![image.png](https://i.imgur.com/jJjrudP.png)

Healthy growth of leo verse and the [crypto](https://leofinance.io/@leoglossary/cryptocurrency) universe in general would require protecting users from scams. 
However we cannot police the space all the time. 
## Protecting users as part of [web 3.0](https://leofinance.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-web-3-0) on boarding.
It is important to on board users to [web 3.0](https://leofinance.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-web-3-0) by way of helping them transition from web 2.0 to 3.0
That being said the process would be marred if the users gets scammed and are tricked into losing their [crypto](https://leofinance.io/@leoglossary/cryptocurrency)
## On boarding and Safety go Hand in Hand
Since user safety and the safety of their [crypto](https://leofinance.io/@leoglossary/cryptocurrency) and [blockchain](https://leofinance.io/@leoglossary/blockchain) based assets is important so it is important to help them remain safe.
## Being safe comes with education
Internet can be a dangerous place and add the anonymity that [crypto](https://leofinance.io/@leoglossary/cryptocurrency)s and [blockchain](https://leofinance.io/@leoglossary/blockchain)s bring to the scene and we have a lethal mix of trickery scamming and deceit.

However that does not mean that we should refrain from using [web 3.0](https://leofinance.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-web-3-0) interfaces.
Instead a better approach would be to educate the users and help them protect themselves.
 
However as part of [web 3.0](https://leofinance.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-web-3-0) onboard
[crypto](https://leofinance.io/@leoglossary/cryptocurrency) scams are everywhere and 
Reporting scams comes with understanding how a scam is being carried out.

## The Travala look alike scam
I have been spotting the Travala look alike scam for about two days now.
Here is how to spot and protect yourself from such scams

## Some of the Most common scams are airdrop or give away scams
![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/thetimetravelerz/23ycrtNhR2v2PHYECavwA2BAWzKPJPx48QYKjYGiBd2h6HVmEbFvrR1BWRRj3fwn7LSua.png)

The scam site looks quite like the original Travala.com website.
So ask your self is it the real website ?

To answer this question open the https://www.travala.com/ in a separate browser.

![image.png](https://i.imgur.com/vo0Rv2n.png) 

The original website looks a lot different.
This sets a red flag for the giveaway site.
If you are not aware of the URL or website address you can search for it on a search engine like google.com

![image.png](https://i.imgur.com/Pl1INrp.png)
One should arrive at the non add version of the search result to find the address of the the authentic website.

## How the site is tricking users ?
The scam site is using some kind of URL/ web address cloaking
to scam users into believing that it is an authentic site

However if you look real close at the address displayed in the address bar then you may realized the trick the scammers have employed.

If I paste the address of the scam site onto a word document and zoom it to 380% I find this
![image.png](https://i.imgur.com/TVFVLVU.png)
Look closely the scammers have used a letter from some other language to make their site look like the original travala website.

Even the text and images used on the scam site is to trick people into believe the scam site as the authentic site.
## How such scams are propogated
Mostly through web 2.0 sites like twitter and facebook.
This particular scam is doing the rounds on twitter.

The trick is if you can fool one person into believing that the offer is genuine and keep a condition of a follow, retweet or share to be part of the giveaway then the person starts a chain of events inviting his friends family or anyone he knows into the chain of events.
The lure of a free holiday / credits plus the information coming from a known person who may be a family member, friend or colleague sets a chain reaction that can snow ball claiming many victims.

## How do such schemes scam you ?
They operate at multiple levels.
First to build credibility the account needs followers which are initially bought.
Secondly as part of the promotion users may be required to follow the account or retweet causing genuine people following a fake scam account.
Soon this number grows and the fake account begins to look authentic.
## How a scammer can gain from this method ?
The scammer can change the account mane displayed to anything and sell the account with thousand of actual people for a good price.

## Stealing session cookies and [crypto](https://leofinance.io/@leoglossary/cryptocurrency)
Since Travala lookalike or similar scams target [crypto](https://leofinance.io/@leoglossary/cryptocurrency) users so they invariably ask the users to connect their [crypto](https://leofinance.io/@leoglossary/cryptocurrency) wallet usually metamask and sign a transaction.
In this method a user risks losing the [crypto](https://leofinance.io/@leoglossary/cryptocurrency) present on his metamask  wallet if a malicious code is executed by the scammer on the malicious web page.

## How to protect youself from such a scam ?
- Check and Double check the URL of a website before you signup for a giveaway or airdrop.
- A genuine social media handle of a crypto business site would have a blue mark of authenticity 
![image.png](https://i.imgur.com/bF0Xr97.png)
- Always have an empty wallet handy so that even if you succumb to the temptation and your wallet gets compromised then you are exposing a wallet that has a zero balance.
- Report such sites to the site being spoofed so that remedial action can be taken.

## Why Reporting scams as a responsible blockchain users of Hive & Leofinance matters ?
Those of us who are already on a web 3.0 platform like Hive or leofinance.io need to protect ourselves and also encourage or family and friends get on board and get the benefits of the web 3.0 experience. At the same time it is important to protect the environment and help give those important to us a risk free web 3.0 experience to them that is productive and rewarding.

Thus it is important to nip any scams in the bud by way of reporting them and spreading awareness about them.

 
## A word of clarification about travala business website
Travala is an authentic business which gives good service to its clients and lets you use your crypto as one of the modes of payment to make your travel bookings. You can check out the original travala site [here](https://www.travala.com/ref/NVKEJV)


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