The Pbsx Scam – Don’t Become the Next Victim

Recently, Pbsx.org service surfaced, promoting itself as a place to store cryptocurrency and other assets safely. I managed to gather reliable supporting information that clearly confirms it is, in fact, a deceptive site.

Contrary to the statements of Pbsx.org, they won’t ever return your money. Regardless of the money displayed in the “member area”, there is zero ability to take out even a single penny. All promises regarding crypto rewards are baseless as well.

It is better to prevent, than repair and repent!

When we talk about the intrusion of unfamiliar programs into your computer’s work, the proverb “Forewarned is forearmed” describes the situation as accurately as possible. Gridinsoft Anti-Malware is exactly the tool that is always useful to have in your armory: fast, efficient, up-to-date. It is appropriate to use it as an emergency help at the slightest suspicion of infection.

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Pbsx Scam Overview

The main offering that Pbsx strives to provide is a secure and convenient crypto wallet service. The site pledges crypto exchange solutions, tools for controlling wallets, transfers, dashboards, and similar stuff. In reality, they try to emulate the functionality of a crypto exchange, like Binance or Coinbase. However, it actually only serves as a cover needed to lull the vigilance.

Pbsx Scam

Initially, Pbsx mimics the design of numerous similar websites. There are quite a few examples, like Kinemarket, Haxitradings or Goldriseinvestment. They are completely undistinguishable in terms of visual elements, with slight discrepancies in the site header. Other specific elements, and sometimes even crypto wallet addresses, are unchanged. Probably, all these deceptive sites are led by the same team of fraudsters.

Cryptocurrency Scam Summary

How the Pbsx Scam Works?

Pbsx is yet another website within a extensive network of interconnected crypto fraudulent sites. The operators employ diverse brand names and websites, like Pbsx.org, to capture victims. Nonetheless, these fraudulent sites have in common identical website designs, terms of service, and About Us content. This reveals their beginnings as parts of the equal criminal network, which endorses the identical form of scam under various appearances. The deceivers merely replicate the same deceptive website under various names to fool users into assuming they are joining a fresh venture. However, in actuality, it’s the same group of scammers orchestrating the deceptive commitments and undertakings to grab deposited cryptocurrency. The managers shrewdly employ psychological maneuvers and appealing propositions to carry out their unscrupulous schemes.

Step 1: Spreading

To start the deceptive scheme, criminals set up and fill accounts on popular social media platforms. They primarily target Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. Subsequently, the marketing campaign commences. Using bots and sponsored ads (when feasible), fraud actors increase the presence of their fraudulent activities to possible victims. This strategy enables them to create an extensive net and connect with their targeted audience. This group typically consists of cryptocurrency fans seeking prospects to make profits.

Users obtain a stimulus to sign up, enticed by the promise of obtaining crypto benefits valued at thousands of dollars, all without cost. To increase the attractiveness of the offer, false suggestions of sponsorship by a celebrity are added. As you may guess, these assertions are completely baseless.

Step 2: Gaining Traffic

Users who show interest visit Pbsx.org via links present in ads or robotic posts. The webpage utilizes captivating visuals, design aspects that appear genuine, and claims of possessing a official license, all designed to project an initial image of trustworthiness.

Step 3: Data Gathering

To redeem their benefits, users need to proactively create an account on Pbsx and receive prompts to submit sensitive and private data during the sign-up process. This includes linking their cryptocurrency wallets, sharing email addresses, supplying phone numbers, furnishing identification papers, and the like.

Step 4: Requesting funds

Once registered, users witness significant amounts of cryptocurrency, valued at hundreds of dollars, within their Pbsx wallets. However, as it usually happens with such bonuses, you are unable to withdraw them prior to making a deposit. Normally, a funds transfer of $100 is asked to access the sign-up bonus. This condition serves as the snare that eventually results to the money loss.

Step 5: Disappear

The point in time the payment is made, the deceivers halt all communication. They go ahead to block users, remove accounts, and disappear with both the submitted capital and vital individual data. The phony benefits persist perpetually uncredited, as they lack actual existence. They function purely as a deceptive ploy. This approach forms the foundation for the scammers’ ability to deceive victims and embezzle hard-earned funds through their double-dealing internet-based crypto scheme.

Signs of Scam

I gathered several facts that point at the scammy nature of the Pbsx.org. Actually, there are a lot of scams that fall under the same points, so they are pretty much universal.

• Cryptocurrency-Only Transactions. Pbsx.org insists on cryptocurrency payments exclusively, excluding conventional methods like bank transfers. This strategy ensures anonymity for the scam and eliminates any possibility of seeking refunds.
• Dubious Company Credentials. Pbsx arouses suspicion by failing to provide critical information about ownership, location, and legal registration. The lack of valid contact details and the recent creation of domain and social media profiles cast doubt on its legitimacy.
• Baseless Hype Generation. Pbsx resorts to fabricating non-existent achievements, such as contracts with Coinbase or endorsements from Elon Musk, to manipulate emotions and enhance the perception of potential returns, enticing victims to invest more.
• Fictitious Celebrity Association. Pbsx employs a deceptive tactic by falsely associating itself with well-known figures like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Mr. Beast, and Mark Zuckerberg. Additionally, the scam falsely claims partnerships with established entities like Coinbase, Binance, or MetaMask to bolster its false credibility.
• Potential Ponzi-Like Model. The scam operates on a pyramid-style referral system disseminated through social media, benefiting only initial participants and relying on later investments to sustain the illusion.
• Unrealistic Profit Promises. Promising improbable returns of 50-100-200%, Pbsx capitalizes on the desire for high profits. However, the tumultuous nature of the cryptocurrency market renders such gains implausible, solidifying Pbsx.org as a definite scam.

