Google may have a stringent rule to try and stop scammers from setting up fake crypto Google ads, but some still fall through their tracks. Sometimes, when you search for a crypto platform on Google, you come across some ads on the top of the search result before the main result shows. These ads may be from genuine crypto platforms. Other times, they are by scammers claiming to be a crypto exchange.
When you click on a scam crypto Google ad, there is a good chance that the URL may be different. Let's use Binance, for example. The genuine link to the Binance crypto exchange is Binance.com. A fake link may have an entirely different URL with no sign of 'Binance' on it, or it may misspell one of the words/letters/domains. For instance, it could be Binance.net or even B1nance.com.
Their potential victims think they are on the right website because the scammers tend to clone the user interface of the genuine platform to ensure that crypto enthusiasts cannot tell the difference. Once a crypto user inputs their details into the fake website, the scammers immediately wipe out their crypto holdings.
How do you protect yourself from fake crypto Google ads?
When searching for a platform, be it an exchange, NFT platform, or a DeFi protocol, it is unwise to click on the search ads. The golden rule is never to click the Google ads attached to a search result; instead, it is advisable to check the first two websites on the main result. Usually, the platform's website is amongst the first two websites that pop out on the main search.
If you know the genuine website, go straight to the website instead of using the Google search engine. Another way is to check the links from the platform's official social media accounts.