Recently, Elonxstar.com website surfaced, promoting itself as a place where you can securely keep cryptocurrency and other assets. I managed to gather credible supporting information that unmistakably indicates it is, in truth, a scam platform.
Despite what Elonxstar site states, they won’t ever pay off your funds. Even though the figures displayed in the “member area”, there is no way to retrieve even a penny. All promises regarding crypto rewards are empty as well.
Elonxstar Scam Overview
The key service that Elonxstar aims to provide is a safe and convenient crypto wallet service. The site promises crypto exchange solutions, tools for managing wallets, transfers, dashboards, and the like. In fact, they endeavor to emulate the functionality of a crypto marketplace, akin to Binance or Coinbase. However, it in actuality solely serves as a cover needed to lull the vigilance.
To begin with, Elonxstar imitates the layout of many similar websites. There are quite a few examples, like Kodrax, Wxmcoin or Muskxtech. They are entirely undistinguishable in terms of visual elements, with minor discrepancies in the webpage header. Other details, and at times even crypto wallet addresses, are identical. Probably, all these deceptive websites are led by a single group of scoundrels.
Cryptocurrency Scam Summary
| Website | Elonxstar.com |
| Hosting | AS13335 Cloudflare, Inc. United States, San Francisco |
| IP Address | 188.114.97.3 |
| Threat Type | Scam/Fraud |
| Scam Type | Fraudulent offers of cryptocurrency services |
How the Elonxstar Scam Works?
Elonxstar is yet another online platform within a extensive network of associated crypto scam sites. The operators employ various brand names and websites, like Elonxstar.com, to capture victims. Nevertheless, these false websites possess matching designs, terms of service, and About content. This unveils their sources as components of the identical criminal network, which advocates the same mode of deception under various appearances. The fraudsters merely duplicate the identical deceptive site under diverse names to fool users into believing they are participating in a new platform. However, in reality, it’s the identical system of fraudsters orchestrating the fraudulent commitments and undertakings to take deposited cryptocurrency. The administrators cleverly employ psychological maneuvers and appealing invitations to implement their deceitful schemes.
Step 1: Spreading
To begin the fraud, criminals set up and fill accounts on popular social media platforms. They primarily aim at Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. Subsequently, the promotional campaign begins. Using bots and paid promotions (when feasible), fraud actors boost the presence of their scam activities to potential victims. This strategy enables them to cast a wide net and interact with their targeted viewers. The latter usually comprises of cryptocurrency fans seeking opportunities to make profits.
Users receive an encouragement to enroll, attracted by the commitment of receiving crypto prizes valued at thousands of dollars, all for free. To enhance the appeal of the offer, false claims of cooperation with a celebrity are added. As you may guess, these assertions are completely baseless.
Step 2: Gaining Traffic
Users who express interest go to Elonxstar.com via links featured in ads or bot-generated posts. The webpage employs captivating visuals, design features that appear legitimate, and assertions of holding a valid license, all aimed to convey an initial perception of trustworthiness.
Step 3: Data Gathering
To collect their prizes, users must actively sign up on Elonxstar and receive instructions to provide sensitive and private data during the registration process. This comprises linking their cryptocurrency wallets, revealing email addresses, supplying phone numbers, sending in identification documents, and the like.
Step 4: Requesting funds
Once registered, users observe significant amounts of cryptocurrency, valued at thousands of dollars, within their Elonxstar wallets. Nonetheless, as it usually happens with such bonuses, you cannot withdraw them ahead of making a deposit. Typically, a payment of $100 is required to access the sign-up bonus. This condition serves as the snare that eventually culminates to the money loss.
Step 5: Disappear
The moment the deposit is submitted, the scammers halt all communication. They go ahead to bar users, erase accounts, and vanish with both the deposited money and critical individual information. The phony rewards remain perpetually uncredited, as they lack real existence. They operate purely as a phishing maneuver. This technique forms the foundation for the scammers’ capability to mislead victims and embezzle hard-earned money through their double-dealing internet-based crypto scheme.
Signs of Scam
I gathered several facts that point at the scammy nature of the Elonxstar.com. Actually, there are a lot of scams that fall under the same points, so they are pretty much universal.