What Should I do as a Victim?

If you had to deal with Pbsx 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 timeline of the scam, its masters may get in touch with you with specific documents. Alternatively, they may offer you to set up “cryptocurrency wallet applications” or “browser extensions” to facilitate access to your cryptocurrency funds. As we earlier figured out, these scammers have no plan of restoring your money. So, what can these messages and browser plugins represent? You guessed it right – that is another side of the scam designed to entice you into deliberately installing destructive software onto your computer.

Both plugins and attachments added to email messages can serve as a shell for various malicious code. In this situation, I foresee the presence of spyware and stealers among all types of malware. While it is not mandatory for scammers to distribute malware, the chance is always existent. As stated, their ethics is of no concern, and their reputation is already seriously marred. They have no principles to lose and strive to boost profits.

Remove spyware with Gridinsoft Anti-Malware

We have also been using this software on our systems ever since, and it has always been successful in detecting viruses. It has blocked the most common malicious programs as shown from our tests with the software, and we assure you that it can remove spyware as well as other malware hiding on your computer.

To use Gridinsoft for remove malicious threats, follow the steps below:

1. Begin by downloading Gridinsoft Anti-Malware, accessible via the blue button below or directly from the official website gridinsoft.com.

2.Once the Gridinsoft setup file (setup-gridinsoft-fix.exe) is downloaded, execute it by clicking on the file.

3.Follow the installation setup wizard's instructions diligently.

4. Access the "Scan Tab" on the application's start screen and launch a comprehensive "Full Scan" to examine your entire computer. This inclusive scan encompasses the memory, startup items, the registry, services, drivers, and all files, ensuring that it detects malware hidden in all possible locations.

Be patient, as the scan duration depends on the number of files and your computer's hardware capabilities. Use this time to relax or attend to other tasks.

5. Upon completion, Anti-Malware will present a detailed report containing all the detected malicious items and threats on your PC.

6. Select all the identified items from the report and confidently click the "Clean Now" button. This action will safely remove the malicious files from your computer, transferring them to the secure quarantine zone of the anti-malware program to prevent any further harmful actions.

8. If prompted, restart your computer to finalize the full system scan procedure. This step is crucial to ensure thorough removal of any remaining threats. After the restart, Gridinsoft Anti-Malware will open and display a message confirming the completion of the scan.

Remember Gridinsoft offers a 6-day free trial. This means you can take advantage of the trial period at no cost to experience the full benefits of the software and prevent any future malware infections on your system. Embrace this opportunity to fortify your computer's security without any financial commitment.

Trojan Killer for “spyware” removal on locked PC

In situations where it becomes impossible to download antivirus applications directly onto the infected computer due to malware blocking access to websites, an alternative solution is to utilize the Trojan Killer application.

There is a really little number of security tools that are able to be set up on the USB drives, and antiviruses that can do so in most cases require to obtain quite an expensive license. For this instance, I can recommend you to use another solution of GridinSoft - Trojan Killer Portable. It has a 14-days cost-free trial mode that offers the entire features of the paid version. This term will definitely be 100% enough to wipe malware out.

Trojan Killer is a valuable tool in your cybersecurity arsenal, helping you to effectively remove malware from infected computers. Now, we will walk you through the process of using Trojan Killer from a USB flash drive to scan and remove malware on an infected PC. Remember, always obtain permission to scan and remove malware from a computer that you do not own.

Step 1: Download & Install Trojan Killer on a Clean Computer:

1. Go to the official GridinSoft website (gridinsoft.com) and download Trojan Killer to a computer that is not infected.

2. Insert a USB flash drive into this computer.

3. Install Trojan Killer to the "removable drive" following the on-screen instructions.

4. Once the installation is complete, launch Trojan Killer.

Step 2: Update Signature Databases:

5. After launching Trojan Killer, ensure that your computer is connected to the Internet.

6. Click "Update" icon to download the latest signature databases, which will ensure the tool can detect the most recent threats.

Step 3: Scan the Infected PC:

7. Safely eject the USB flash drive from the clean computer.

8. Boot the infected computer to the Safe Mode.

9. Insert the USB flash drive.

10. Run tk.exe

11. Once the program is open, click on "Full Scan" to begin the malware scanning process.

Step 4: Remove Found Threats:

12. After the scan is complete, Trojan Killer will display a list of detected threats.

13. Click on "Cure PC!" to remove the identified malware from the infected PC.

14. Follow any additional on-screen prompts to complete the removal process.

Step 5: Restart Your Computer:

15. Once the threats are removed, click on "Restart PC" to reboot your computer.

16. Remove the USB flash drive from the infected computer.

Congratulations on effectively removing spyware and the concealed threats from your computer! You can now have peace of mind, knowing that they won't resurface again. Thanks to Gridinsoft's capabilities and commitment to cybersecurity, your system is now protected.

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