Scammers Target Pudgy Penguins NFT Users Through Google Ads
Scammers are targeting Pudgy Penguins NFT users via advertising networks, according to a report by Scam Sniffer. The scheme was discovered after a user complained about a fake project website.
Scammers are targeting Pudgy Penguins NFT users via advertising networks, according to a report by Scam Sniffer. The scheme was discovered after a user complained about a fake project website they accessed through an ad on a Singapore-based news portal.
What’s Known
According to analysts at Scam Sniffer, the scammers are using the Google Ad Network to spread their ads, which contain malicious code. This code checks users’ browsers for Web3 wallets. If a wallet is detected, the user is redirected to a fake site, pudqypenguin[.]com, designed to steal account credentials.
Though the scammers are currently focusing on Pudgy Penguins users, experts warn that the same tactic could be used against other Web3 projects. The threat is especially concerning due to the scammers’ flexible approach and the potential vulnerabilities on various websites.
Fake Website and Malicious Code. Source: Scam Sniffer
Adloox advertising modules integrated into some websites allow malicious scripts to be delivered to users, raising the risk of such attacks. Websites using Predid.js with the Adloox analytics module are particularly vulnerable.
How to Protect Your Assets
To prevent these attacks, experts recommend the following:
Use ad blockers
Use a separate browser specifically for crypto transactions
Double-check URLs before connecting wallets (verify the real site address rather than the one in the ad)
Install the ScamSniffer browser extension for extra security
Additional measures, according to user FIP_Crypto, may include:
Meanwhile, the PENGU token from Pudgy Penguins has become the largest memecoin on the Solana blockchain, boasting a market capitalization of $2.37 billion at the time of writing. Over the past 24 hours, the asset’s price rose by 30%, returning to $0.038 after a brief correction.
Top Memecoins on Solana. Source: Coinmarketcap
Recall that the project recently airdropped PENGU to over 7 million wallets, giving users 88 days to claim 23.5% of the total token supply (20.6 billion coins).
The token’s substantial growth also coincided with a new Solana network record for daily transactions. Data from Artemis confirms that on December 24, Solana reached a new high in activity — likely acting as a catalyst for PENGU’s rise.
