MetaMask warns users against fake airdrop rumors on March 31st!

MetaMask issued a warning on Twitter after encountering a MetaMask snapshot or airdrop rumors circulating on social media.

Web3 wallet provider MetaMask warned its users about “misleading rumors” regarding an alleged MetaMask airdrop circulating on social media.

According to a tweet from MetaMask on March 28, there are “quite a few rumors circulating” about a MetaMask snapshot or airdrop on March 31.

MetaMask (MASK) Airdrop is Fake!

There are quite a few false rumors going around about a MetaMask snapshot/airdrop/etc. on March 31.

🚨There are quite a few false rumors going around about a MetaMask snapshot/airdrop/etc. on March 31.

These rumors are not only false, but they are dangerous. They create opportunities for scammers and phishers.

Please be on the lookout for fake sites in the coming days🙏

— MetaMask 🦊💙 (@MetaMask) March 28, 2023

MetaMask warned that “These rumors are not only false, but they are dangerous. They create opportunities for scammers and phishers.”

CoinOtag identified several Twitter accounts claiming to be related to MetaMask or MetaMask token airdrop.

FAKE Accounts Conducting MASK Airdrops

A Twitter account claiming to be owned by MetaMask linking to a phishing site

In the Twitter post, MetaMask denied recent airdrop rumors and urged users to be cautious of fake sites in the coming days.

Screenshot from a phishing site claiming to be owned by MetaMask

The recent rumors may be related to a “fireside chat” session at ETHDenver 2023 on March 14, where ConsenSys CEO and Ethereum co-founder Joe Lubin reiterated that they are “actively working to decentralize MetaMask.” It was later reported that the team plans to launch a token.

Lubin gave the first hint about the MetaMask token in a tweet on November 8, 2021, saying “Wen $MASK? Stay tuned.”

Andrew, ConsenSys has thousands of tokens on our balance sheet. ConsenSys is vigorously controlled by its employees, which includes me. And we are driving towards decentralization of several of our projects. Wen $MASK? Stay tuned. Wen objective journalism, ser?

Andrew, ConsenSys has thousands of tokens on our balance sheet. ConsenSys is vigorously controlled by its employees, which includes me. And we are driving towards decentralization of several of our projects. Wen $MASK? Stay tuned. Wen objective journalism, ser?

— Joseph Lubin (@ethereumJoseph) November 8, 2021

Despite denying recent airdrop rumors, MetaMask notes that many responses from the community are still hopeful that an airdrop may happen in the future as reported by CoinOtag.

CoinOtag reached out to ConsenSys for comment on whether there are plans for an airdrop in the future, but did not receive a response at the time of publication.

Following the rumors, activity on MetaMask nearly tripled, and data from DappRadar shows that transactions increased from around 8,000 on March 27 to 21,460 on March 28.

MetaMask activity from DappRadar (February 27 – March 28)

MetaMask experienced a similar activity surge in November 2021 due to airdrop rumors following Ethereum Name Service and Lubin’s mention of a token.