Everything about airdrop fraud and prevention [2024년]

As the cryptocurrency industry grows, airdrop events are becoming more frequent. This is because airdrops are an opportunity for early investors to obtain free tokens, and for projects, it is a golden opportunity to promote their business.

but Airdrop events are often fraught with scams. With just one click, there is a risk of your wallet information being leaked or infected with malicious code. Even when the Bitcoin spot exchange-traded fund (ETF) was launched in early 2024, Bitcoin airdrop phishing links and advertisements were distributed on social network services. To prevent this, in this article we will take a closer look at various fraud methods and prevention methods through airdrops. Succeed in your investment while following safety rules!

What is an airdrop scam?

Airdrop scams are scams where scammers advertise that they are providing cryptocurrency tokens for free, but then actually steal the user’s personal information and cause damage. These crimes are most prevalent on X (formerly Twitter), Discord, and Telegram.

In the case of a normal airdrop, the project discloses the airdrop schedule to the public in advance. Additionally, it does not require the user’s personal information or private key.

Here are the main types of airdrop scams that have emerged recently:

Airdrop scams come in many forms. The most common method is to spread fake airdrop events through X, Telegram, or Discord. Scammers advertise on social networking services that there is a chance to receive free coins, induce FOMO in users and encourage them to click on a specific link.

In July 2025, Banana Gun, a Telegram bot project, discovered that fake airdrop events were rampant. Banana Gun immediately posted on the official X account, “Currently, Banana Gun is not doing airdrops. “Any airdrop conducted under the guise of Banana Gun is a scam.” Likewise, if you want to know whether the airdrop is fake or real, you can first check its reliability by visiting the project’s official account or website.

There is also a type of fraud that has become increasingly popular recently. This is a method where a scammer sends a fraudulent NFT to a personal wallet address, entices you to click on it, and connects you to a phishing site. Fraudsters then steal your personal information and steal your assets. This scam works in the following sequence:

• Scammers send fraudulent NFTs to personal wallets with messages such as winning a free airdrop.
• The user clicks on it and is taken to a phishing site.
• The user then connects his wallet to the site and signs the smart contract.
• Your wallet is hacked.

Before participating in the airdrop event, review various types of fraud in advance to prepare for unexpected events.

• Phishing airdrop scam
  Phishing is one of the most common types of fraud. Scammers create fake websites or social media profiles that mimic legitimate projects. They send users a link to a fake site via email or direct message (DM). The user is then prompted to enter their private key or other sensitive information. Afterwards, the fraudster uses the obtained information to steal the cryptocurrency held by the user.
• Airdrop scam requiring prepayment
  Scammers run false advertisements that imitate real airdrop campaigns. Participants are asked to send a small amount of cryptocurrency or pay a transaction fee to verify their wallet address. Once payment is completed, the scammer disappears and the promised tokens are not delivered.
• Malicious software airdrop scam
  Scammers trick users into downloading malicious software disguised as airdrop applications or wallet programs. It then directly attacks the user’s hardware system. Alternatively, malicious software can steal your private keys or monitor your keystrokes to steal your assets.
• Scams impersonating celebrities or project teams
  Scammers promote fake airdrops by impersonating celebrities or project teams in the cryptocurrency space. Airdrops are announced through hacked or fake social media accounts and trick users into handing over sensitive information.

How to avoid airdrop scams

Airdrop fraud is often carried out by taking advantage of large airdrop projects. Be especially careful with social media posts.

Blockchain security company SlowMist said on April 3, 2024, “The day before the large airdrop of the cross-chain bridge Wormhole (W), fraudulent accounts impersonating official Wormhole accounts uploaded phishing links to X.” He pointed out, “In fact, airdrop claimants linked their wallets.” Slowest continued, “If you look at the phishing account ID (handle with @), you can see that it is different from Wormhole’s official account. “If you look carefully for just 1-2 seconds, you can prevent damage,” he emphasized. In other words, don’t get excited by free tokens, but look at the source of that information.

In particular, reputable projects announce airdrop events to the community in advance. For investors, if there is an airdrop project you would like to participate in, it is recommended that you at least check the official website related to that project!

Below are various ways to prevent airdrop fraud. Please familiarize yourself with these methods before participating in the airdrop event.

• Verify authenticity
  Before participating in an airdrop, be sure to understand the authenticity of the project. Check the project’s official website and social media channels, and review whether the airdrop has been mentioned on popular cryptocurrency news sites.
• Do not share private keys
  Never share your private key, seed phrase, or other authentication factors. Legitimate airdrops do not ask for this information.
• project research
  Do thorough research on projects offering airdrops. Check with the project team, past performance, and community feedback to assess if it’s the right project.
• message attention
  Be wary of messages and emails or social media posts sent to you. Scammers spread phishing links through these channels. If you are suspicious of any message you receive, be sure to cross-check with the project’s official channels.
• Use security software
  Install security software on the devices you use and update it regularly. This will protect you from fake airdrop applications or phishing sites.
• Check SSL certificate
  When visiting airdrop-related websites, please use HTTPS and make sure you have a valid SSL certificate. However, SSL certificates do not guarantee 100% site legitimacy, so additional verification is required.
• Trust your senses
  If an airdrop event looks strange or too good to be true, it’s probably a scam. Trust your instincts and don’t participate in questionable airdrops. It can be a big loss.

Even if you follow the above guidelines, you will be able to prevent meaningless loss of assets.

What to do after being scammed by airdrop

If you have been scammed unexpectedly, Be proactive in following up. Your actions can prevent further harm.

• Report a scam
  If you believe you have been scammed, report it to the relevant authorities. Reports can be made through the cryptocurrency project’s official channels, social media platforms, cybersecurity agencies, etc. Reporting helps prevent other victims from occurring.
• Change password
  Immediately change the password for the affected account. Update all your accounts, including email, cryptocurrency exchanges, wallets, etc., with strong passwords.
• Revoke access
  If you provided wallet access through an airdrop, revoke it. Many wallets and blockchain explorers allow you to manage and revoke permissions to connected sites and applications.
• Account Monitoring
  Constantly monitor your account for unusual activity. If an unauthorized transaction occurs, contact your wallet provider or exchange immediately for assistance.
• Ask for expert help
  Get help from cybersecurity experts or authorities to protect your assets and, if possible, find ways to recover lost funds.
• Education and information sharing
  Learn from this experience and become more knowledgeable about the signs of fraud. Share your experience with others to raise awareness to avoid falling prey to similar scams.

conclusion

As the cryptocurrency industry grows, airdrops are becoming an effective promotional tool for projects. More diverse and promising projects are conducting airdrops. It also has the effect of revitalizing the entire market. Airdrop fraud is also rampant. In the case of investors, while trying to make a small profit, their wallet can be hacked and they may suffer huge losses.

However, even if you know just simple things, you can prevent major damage. Investors must review the legitimacy of the project before participating in the airdrop event. You need to check whether event announcements are made through an official account or from a trustworthy development team. It is also important to remember that normal projects do not ask investors for personal information.

If you have been scammed, you should immediately protect your account and report it to the relevant authorities to prevent another victim from becoming a victim.

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