but if there are ways, scammers will find it eventually.

My bad, sorry. Could a mod please move this to the proper section then. Thanks!