Crypto clicker games: Are Hamster and other projects a scam?

With the development of blockchain technology and cryptocurrency growing in popularity, many new crypto-based methods for attracting users and creating business models have emerged. One of the novelties are clicker games which allow players to earn cryptocurrency for doing simple things, such as clicking, solving codes or completing certain game challenges.

The so-called “tappers” have taken over the world — users are trying to earn crypto in this simple way and hacking clickers is one of the most popular queries along with discussions on whether or not Hamster is a scam. But at the same time, there are new fraudulent schemes that use the popularity of these games to steal personal data and money from gullible users. Below, we will explore in detail what crypto clicker scam is about, how to recognize it, and how to avoid losses.  And of course, we will try to answer the question, “Is Hamster a scam of not?”

Scam schemes involving crypto clicker games may come in various forms, but most frequently, they use the same scenario. Let us explore its main steps to be fully prepared.

1. Creating a game and attracting users. Scammers develop or copy popular clicker mechanics to create a game with a well-thought-out visual component. They use different methods to attract users, including aggressive advertising on social media websites, forums or in cryptocurrency communities. These projects are often supported by artificial reviews and overviews which create an impression that the game is indeed popular and legitimate. 
2. Promising large returns. The main hook is to assure users that they will receive good returns from participating in the game.  Oftentimes, these games offer various ways for increasing revenue; for example, purchasing in-game items, upgrades or a special currency that will supposedly increase your earnings. Users can also be involved in referral programs that reward the acquisition of new users.
3. Paid functions. Scammers introduce paid functions, such as premium accounts or special bonuses, which supposedly increase earnings in the game.  These functions usually require a considerable investment in cryptocurrency. At this stage, the project can indeed pay small amounts to give the impression of being legitimate and encourage users to invest more.
4. Manipulation with withdrawals. Problems start as soon as a user decides to withdraw the money they have earned. The withdrawal process may be delayed artificially, charged with extra fees, or users may be asked to pay more to expedite it. In the end, despite all the efforts, players are either unable to withdraw their funds at all, or get only a small portion of what was promised.
5. Disappearance of the project. As soon as the scammers collect enough money or the influx of new users slows down, they close their project. The website and the game become inaccessible and the team disappears, leaving the players with nothing.

Several clicker scams have already become notorious in the crypto community.  For example, the creators of Crypto Clicker promised users high returns for simple clicks. Soon after the launch, the game had gained popularity, and many players began investing in purchasing premium features. However, a few months later, the project disappeared and thousands of users were left without their money. In Click and Earn, you could invest your money to speed up your earnings. As a result, the project stopped payments and closed without a word of warning.

It is important to note that not only the creators of scam clickers engage in scam schemes, but also enterprising criminals who even manage to profit from quite legitimate projects.  This is what all tapping lovers should watch out for:

1. All sorts of promises to help you hack the game. For example, they can demand large sums for hacking Hamster, telling you about fabulous prospects after the long-awaited listing of the token. Usually a gullible player ends up without both the code for hacking Hamster and the money they paid. If you have suffered a substantial loss because of such or other no-names on the Internet, we will help you expose them and hold them responsible with our Deanonymization service. Provide us all the information you have and we will utilize it to the most.
2. All forms of phishing. They may encourage you to click a malicious link by assuring that they will help you to power level the game quickly, withdraw the crypto you have earned, acquire referrals, etc.  All this always has the same result: your personal data goes to scammers, accounts and wallets are hacked, and you money is stolen. If you have fallen victim of such an attack and lost money, contact us, and we will help you get it back with our Cryptocurrency Incident Investigation service.

In order to avoid falling victim to scam, you should be able to timely recognize potential scam projects. Here are some of the red flags to pay attention to.

1. Lofty promises. If a game promises that you get high returns with minimum effort, this is a reason to think hard. In real world, if something sounds too good to be true, it is most likely a scam.
2. Lack of transparency. It is a red flag if the game developers hide their identities or do not publish information about the project and its mechanics. Legitimate projects are normally transparent and provide full information about themselves and their business.
3. Aggressive advertising. Scam projects often use aggressive marketing strategies, trying to attract as many users as possible within the shortest possible time. For example, they publish lots of fake reviews and actively promote themselves in social media.
4. Problems with withdrawal. If the withdrawal process looks too complicated, involves high fees or constant delays, this may also be a sign of scam.
5. Lack of a roadmap and transparent monetization. Legitimate projects often publish a development roadmap and have a clear business model. If a project cannot explain how they make money and how they plan to develop, this is a reason to be wary.

The Hamster Kombat clicker has quickly gained a large interested audience of hundreds of millions of people, but its legitimacy is controversial. On the one hand, the game has obtained support from Telegram. It is free and does not require initial investment, which reduces the risk of financial loss. Players can earn in-game currency and potentially exchange it for tokens, which is similar to the model used in other games, such as Notcoin.

But on the other hand, there are several red flags that raise concerns.

1. The promised coin distribution announced for July 2024 never happened and no new drop dates are announced. All this makes a notable number of players think that Hamster Kombat’s listing is a hoax. People have spent much (or even very much) of their time for the game and want to be clear about what it was all about. As long as they have no understanding, their discontent is growing.
2. Some people believe that even if coins are distributed, Hamster is still a scam, because the token value may be so small that it will not justify the time, effort, and sometimes money they have spent to level up the game.
3. Lack of transparency. The Hamster Kombat development team remains anonymous, and there is no access to the project’s white paper or roadmap. This complicates assessing the game’s long-term viability, making its prospects even more vague. It’s no surprise that more and more people are wondering whether Hamster could be a fraud.
4. Criticism from authorities. This is not the most powerful argument by current standards, but it also adds to doubts. For example, some prominent politicians in Russia referred to the game as a scam, noting that it manipulates players by giving the illusion of easy enrichment with minimum effort.

Despite all these issues, Hamster Kombat has attracted millions of users globally and remains popular. The final answer to whether Hamster is a scam or not will depend on the success and transparency of the HMSTR token launch and how the project will respond to criticism from users. So, so far everyone decides for themselves whether Hamster is a legit or scam, as well as whether or not it is worth continuing to click hard in pursuit of the hyped tokens.

In general, regardless of being seemingly simple and no frill, clickers are quite a considerable and extensive field of operation for scammers. The desire to get an extra referral or hack the Hamster code may lead to dangerous data breaches and significant financial losses. If you encounter such a problem, contact us and we will find the best solution for you. Because this is no longer a child’s play.