We Investigated Poksten: Legit or Scam? The Facts

Written by Daniel Zimmerman

Recently, Poksten.com site popped up, promoting itself as a place to store cryptocurrency and other assets safely. I managed to gather credible proof that unmistakably confirms it is, in fact, a fraudulent site.

Despite what Poksten site states, they won’t ever return your money. Even though the figures displayed in the “member area”, there is no means to withdraw even a single penny. All promises regarding crypto bonuses are empty as well.

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Poksten Scam Overview

The key feature that Poksten aims to provide is a safe and convenient crypto wallet service. The site pledges crypto exchange facilities, tools for handling wallets, transfers, dashboards, and similar functions. In reality, they try to emulate the functionality of a crypto trading platform, akin to Binance or Coinbase. However, it actually solely serves as a cover needed to deceive the cautious.

Poksten.com Scam

Poksten Scam

Initially, Poksten mimics the design of many equivalent online platforms. There are quite a few examples, like Explicit, Coinexcx or Coinexy. They are totally undistinguishable in terms of graphic elements, with minor discrepancies in the site header. Other specific elements, and sometimes even crypto wallet addresses, are matching. Probably, all these deceptive websites are led by a single gang of scammers.

Cryptocurrency Scam Summary

WebsitePoksten.com
HostingAS42745 Safe Value Limited
Russia, Moscow
IP Address193.233.15.41
Threat TypeScam/Fraud
Scam TypeFraudulent offers of cryptocurrency services

How the Poksten Scam Works?

Poksten is yet another webpage within a wide-ranging network of interconnected crypto deceptive platforms. The operators utilize various brand titles and websites, like Poksten.com, to capture victims. Nevertheless, these fraudulent websites have in common identical designs, terms of service, and About Us content. This unveils their sources as components of the identical scam network, which promotes the same mode of fraud under diverse appearances. The scammers just duplicate the identical fraudulent site under various names to fool users into thinking they are enrolling a fresh opportunity. However, in actuality, it’s the equal system of swindlers orchestrating the deceptive pledges and efforts to seize deposited funds. The operators skillfully employ psychological strategies and enticing offers to carry out their unscrupulous plans.

Step 1: Spreading

To begin the deceptive scheme, criminals create and fill accounts on well-liked social media platforms. They mainly target Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. Subsequently, the marketing campaign begins. Utilizing bots and paid ads (when achievable), scam actors increase the exposure of their scam activities to possible victims. This approach allows them to cast an extensive net and interact with their targeted viewers. The latter typically consists of cryptocurrency fans seeking chances to generate profits.

Users get a stimulus to enroll, drawn by the assurance of obtaining crypto rewards valued at hundreds of dollars, all for free. To augment the attractiveness of the offer, fake claims of sponsorship by a celebrity are added. As you may guess, these assertions are completely baseless.

Step 2: Gaining Traffic

Individuals who show interest visit Poksten.com via links included in advertisements or bot-generated posts. The site employs captivating visuals, design elements that appear authentic, and claims of possessing a legitimate license, all aimed to present an initial image of reliability.

Step 3: Data Gathering

To collect their prizes, users must actively set up an account on Poksten and get prompts to submit sensitive and personal information throughout the enrollment process. This includes linking their cryptocurrency wallets, providing email addresses, specifying phone numbers, submitting identification documents, and more.

Step 4: Requesting funds

Once signed up, users notice significant amounts of cryptocurrency, valued at thousands of dollars, within their Poksten wallets. Nonetheless, as it usually happens with such incentives, you are unable to withdraw them before topping up your account. Normally, a funds transfer of $100 is asked to withdraw the sign-up bonus. This stipulation serves as the trap that eventually results to the money loss.

Step 5: Disappear

The point in time the payment is sent, the scammers terminate all contact. They proceed to block users, delete accounts, and abscond with both the transferred capital and essential personal data. The fabricated prizes continue to be perpetually uncredited, as they lack actual existence. They operate exclusively as a phishing strategy. This technique forms the foundation for the deceivers’ capability to deceive victims and misappropriate hard-earned money through their double-dealing web crypto fraud.

Signs of Scam

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

  • Absent company details. Poksten 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 Poksten 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 Poksten, 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 Poksten is a definite scam.

What Should I do as a Victim?

If you had to deal with Poksten 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 scam, its masters may reach out to you with particular files. Alternatively, they may propose you to install “cryptocurrency wallet applications” or “browser extensions” to facilitate access to your crypto savings. As we earlier determined, these scammers have no intent of restoring your capital. So, what can these messages and browser plugins represent? You guessed it right – that is another component of the fraudulent scheme designed to throw you into willingly installing malicious software onto your computer.

Both plugins and files attached to email messages can act as a carrier for different malicious code. In this situation, I expect the presence of spyware and stealers among all forms of threats. While it is not mandatory for scammers to distribute malware, the chance is always greater than zero. As stated, their morality is of little concern, and their dignity is already deeply compromised. They have nothing to give up and aim to boost revenues.

