Beware: Fake Binance desktop app

[tabas]

I'm not sure if this should be here in the Beginners and help. But since more newbies are going here than the SA section, I'm posting it here. Otherwise, the mods are free to move it.

Be careful of fake Binance desktop app. Recently, I posted this thread on SA about fake passive income that appears on Youtube ads.
Now, I've come across this ad on a popular blue social media.



Advertised by a sketchy page named "Profit Pioneers" promising 0% commission/trading fees directing whoever is interested in it to click their link which will redirect to this link;

Code:

https://binance-desktop.com/en/downloads

which is an obvious fake link.





Binance has a desktop app based on its official link: https://www.binance.com/en/download

Note: Always verify and check the official links and channels before downloading.

How to Identify URL Spoof Phishing
Examples of Phishing Sites

[freedomgo]

They just added the word “-desktop” to the original Binance URL, but if you don’t look closely, you could easily fall for the scam, especially when it’s promoted on social media or YouTube in a way that looks enticing. My suggestion is to always bookmark the official Binance website to avoid any confusion that could end up being costly.

Binance also released a warning about phishing websites like this, which you can check out below.

How to Identify URL Spoof Phishing
Examples of Phishing Sites

[mk4]

Beware of 99% of apps/websites being promoted on Facebook and other social media, as there's a very high chance of scams.

If a product enticed you through an ad, find the product manually through Google or social media search; don't click on the ad.

[FinneysTrueVision]

Binance does have a legitimate desktop app, although I’m not sure why anybody would use it instead of the website. They don’t provide a signature for their official desktop apps so people could end up in a situation where they do a google search for "Binance desktop app" and accidentally end up on a phishing site and won’t know they are installing malware until it is too late.

[DYING_S0UL]

Man!! this site looks genuine. Anyone who isn't careful enough will surely fall for this kind of phishing sites. Because it's easy to post any links through social media, scammers are using it. Another thing I have noticed, whenever you google search any exchanges like Binance, Kucoin, or Bybit etc, the search result always shows sponsored site at first and then the original site, which I searched for. These so called sponsored sites aren't always the real ones. Better be careful...

[Davidvictorson]

Beware of 99% of apps/websites being promoted on Facebook and other social media, as there's a very high chance of scams.

If a product enticed you through an ad, find the product manually through Google or social media search; don't click on the ad.

Hey, where have you been?

I noticed you were off for a while. Glad to have you back.

~snip~

The proliferation of these fake crypto desktop app in my estimation is due to the airdrops that have been on the rise. And Binance has been at the forefront of listing some of these tokens. Those who have participated in the tasks of these airdrops and are eager to get their rewards will definitely fall victims to fake app. tabas, I am sure that if you carry out more investigations, you will find out there other fake exchange desktop app because it cannot just Binance.

[Outhue]

This looks like something that a newbie of me can never fall for, simply because it is too obvious, that link isn't Binance official link, even if a Binance desktop wallet exists that should be available on Binance website included with the mobile app too but newbies are main target for this because they are too stupid to realize the difference so I am not going to say that this warning isn't necessary.

Most of the losses happening this days are because of airdrops and crypto giveaways, people are looking for free ways to make money, especially the newbies, the majority of them come empty handed and airdrops like are the only options they have left, there is no way they won't become a victim.

This scheme doesn't end with Binance exchange only, other crypto apps and wallets are also a target, newbies only need to find the right apps through official links to stay  ahead of these scammers.

e.g using coinmarketcap

[SilverCryptoBullet]

Binance has a desktop app based on its official link: https://www.binance.com/en/download

You can search and check with Google, Coinmarketcap, Coingecko, to have website link to Binance, and its application link too.

https://www.google.com/search?q=google+binance+exchange
https://coinmarketcap.com/rankings/exchanges/
https://www.coingecko.com/en/exchanges

On coinmarketcap.com and coingecko.com, you can choose Exchanges tab then Spot for Coinmarketcap.com or Exchangess tab then Crypto Exchanges for Coingecko.com, and you will see Binance there.

Or you can enter Binance to their search box and find Binance.

Note: Always verify and check the official links and channels before downloading.

After finding and checking to confirm their exchange website link, get download link officially from their websites.

[Oshosondy]

Some people will not listen. It is as simple as download the Binance app from the official website. All exchanges also works like that. If you access the exchanges on the web, you will see where you can download their apps when you are about to login. All these are easy to avoid but some people are just novice.

[komarnickagalina248]

There have been fake Binance desktop applications appearing recently. They may look legitimate but are designed to steal personal information and funds. Always download the app only from the official Binance website and check the URLs. Protect your accounts by using two-factor authentication and avoid suspicious links. 

This applies not only to Binance but also to all other exchanges and wallets.

