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I want to tell the story of a type of fraud disguised as a website for obtaining airdrops. Such websites look harmless and even useful, but in reality, their goal is to steal cryptocurrency from the user.
This example well illustrates how such a scheme works step by step.
1. What the site was disguised as
The site presented itself as a platform for obtaining an airdrop — that is, 'free distribution of tokens.'
The user was shown a page where they could supposedly check if tokens were credited to them.
It's important to note a few details:
the site worked on http, not on https
It's important: normal secure sites use https, while http is a very old and insecure version.
the site did not have a proper project description
there were no documents, team, contacts
there was no referral system, like with real airdrops
Even at this stage, the site looked suspicious, but for an inexperienced user, everything seemed 'normal'.
2. The first hook — fake balance
When the person entered the site, they were immediately shown numbers.
For example, it was claimed that there were already tokens or stablecoins in his address.
This is an important point.
The balance was shown without any actions from the user.
Nothing needed to be earned, no tasks had to be completed or participation confirmed.
It created a feeling:
'I've already been given something, just need to collect it.'
In fact, these numbers had nothing to do with reality. They were just text on the screen.
3. Connecting the wallet
The next step is the offer to connect a crypto wallet.
The site asked for a standard action that many users were already accustomed to doing:
connect the wallet
confirm interaction
At this stage, money had not yet been deducted, so the person might have thought that everything was safe.
This was done intentionally to reduce suspicion.
4. The main trap — permission for access
The most dangerous moment came next.
To 'get' or 'unlock' the shown balance, the site suggested confirming the transaction.
This transaction looked not like a money transfer, but like permission.
Simply put, the user agreed themselves:
'I allow this site to manage my tokens'
Many did not understand the difference between:
transfer
permission to manage funds
This is where the fraud occurred.
5. What happened after confirmation
After the user gave permission:
the site received the right to deduct funds
real tokens could be withdrawn without additional confirmations
the user did not immediately understand what happened
Sometimes deductions did not happen immediately, but later — to make it harder to link the loss of funds to this site.
6. Why the scheme looked 'working'
This type of fraud has a peculiarity.
Sometimes:
small amounts were indeed sent to other users
it created a feeling that 'someone got lucky'
This was done intentionally to:
to gain trust
encourage others to connect wallets
create the illusion of a fair airdrop
But in the long run, the site worked only one way — for stealing funds.
Withdrawal
This site was not an airdrop.
This was a tool for deception, built on the fact that the user:
does not understand what exactly they are confirming
trusts the numbers on the screen
used to connect the wallet 'automatically'
Such schemes do not disappear. They just change names and appearances.
If the site shows money before you do anything — it's almost always a scam.