Fake Cointelegraph ICO Airdrop Ads: Users Warned to Stay Vigilant

Cointelegraph Issues Security Alert Over Fake Airdrop Ads

On June 22, crypto news giant Cointelegraph published an official warning on X (formerly Twitter), alerting users about fraudulent pop-up ads being served on its own website. These ads falsely promote “Cointelegraph ICO Airdrops” or “CTG tokens”, attempting to trick users into connecting their wallets or submitting personal information.

⚠️ These promotions are not affiliated with Cointelegraph in any way.

The incident highlights a growing trend of phishing scams targeting crypto users via trusted brand channels.

How the Scam Works

The malicious pop-ups claim to offer exclusive airdrops or token launches, urging users to:

Connect their wallets
Claim free “CTG Tokens”
Provide sensitive personal data

These are classic phishing techniques designed to compromise your digital assets.

Cointelegraph’s Official Warning: Don’t Do These 3 Things

To protect its readers, Cointelegraph released a clear list of what not to do if you encounter such content:

❌ Do NOT click on any suspicious pop-up ad
❌ Do NOT connect your crypto wallet
❌ Do NOT enter personal or wallet credentials

Failure to follow these guidelines could result in loss of funds, identity theft, or wallet compromise.

Fix in Progress: Team Responding to Security Breach

Cointelegraph has acknowledged the security incident and stated that the team is actively working to patch the vulnerability. The public alert, published at 09:30 UTC on June 23, 2025, has already been viewed over 50,000 times, reflecting the urgency and scale of the threat.

What Can You Do to Protect Yourself?

With phishing attacks becoming more sophisticated and brand-driven, here are steps every crypto user should take:

Verify announcements only through official social media accounts or verified channels.
Avoid interacting with wallet-related requests from unknown ads.
Regularly review your wallet permissions and connected sites.
Install browser security plugins to filter malicious scripts and trackers.

Even Trusted Brands Can Be Exploited

This event is a stark reminder: no platform is immune from being used as a vector by scammers—not even one of the most respected names in crypto journalism. Brand reputation doesn’t guarantee user safety if attackers successfully inject malicious code or bypass ad moderation systems.

Cybersecurity is not just a platform’s responsibility—it’s a personal one.

Stay skeptical. Stay informed. And never trust airdrops that sound too good to be true.