ProudChange Review: Legit or Scam? Read This First

Written by Daniel Zimmerman

Recently, Proudchange.com service popped up, promoting itself as a place to store cryptocurrency and other assets securely. I managed to gather credible evidence that clearly reveals it is, in truth, a deceptive site.

Despite what ProudChange site says, they will never refund your money. Even though the numbers displayed in the “member area”, there is no possibility to retrieve even a single penny. All commitments regarding crypto incentives are hollow as well.

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ProudChange Scam Overview

The main service that ProudChange aims to provide is a secure and user-friendly cryptocurrency wallet service. The website pledges exchange solutions, tools for handling wallets, transfers, dashboards, and alike functions. In reality, they aim to emulate the functionality of a crypto exchange, akin to Binance or Coinbase. However, it in fact solely serves as a cover needed to deceive the cautious.

Proudchange.com Scam

ProudChange Scam

First and foremost, ProudChange mimics the appearance of many equivalent pages. There are quite a few examples, like Sarexe, Sopemax or Spacewum. They are completely undistinguishable in terms of visual elements, with minor discrepancies in the website header. Other specific elements, and at times even crypto wallet addresses, are the same. Probably, all these fraudulent websites are managed by the same group of swindrels.

Cryptocurrency Scam Summary

WebsiteProudchange.com
HostingAS13335 Cloudflare, Inc.
United States, San Francisco
IP Address188.114.96.3
Threat TypeScam/Fraud
Scam TypeFraudulent offers of cryptocurrency services

How the ProudChange Scam Works?

ProudChange is yet another webpage within a extensive network of linked crypto scam webpages. The operators employ diverse brand names and sites, like Proudchange.com, to capture victims. Nonetheless, these fraudulent sites possess identical designs, terms of service, and About Us content. This reveals their sources as a part of the same scam network, which promotes the identical type of fraud under different disguises. The scammers merely replicate the same fraudulent website under different names to fool users into assuming they are participating in a new platform. However, in reality, it’s the same system of swindlers orchestrating the misleading commitments and undertakings to seize deposited cryptocurrency. The managers shrewdly make use of psychological strategies and captivating invitations to execute their dishonest plans.

Step 1: Spreading

To initiate the scam, criminals create and fill accounts on popular social media platforms. They mainly target Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. Subsequently, the marketing campaign begins. Utilizing bots and sponsored ads (when feasible), fraud actors intensify the exposure of their scam activities to potential victims. This strategy allows them to create an extensive net and interact with their focused spectators. The latter commonly consists of cryptocurrency enthusiastic individuals searching for prospects to make profits.

Users receive an incentive to sign up, drawn by the commitment of getting crypto benefits valued at thousands of dollars, all free of charge. To increase the appeal of the offer, fake suggestions of cooperation with a celebrity are incorporated. As you may guess, these assertions are entirely baseless.

Step 2: Gaining Traffic

People who show interest go to Proudchange.com via links included in ads or robotic posts. The website utilizes captivating visuals, design aspects that appear legitimate, and assertions of having a legitimate license, all designed to project an initial image of credibility.

Step 3: Data Gathering

To redeem their prizes, users are required to proactively sign up on ProudChange and receive prompts to submit sensitive and private information during the enrollment process. This includes linking their cryptocurrency wallets, revealing email addresses, specifying phone numbers, furnishing identification documents, and more.

Step 4: Requesting funds

Once signed up, users notice substantial amounts of cryptocurrency, valued at thousands of dollars, within their ProudChange wallets. Nevertheless, as it usually happens with such rewards, you are unable to withdraw them before making a deposit. Normally, a funds transfer of $100 is required to withdraw the sign-up bonus. This condition serves as the trap that ultimately results to the money loss.