- Absent company details. Elonxstar does not provide any documentation about its ownership, location or registration. No legitimate contact details are given either. Moreover, it appears that the domain and all social network pages were registered quite recently.
- Fake sponsorship from a celebrity. Scams like Elonxstar like to pick a celebrity as a sponsor of this entire campaign. For obvious reasons, fraudsters generally choose Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Mr. Beast, Mark Zuckerberg, and similar celebrities. They do not disdain claiming partnership with a company as well. Even though Coinbase, Binance or MetaMask never heard of Elonxstar, they do not care – this creates a halo of credibility.
- Potential Ponzi Scheme. The scam relies on a Ponzi-like referral system to spread reach through social media. In fact, only the first members will receive the payoff, at the cost of the money brought by other members.
- Hype without facts. Frauds can cheer up their victims from time to time, using claims about non-existent events. “We got contracts with Coinbase”, “Elon Musk mentioned us as the most prolific crypto project” – you could likely hear something like that. This is made to make people believe in their money return. This can be the sauce to make people top-up their accounts once again.
- Crypto-only incoming payments. Whether the user tries to top-up the account, hackers will only accept payments in crypto – no bank transfers or other payment methods. Such an approach completely hides the identity of the company and deprives you of the ability to ask for a refund.
- Claims are too good to be true. Let’s be sane and sober: even in crypto space, there are not many places where you can earn 50-100-200%. Being able to participate in all of them is nearly impossible, as well as it is impossible to insure or hedge all the risks. Even by that reason alone I can tell that the Elonxstar is a definite scam.
What Should I do as a Victim?
If you had to deal with Elonxstar site and fell victim to that scam, there are still some steps to take. They will make further scam attempts harder, and also boost the knowledge about that scam among folks.
- Immediate Reporting. Your initial step should involve promptly notifying local authorities specializing in financial fraud. Extend your reach by reaching out to wallet providers and engaging with social networks’ technical support teams. These actions serve to raise the bar for the scammers’ operations.
- Share among Friends. Amplify your efforts by informing your close friends about the scam. Similar to informing authorities, this dissemination of information restricts the scammers’ potential victim pool.
- Preserve Crucial Information. Compile a comprehensive evidence archive by capturing screenshots and archiving all relevant website-related data. Collect the website URL, screenshots of the main page, login interface, end-user license agreement (EULA), account top-up menu, and wallet addresses. These records could provide vital clues for authorities in their pursuit of the scammers.
- Exploring Refund Options. While most banks’ refund policies may exclude cryptocurrency payments, it’s advisable to explore potential refund avenues under specific circumstances. Maintain hope until you obtain confirmation of the loss.
- Transform Loss into Knowledge. Turn your financial setback into an opportunity for growth. View your loss as an investment in understanding the strategies employed by crypto scam sites. Familiarize yourself with their telltale characteristics, the methods they employ to entice individuals, and the extravagant promises they make. Equipped with this insight, you’ll be well-prepared to spot and evade future traps without suffering additional financial setbacks.
Scan your system for possible malware infections
Beware of cross scams! Scam actors can use your trust to make you download some stuff or interact with certain documents. It may be a trap that installs malware to your system. There are no moral barriers or limits for these scoundrels.
Throughout the duration of the fraud, its actors may get in touch with you with particular documents. Alternatively, they may suggest you to set up “cryptocurrency wallet applications” or “browser extensions” to simplify access to your crypto funds. As we previously figured out, these scammers have no intent of giving back your capital. So, what can these email messages and browser add-ons represent? You guessed it right – that is another side of the scam designed to throw you into willingly installing malicious applications onto your system.
Both plugins and files included to email messages can serve as a carrier for different malicious software. In this scenario, I expect the presence of spyware and stealers among all kinds of threats. While it is not obligatory for scammers to distribute malware, the chance is always above zero. As noted, their ethics is of no concern, and their reputation is already severely tarnished. They have no principles to lose and strive to maximize revenues.
Frequently asked questions
- Contact your bank or card provider and ask about chargeback options.
- Save screenshots, receipts, tracking numbers, and emails as evidence.
- Change reused passwords and enable two-factor authentication on important accounts.
- Watch for follow-up phishing emails pretending to offer refunds or delivery updates.
