Google and X ads are the new weapon for crypto scammers

[Cryptocrit]

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ1hkfOWARKw3UrdmrUVnkgr-Q5FAaRJmjfoLjD7jHYOUkl0Nd9RhIOx6LBh5OoSsPatwmepu7Mg63YBzgUCDWjNeYbNi1wC_3kyRHNqrDRM_Ef3o0BIjI9LMi3xGEFcJE_HGZKd0AmwJwH1K66UoUzgEKJ2oHDFLzyxKMtchGwhTfHgEzJpgIpHavNGl-/w636-h640/Screenshot_18.jpg

Crypto scammers, pose a serious threat to users. These harmful programs unlawfully take cryptocurrency from victims' wallets using various tactics, such as launching campaigns, creating deceptive websites, making connections to wallets, interacting with smart contracts, transferring assets, and using obscuration.

To break it down, a crypto drainer uses a harmful program designed to swipe cryptocurrency from your wallet. They work by fooling you into approving transactions that allow the attacker to move your funds elsewhere, often without your knowledge or consent.

Scam Sniffer, a provider of anti-scam solutions, found a series of attacks by crypto drainer malware that stole around $59 million from 63,210 victims. This was done by embedding a wallet drainer called MS Drainer in Google searches and X (formerly Twitter) ads. The attack campaign uses malicious ads on Google and X to redirect users to phishing pages.

Read more...
https://www.cryptocrit.xyz/2023/12/google-and-x-ads-are-new-weapon-for.html

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[jacafbiz]

This is why you need to be conscious of the links you see online, most of the trusted links are from sites like Coingecko, if you want to visit a project website, use the links from Coingecko because it must have been vetted already, there are a lot of scammers out there, not just on Google or X ads, there are a lot of ways they can penetrate one if care is not taken, just be sure of links you want to click before doing so

[Mate2237]

Scammers are always on those sites to lure people or visitors of the net to be victimized. And newbies who have not gotten enough knowledge about internet links are the ones always fall for these kind of traps. These few days to Christmas, Telegram and Facebook were flooded with the so called cryptocurrency investment links and once I sight them I would report them or I would attacked them so it is not much again in Facebook but for the Google, you can't report them so you let them flow but be careful with them and don't click any link that you are not trusted.

You know, you have your wallet in the particular device which you are using to browse then don't click any link but if your device which you are using is not the one you have your wallets then you can click the links to see the content in it.

[Eldestyoung]

There is need to trade with caution especially in the social media because scammers are advancing everyday with new strategies in order to lure people.

However compelling the link is you must examine it before clicking it, don't just click any link you see in the social network.
And I think Google and X has a role to play in reducing this thread before they advertise any paid ads, they should try and examine the links provided by this people paying for the ads.

[sheenshane]

Upon reading this thread, I think that it was the same or connected to the thread that was recently created by @Amphenomenon on the Beginners & Help board.  
It's Our Dependency on Google.
There's a guide there that you can read on how to protect yourself from a possible scam in Google ads.

As I can say, we should be careful when clicking link ads on Google, because some ads use clickbait tactics to attract users' attention just to click the link.

[Husires]

We must spread awareness after falling victim to phishing attacks, fraudulent advertisements, social attacks and other fraudulent methods. Many still believe advertisements and pop-up windows that tell them that they have won a car or that there is a paid vacation waiting for them and they must fill out the data. Clicking on links and mishandling phones leads to leakage. More data about you means more likely to be exposed to this scam.

[Publictalk792]

Crypto drainers are bad programs that steal cryptocurrency from people wallets. Scammers trick people into letting them transfer money without them knowing. They take the stolen money and leave the victims with nothing.

It is very important for people to be careful and do things to keep themselves safe from these scams. It is helpful to learn about the different tricks that scammers use and to know about the newest ways to stay safe.

Especially I will say the newbies should be careful from these kind of scams. Because the scammers are inventing new and new programs to grab money from people. So always be careful while touching any suspicious link or even connecting your to a new website or to and unverified Dex.

[btc78]

With the recent increase of investors in the world of cryptocurrencies along with it is the increase in scammers trying to cheat their way through life

There are so many different ways of getting coins from your wallet without your awareness and phishing is only one of them and if you are naturally gullible then you will definitely fall victim to these scams

Some newly launched coins are even scams or those who give airdrops so it is extremely important that we always stay informed and vigilant never get tired of researching

[Bureau]

They both were always weapons of crypto scammers unless the user remains vigilant. After X.com started selling the blue tick it has now become easier for scammers to get that tick and exploit users. Earlier it wasn't possible to scam users easily on that platform. I have seen a lot of fake websites that come up on Google searches and some are in the form of advertisements. It is imperative to always check the URL before using these websites to prevent oneself from getting scammed.

[jrrsparkles]

I am not sure about X but Google is known for it and in many searches they always show the clone site at the top of the results at a sponsored spot over the actual website and this shows how bad Google ad scrutinization is when it comes to promoting ads.

Don't trust the google results so blindly since everything is driven by money now, so scammers are ready to invest few thousands to milk few hundred thousands.

[Sophokles]

This is problem with these platform that anyone can place any ads if they spend some money. If a project needs to be verified by the team or any 3rd party to run ads in google or twitter then we would have seen a quite improvement in the ad industry as well. Though it is practically expensive to do, this is just an idea. Every time I go into twitter some ICO sale pops up or some dude asks about minting NFTs. By seeing all these, I do realize that we should cross check a project to other legit platforms if we get to know about it on social media and interested in it.