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Gridinsoft Anti-Malware - Main Screen

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.

setup-gridinsoft-fix.exe

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

Gridinsoft Setup Wizard

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.

Scan for spyware malicious programs

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.

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The spyware was Found

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.

The spyware has been removed

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.

Trojan Killer - Main View

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.

Download Trojan Killer

2. Insert a USB flash drive into this computer.

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

Install Trojan Killer to Removable Drive

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.

Click Update Button

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.

Searching spyware Virus

Step 4: Remove Found Threats:

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

Searching spyware Finished

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.

Restart needed

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.

Frequently asked questions

Is there any real info on Poksten site?

The vast majority of information posted on the Poksten site is false. It is either fabricated, or a manipulation that misses the context of mentioned events. However, things like quotes or other interactive elements related to current prices may be trustworthy. But I would rather avoid using them as a primary source of information.

Are the Poksten site promices real?

No, there is no legitimate information on the Poksten site. The operators of this site use fabricated details and deceptive tactics to create an appearance of credibility, such as appealing visuals and claims of being a licensed company. However, these claims are false, and the site is part of a larger network of interconnected crypto scam sites designed to defraud victims. The scammers manipulate users into providing sensitive personal information and making deposits, ultimately leading to the loss of funds.

Is there any way to recover my lost funds from Poksten scam?

Unfortunately, recovering funds lost to a scam like Poksten can be extremely challenging, if not impossible. Scammers often operate from obscure locations and use various tactics to cover their tracks, making it difficult to trace or retrieve the stolen funds. In many cases, these scams are designed to exploit victims and disappear once they have obtained the money.

How to spot crypto trading scams in the future?

Spotting crypto trading scams requires vigilance and a critical eye. Here are some tips to help you identify potential crypto trading scams in the future:

  1. Verify Regulation and Licensing. Before proceeding, ensure that the platform or service is regulated and possesses the necessary licenses from relevant authorities. Scammers often operate without proper authorization.
  2. Resist Urgency. Be cautious of tactics that create a false sense of urgency to pressure you into quick decisions. Legitimate investments provide ample time for research and consideration.
  3. Consult Reviews and Feedback. Seek independent reviews and feedback from other traders. While positive reviews can be fabricated, negative reviews often reveal valuable insights.
  4. Question Unrealistic Promises. Approach offers with unrealistically high returns or guaranteed profits skeptically. If an investment opportunity seems too good to be true, it probably is.
  5. Scrutinize Celebrity Endorsements. Exercise skepticism when faced with endorsements from celebrities or public figures. Scammers frequently create fake endorsements to enhance credibility.

What should I do as a victim of a Poksten.com scam?

If you have become a victim of a Poksten or similar crypto trading scam, it’s important to take immediate action to minimize further damage and increase the chances of recovering your losses. Here’s what you should do:

  • Notify Cryptocurrency Exchanges. Should you have employed a cryptocurrency exchange for transactions linked to the scam, inform the exchange about the fraudulent activity. In certain cases, they could extend their assistance.
  • Contact Financial Institutions. If you conducted any payments or deposits through your credit card or bank account, promptly notify your financial institution. They might offer assistance in contesting transactions or initiating chargebacks.
  • Thoroughly Document. Gather and safeguard all pertinent information, including emails, screenshots, transaction records, and any correspondence with the scammers. This documentation holds utmost importance for reporting the scam and seeking assistance.
  • Immediately Halt Communication. Once you recognize that you have fallen victim to a scam, cease all communication with the scammers. Refrain from responding to their emails, messages, or phone calls.
  • Seek Legal Advice. Consult with a legal professional who specializes in fraud or financial matters. They can provide advice on potential legal actions you can take to recover your funds.
  • Consult Legal Counsel. Seek counsel from a legal expert specialized in fraud or financial matters. They can provide guidance on potential legal avenues for recovering your funds.
  • Inform the Authorities. Lodge an official report with your local law enforcement agency and relevant regulatory bodies within your country. Present them with the amassed evidence. This step instigates investigations and enhances awareness about the scam.
The truth about Poksten

Name: Poksten

Description: Cryptocurrency scams continue to increase as digital assets achieve mainstream adoption. A recent example of such a scam involves Poksten, a fraudulent crypto exchange that entices victims with promises of free crypto giveaways. This detailed article will extensively examine the operations of the Poksten scam, techniques for recognizing it, and, most crucially, ways to evade becoming a victim.

Operating System: All

Application Category: Crypto Scams

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About the author

Daniel Zimmerman

I'm Daniel, a seasoned professional deeply passionate about the realm of security and malware defense. With over a decade of experience in the security industry and a background in writing, I am thrilled to share my expertise through this cybersecurity blog.

Throughout my career, I've had the privilege of working on the front lines of cybersecurity, tirelessly combating emerging threats and safeguarding digital environments. This hands-on experience has allowed me to develop a deep understanding of the ever-evolving landscape of malware and cyber-attacks.

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