[PrivacyG]

'Desktop App' yet the advertising image of the Scam shows very clearly a Google Chrome tab open with the Binance website on it and it is not even promoted by a fake Binance account.  It can not be more clear than this that it is a Scam.  This is the type of Scam only Newbies and non technical Computer users would fall for.  And these are the same people who likely believe that it must be real and legitimate since it is on the Internet..

[cryptoaddictchie]

Since Binance browser is banned in the Philippines surely it will help us too to identify fake binance desktop apps since we cant access this one.

Some people will not listen. It is as simple as download the Binance app from the official website. All exchanges also works like that. If you access the exchanges on the web, you will see where you can download their apps when you are about to login. All these are easy to avoid but some people are just novice.

Well cant help it as some people are hard headed guys. Using an official website always make us safe from potential scams. I wonder why they arent careful enough and still fall on this kind of scams.

[hugeblack]

I think you should be more careful with crypto ads and not click on any sub-link especially those that lead to downloading files, YouTube or Facebook do not have strict conditions and many of these ads are support for fraud.

[MusaMohamed]

Since Binance browser is banned in the Philippines

I didn't know that Binance was banned in the Philippines, my thinking is if their website link is banned by your government, no way to access the exchange with mobile applications too. I am not sure it is possible to access Binance with VPN but don't have problems with Binance's Compliance team too.

I think you should be more careful with crypto ads and not click on any sub-link especially those that lead to downloading files, YouTube or Facebook do not have strict conditions and many of these ads are support for fraud.

It's better to be careful and prevention is better than cure.

If people are curious and would like to explore things, they have to do this with an empty advice, on which they don't log in any important accounts of banks, centralized exchanges, cryptocurrency wallets and emails for important things. Be careful and self-protect against fraud is important and we can not rely on community reports against fraud and scam.

[Yaunfitda]

Thanks for this, I have just scrolled on my facebook and I thought I could have seen this kind of ads? Not sure, but I have to go back and check, but what caught my attention is that it's very similar interface that is showing in my feed.

Yeah, I heard that Binance is ban from the Philippines but there are still Filipinos that I known of who are trying to access with VPN.

Anyhow, thanks for this warning and hopefully no one will fall for this trick.

[arwin100]

Thanks for this, I have just scrolled on my facebook and I thought I could have seen this kind of ads? Not sure, but I have to go back and check, but what caught my attention is that it's very similar interface that is showing in my feed.

Yeah, I heard that Binance is ban from the Philippines but there are still Filipinos that I known of who are trying to access with VPN.

Anyhow, thanks for this warning and hopefully no one will fall for this trick.

Philippines just ban binance but they totally not implement a total ban for this exchange since their App still accessible and anyone could used it anytime they want.

Also its good that OP share this information since its really enticing especially for people looking for convenience and if to bad if they spot this fake binance app since there's really a huge chance that they would lose everything they have especially that those scammers don't have mercy and they would stole anything they can get from their victims.

Always important for people to check the url or to verify those apps they see, since phising attack exist and the creator of those apps is just doing a lot of ways just to spread out their creation and fool people to hack them.

[Coyster]

Social media is the worst place to get or download anything related to cryptocurrency, there are so many scam ads on facebook, YouTube and the others. I wonder if the people who fall for these scams are new to crypto and they don't have any involvement prior to clicking such links, i say so because if you are in the crypto industry, you should know where to get legitimate information and also know where you should and should not download things from.

[tvplus006]

Everyone should remember that you can download such applications only from the official website. At the same time, you need to visit the exchange's website only from your bookmarks in the browser. You should take responsibility for your safety.

[cryptoaddictchie]

I didn't know that Binance was banned in the Philippines, my thinking is if their website link is banned by your government, no way to access the exchange with mobile applications too. I am not sure it is possible to access Binance with VPN but don't have problems with Binance's Compliance team too.

Yes it was ban few months back and any violators who still uses or caught promoting the use of Binance will be forced for a fine or criminal sanctions. Well the app still working since PH doesnt have a valid reason for its total abolishment on Playstore and Apple so it can still be access from the app. Only thr browser isnt working.

[coupable]

Binance does have a legitimate desktop app, although I’m not sure why anybody would use it instead of the website. They don’t provide a signature for their official desktop apps so people could end up in a situation where they do a google search for "Binance desktop app" and accidentally end up on a phishing site and won’t know they are installing malware until it is too late.

What may shock many of us is that fake app makers are successful in trapping victims even though their method may seem primitive and no one would believe it. Launching a fake app in parallel with an advertising campaign can achieve good results for hackers. Here we can address Binance’s responsibility to contribute to achieving a large part of the security of its users by being aware of these fake apps or malicious links to publish warnings about them on its channels and alerting users. This may seem pointless, but it certainly has a direct impact and can contribute to reducing the damage that these attempts may cause.