"Lurking People" Must-See: Top Ten Fake Airdrop Danger Signals, Plus Pitfall Avoidance Guide

Fake airdrops are designed to empty users' wallets of funds, and you need to have an in-depth understanding of airdrop scams to effectively "stroke your hair". This article originated from an article by Dilip Kumar Patairya and was compiled, compiled and contributed by Tim, PANews. (Synopsis: WalletConnect token WCT expands to Solana!) 5 million airdrops to active users) (Background added: Movement broke the "rat warehouse airdrop": founder Cooper manipulated the rules to get $60 million Move) Key takeaways In 2024 and 2025, fake airdrop scams targeting projects like Hamster Kombat, Wall Street Pepe, and others cost users millions of dollars and more than $9.9 billion in cryptocurrency fraud worldwide. Fake airdrops trick users into revealing private keys, signing malicious contracts, or paying upfront fees by impersonating legitimate projects, resulting in funds being stolen and unrecoverable. Red flags include no official announcements, suspicious URLs, requests for private keys, grammatical errors, and unrealistic promises of return. Future airdrops are gradually shifting to a campaign-based, traceability and AI-monitored model designed to reward real user engagement while reducing cheating. Although crypto airdrops are a legitimate means for project parties to gain exposure and users, scammers are taking advantage of this craze to steal user assets through fake airdrop campaigns. Between 2024 and 2025, fake airdrop scams around projects like Hamster Kombat, Wall Street Pepe, and others have cost victims millions of dollars. According to blockchain analyst Chainalysis, global cryptocurrency fraud and fraud, including fake airdrops, are estimated to cost at least $9.9 billion in 2024. Identifying red flags is critical to securing airdrops. This article explores key hazard signals and practical prevention tips to help you effectively protect your assets. What is a fake airdrop? Airdrops are a common form of free token distribution in the crypto market, often as part of marketing campaigns, user growth strategies, or community-building initiatives. Formal airdrops achieve value by rewarding early participants, increasing token visibility, or incentivizing network participation. Users usually only need to complete simple operations such as social media following or registration, joining a community or holding coins to obtain a short investment box. However, the airdrop epidemic has also attracted scammers. They take advantage of users' greed and curiosity to lure users into sensitive actions such as sharing private keys, signing malicious contracts, or paying gas fees by promising to give away tokens (fake airdrops). Fraudsters may impersonate real projects, scam users with fake domain names or fake social media accounts. These scams often look so realistic that even experienced users can be fooled. Because of this, you must always be vigilant when claiming airdrops. And you know what? In 2023, phishing tool Inferno Drainer helped scammers steal over $80 million by forging an airdrop campaign. The tool operates in a "phishing-as-a-service" model, providing partners with pre-built phishing kits that enable them to set up fake airdrop websites to steal digital wallets on multiple blockchains. Identifying Key Red Flags for "Fake Airdrops" Before participating in an airdrop, be sure to learn to recognize red flags. These red flags are your first line of defense against cryptocurrency theft or sensitive information falling into the hands of scammers: 1. Official certification channels have not yet released official announcements Warning: One of the main warning signs to identify fake airdrops is that the project's official communication channels have never released relevant announcements. Scammers often promote fake airdrops by sending unsolicited private messages, setting up unofficial Telegram groups, or building shoddy websites that mimic legitimate projects. Solution: Before clicking on any link, be sure to confirm the authenticity of the airdrop by checking the project's official website, verified X account, or official Discord or Telegram channel. If the airdrop is not mentioned in official channels, be sure to stay away. 2. Private key or mnemonic phrase "verification" request Warning: A key red flag for a fake airdrop is to ask you to provide a private key or mnemonic phrase to "verify" the wallet. These scams trick users into handing over full control of their crypto wallets by pretending to be a claim for eligibility review process. Once the private key or mnemonic phrase is leaked, the scammer can immediately steal all the assets in the wallet. Countermeasure: A real airdrop will never ask you for a private key or recovery phrase, which should always be kept confidential. If anyone or a website asks for this information, it is clearly a scam. Please exit the relevant page immediately. 3. Prepaid gas fees or cryptocurrency payments Warning: A significant red flag for fake airdrops is to ask users to pay gas fees or cryptocurrency payments upfront to "unlock" tokens. Scammers will usually insist that you send ETH or other cryptocurrency to claim your reward, but after the payment, the promised tokens will never arrive and your funds will be lost. Countermeasures: Legitimate airdrops are free and usually only require basic tasks such as online wallets or simple operations. If an airdrop asks for a fee, it is most likely a scam. Never transfer money to an unfamiliar address. 4. Suspicious URLs or cloned websites Warning: Fake airdrops often use phishing websites that counterfeit genuine projects to deceive. These websites are designed to trick users into going online with wallets and signing fraudulent transactions. Countermeasure: Before participating in a project transaction, you must carefully check the URL link of the project. Fake links often have subtle differences, which can include misspellings, extra characters, or different domain endings (e.g., .com replaced with .net, etc.). Trivia: Some airdrop projects use retrospective criteria to reward users based on their past activity. This mechanism can motivate users to spontaneously participate in the construction of the ecosystem before the airdrop announcement is released, so as long as the DApp is used naturally, it may be possible to obtain free tokens in the future. 5. Grammatical errors and emergency language Warning: Many fake airdrops have grammatical errors, spelling problems, or the use of "Get it now, or miss the opportunity!" "Last chance for free tokens!" and other urgent slogans. These tactics are designed to create FOMO that tricks users into choosing malicious links without thinking. Rough writing and a deliberate sense of urgency are key signs of a scam. Countermeasures: Legitimate crypto projects communicate in a professional and clear manner. If there is an error in an airdrop announcement, or if you use a time-critical technique, be sure to stay away. 6. Fake social behavior or bot comments Warning: Scammers often use fake social behavior to fake airdrop posts, such as "I just received 500 $XYZ!" Or "Absolutely!" and other comments. This content is often released by bots or fake accounts and is designed to create a false impression of credibility to entice users to participate. They may also steal celebrity accounts or set up high-quality numbers to spread false airdrop information by forging authoritative endorsements. These fraudulent tactics take advantage of herd mentality and celebrity effects, with the ultimate goal of stealing user assets or private data. Solution: Don't rely solely on social media comments to determine if an airdrop is legitimate. The background of the token should be studied in depth, to verify that it is listed on a well-known platform, and through forums such as Reddit or credible...