[Vickysagar]

This is problem with these platform that anyone can place any ads if they spend some money. If a project needs to be verified by the team or any 3rd party to run ads in google or twitter then we would have seen a quite improvement in the ad industry as well. Though it is practically expensive to do, this is just an idea. Every time I go into twitter some ICO sale pops up or some dude asks about minting NFTs. By seeing all these, I do realize that we should cross check a project to other legit platforms if we get to know about it on social media and interested in it.

It's a problem almost everywhere, lol. People should learn how to be safe on the internet and how not to click on every link and perhaps these scams would become less big and common.

[ultrloa]

This is why you need to be conscious of the links you see online, most of the trusted links are from sites like Coingecko, if you want to visit a project website, use the links from Coingecko because it must have been vetted already, there are a lot of scammers out there, not just on Google or X ads, there are a lot of ways they can penetrate one if care is not taken, just be sure of links you want to click before doing so

Correct since if we are not aware of scams posted everywhere then we will be the easy target of those scammers. I don't know why google accept this ads since its really bothering to see that exist since it could potentially harm those newbies since they would really think that offers they could see advertise on google is true and they might get scammed for their beliefs that they can earn if they commit their time and money with them. There's lot of scammers everywhere so we need to determine which is true and not since if the posted words is so to good to be true I guess people need to declare for their selves that is shady and mostly scammers offer that so they will not get tempted then can avoid experiencing any unfortunate loss.

[Dave1]

This is problem with these platform that anyone can place any ads if they spend some money. If a project needs to be verified by the team or any 3rd party to run ads in google or twitter then we would have seen a quite improvement in the ad industry as well. Though it is practically expensive to do, this is just an idea. Every time I go into twitter some ICO sale pops up or some dude asks about minting NFTs. By seeing all these, I do realize that we should cross check a project to other legit platforms if we get to know about it on social media and interested in it.

It's a problem almost everywhere, lol. People should learn how to be safe on the internet and how not to click on every link and perhaps these scams would become less big and common.

Right, not the first time that we have seen this kind of attacks, and even before crypto though, Google has been used by scammers and criminals. Now it's just magnified as crypto is now becoming the buzz word and everyone jump on the bandwagon.

And as others have said, don't used Google to search for crypto projects as you might fall for that trap. Or just save and bookmark the legit links if you have it already.

As the attacks is prevalent, we should be very careful and do due diligence.

[Obim34]

They both were always weapons of crypto scammers unless the user remains vigilant. After X.com started selling the blue tick it has now become easier for scammers to get that tick and exploit users. Earlier it wasn't possible to scam users easily on that platform. I have seen a lot of fake websites that come up on Google searches and some are in the form of advertisements. It is imperative to always check the URL before using these websites to prevent oneself from getting scammed.

It was never this way, the X and Google security to it's user was actually top notch, any contrary activity suspected will definitely get such account banned and question. Seems a lot has changed this has now become the den for scammers and advertisement of scam adds.
It has now become like the Telegram where you don't go a day with out being contacted by this scammers. It is left for us to decide whether to be scammed or not

[Strongkored]

Not surprised by this because fraudsters also need a crowded place so that the action can be successful and give a lot of money to him, that's why we really need to be aware of all forms of fraud and do not trust the things that are offered on the internet especially if it has promised a large income Because basically there will be nothing easy in this world to make money all need hard work and patience, but it's a shame not all realize it and they are easily fooled by all forms of offers on Google and social media.

[bluebit25]

This is not new in the crypto space, it's just a period of intense activity where users pay a lot of attention to the market and scammers do their work. And the main problem is still up to users to raise awareness to protect their own assets during contact with the crypto market. I also hear a lot about theft attacks and the distribution of unique code that takes over users' rights to use of wallets,... but these vulnerabilities are like a challenge for the market to grow more and more, so we must adapt to them and be wary of information on social media.

Still want to reiterate that OP can shorten links from your posts.

[tyz]

This is nothing new. Outside of crypto sites, advertising fraud is already a big problem on Google Ads. In the last few months I have clicked on ads from supposedly large companies several times (even the domain was identical) and then ended up on some scam site. Google has become very lax when it comes to checking such ads. This will certainly also happen with crypto advertising that is permitted again, probably even on a larger scale. There is a good article about this.
article

[pakhitheboss]

continued.

There have been enough topics discussing about the same thing, so why create another topic? If you have nothing in your mind then please do not create such topics which are repeaters. Unless you quote something unique that scammers have now started. I do not think such topics should be allowed on the altcoin board, while, the same topics related to Google, X.com, Facebook, Telegram, and what not are being posted on the Beginners board.

Coming back to what OP wrote, it is evident that scammers use social media platforms to scam. Why not stop using social media to prevent getting scammed? I mean we know how social media works, so why not keep yourself away from those platforms? If not then ignore any lucrative or free offers. The reason being such post are being created by scammers.

[o48o]

Nothing new with this. Crypto scammers have always been using twitter and google ads. Just like any medium and chatter that crypto people are following.

This goes as far as i can remember. It just have become more profitable for scammers as more and more people are aware of cryptos in some way. Advertising them in google in 2015 didn't make as much sense as most of the people didn't even know how to buy them. Or how to interact with them.