Step 5: Disappear

The moment the funds transfer is submitted, the fraudsters halt all contact. They go ahead to block users, erase accounts, and vanish with both the transferred capital and essential individual data. The fabricated benefits persist perpetually uncredited, as they lack real existence. They function purely as a deceptive strategy. This method forms the foundation for the deceivers’ capacity to mislead victims and embezzle hard-earned earnings through their duplicative online crypto scheme.

Signs of Scam

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

  • False Celebrity Sponsorship. ProudChange often resorts to fake endorsements from celebrities such as Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Mr. Beast, and Mark Zuckerberg. This fraudulent tactic extends to claiming partnerships with reputable companies like Coinbase, Binance, or MetaMask, despite lacking any genuine affiliations.
  • Cryptocurrency-Only Payments. Proudchange.com exclusively accepts payments in cryptocurrencies, rejecting traditional bank transfers and other methods. This approach not only masks the company’s identity but also eliminates the possibility of seeking refunds.
  • Dubious Company Information. ProudChange raises suspicion by withholding essential ownership, location, and registration details. Furthermore, the absence of legitimate contact information and the recent establishment of domain and social media pages intensify skepticism.
  • Unsubstantiated Hype. Proudchange.com employs groundless hype tactics, fabricating events like securing contracts with Coinbase or receiving endorsements from Elon Musk. These manipulative techniques aim to instill false confidence and encourage further investments.
  • Potential Pyramid Scheme. The scam relies on a structure resembling a Ponzi scheme, leveraging a referral system spread through social media. However, only initial participants benefit, often at the expense of subsequent investors.
  • Implausible Claims. Promising returns of 50-100-200%, ProudChange preys on the desire for quick profits. Yet, the volatile nature of the cryptocurrency market makes such gains highly unlikely, definitively labeling ProudChange as a scam.

What Should I do as a Victim?

If you had to deal with ProudChange 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 actors may contact you with specific documents. Alternatively, they may offer you to deploy “cryptocurrency wallet applications” or “browser extensions” to streamline access to your cryptocurrency savings. As we previously figured out, these deceivers have no intent of restoring your capital. So, what can these emails and browser add-ons represent? Correct – this is another element of the deceptive plan designed to throw you into deliberately running destructive programs onto your system.

Both extensions and files attached to email messages can serve as a carrier for different malicious code. In this case, I foresee the presence of spyware and stealers among other forms of threats. While it is not obligatory for scammers to distribute malware, the chance is always existent. As noted, their ethics is of negligible importance, and their dignity is already severely tarnished. They have no scruples to lose and strive to boost revenues.

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.

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.

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

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 ProudChange site?

The vast majority of information posted on the ProudChange 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 ProudChange site promices real?

No, there is no legitimate information on the ProudChange 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 ProudChange scam?

Unfortunately, recovering funds lost to a scam like ProudChange 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. Too Good to Be True Promises. Be cautious of offers that promise unrealistically high returns or guaranteed profits. If an investment opportunity sounds too good to be true, it likely is.
  2. Pressure to Act Quickly. Scammers often use tactics like creating a sense of urgency to pressure you into making quick decisions. Legitimate investments allow you time to research and consider your options.
  3. Lack of Regulation or Licensing. Check if the platform or service is regulated and licensed by relevant authorities. Scammers often operate without proper authorization.
  4. Social Proof and Celebrity Endorsements: Be skeptical of endorsements from celebrities or public figures. Scammers often fabricate endorsements to gain credibility.
  5. Check for Reviews and Feedback: Look for independent reviews and feedback from other traders. Scammers may fabricate positive reviews, but negative reviews can provide valuable insights.

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

If you have become a victim of a ProudChange 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:

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Thoroughly Document the Events. 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.
The truth about ProudChange

Name: ProudChange

Description: Cryptocurrency scams continue to increase as digital assets achieve mainstream adoption. A recent example of such a scam involves ProudChange, a fraudulent crypto exchange that entices victims with promises of free crypto giveaways. This detailed article will extensively examine the operations of the ProudChange 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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User Review
3.25 (4 votes)
Comments Rating 0 (0 reviews)

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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