This mix-up has led to big losses for crypto investors who ended up on these scam sites.
Etherscan is a popular tool that helps people check Ethereum transactions and balances. Let’s explore more about these fake Etherscan sites.
DuckDuckGo’s Response to Fake Etherscan Scams
Lately, when people searched for “Etherscan” on DuckDuckGo, they saw fake websites that looked just like the real Etherscan site. These scam websites tricked users into thinking they were on the genuine Etherscan page.
On September 11th, Scam Sniffer, a company that fights online scams, warned DuckDuckGo users about this phishing attempt. The fake websites were designed to look real and asked users to connect their MetaMask wallets. MetaMask is a tool people use to manage their Ethereum and other cryptocurrencies. By connecting their wallets, users gave scammers access to their digital money.
🚨 Attention all DuckDuckGo users! The second result for “Etherscan” is a phishing site.
Your assets could be at risk from a simple mistake. Stay safe and alert! 🔍⚠️ pic.twitter.com/wV4WIGP2aw
— Scam Sniffer | Web3 Anti-Scam (@realScamSniffer) September 11, 2024
The mistake happened because DuckDuckGo’s search engine ranked these fake sites higher than the real Etherscan site. It’s like being led to a fake store when you’re looking for your favorite shop. The scammers used this trick to get people’s personal information and steal their cryptocurrencies.
What Can You Do?
If you’re searching for Etherscan or any other important website, always double-check the URL to make sure you’re on the real site. Look for small details in the web address that might show you’re on a fake site. Scammers often try to copy real websites but might have tiny errors in their web addresses. Here is a phising report that summarize this situation:
🚨 [1/7] ScamSniffer’s August Phishing Report
In August, around 9,145 victims lost about $63 million to crypto phishing scams 😱🔒.
While the number of victims dropped by 34% from July, the stolen amount surged by 215%. pic.twitter.com/lm3dCtBQVH— Scam Sniffer | Web3 Anti-Scam (@realScamSniffer) September 3, 2024
This situation is a big deal because it shows that even trusted search engines can make mistakes that lead to serious problems. It’s a reminder that in the digital world, “not everything that glitters is gold.” Just because a site looks real doesn’t mean it is, and it’s important to be careful when dealing with sensitive information online.
Disclaimer
The information discussed by Altcoin Buzz is not financial advice. This is for educational, entertainment, and informational purposes only. Any information or strategies are thoughts and opinions relevant to the accepted risk tolerance levels of the writer/reviewers and their risk tolerance may be different than yours. We are not responsible for any losses you may incur due to any investments directly or indirectly related to the information provided. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are high-risk investments so please do your due diligence. Copyright Altcoin Buzz Pte Ltd.
