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Polymarket Member Access Email Scam: Fake Invitation and Wallet Drainer

By Lapain Epuran10 min read

A Polymarket email says your activity has earned an invitation to enhanced member access. There is a code, an activation button, and a reason to feel selected.

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Before using that code, look beyond the invitation’s professional wording. The destination and the verification request tell you more than the promise of special access.

Illustrative Polymarket Member Access Invitation email with a fictional access code and activation button
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Overview

The invitation claims to reward an established trading history

The Polymarket Member Access Invitation email scam presents a supposed invitation cycle for selected participants. It claims eligibility comes from past platform activity and engagement.

A code makes the message appear individualized. The recipient is instructed to activate access and complete verification rather than simply read a general announcement.

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This invitation is fraudulent. Its apparent recognition of your account does not establish a real benefit, and the linked flow is reported as a cryptocurrency-drainer campaign.

The warning applies to the counterfeit email and destination. Polymarket’s genuine service is being impersonated, not identified as the sender of this offer.

The activation route changes the nature of the offer

The reported destination was thepolymarketportal-2026[.]com, a separate domain from Polymarket’s established website. It used a staged landing page and imitation market interface.

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The journey then introduced a code-verification claim panel, apparent live activity, and wallet connection. A private invitation became a reason to authorize something involving assets.

  • The email says your trading history made you eligible.
  • An access code gives the offer an administrative appearance.
  • A separate website borrows the market platform’s identity.
  • The claim or signup route asks the wallet to get involved.

That progression is the important clue. Your expectation of better account features should not become permission for an unexplained transaction.

What is known about this version

The original inbox message was not supplied, and the reported destination did not yield a usable live capture. The description concerns the documented invitation variant.

The exact authorization accepted by an individual recipient must be checked in their wallet records. A connection, signature, approval, and transfer are not interchangeable events.

Do not enter the invitation flow to investigate. You can reject the email and use the genuine service’s support route without connecting anything to its imitation.

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Why an Access Code Makes the Email Feel Personal

An invitation code looks like evidence that somebody checked your account. In reality, generating a code does not require the sender to know your history.

The surrounding story does much of the persuasion. It describes increased participation and enhanced features, making the invitation sound like an ordinary product rollout.

If you have traded before, you may mentally connect that story to your experience. The message does not need to demonstrate the connection itself.

If you have never used Polymarket, the mismatch is easier to notice. But an existing user’s familiarity should not replace verification of the sender and destination.

A code can also make abandoning the process feel like wasting an opportunity. You have already been given something that looks reserved for you.

Remember what it actually is: text printed in an email. Until the genuine service confirms it, the code is not proof of eligibility or value.

Do not forward the invitation to a friend who uses the platform and ask them to try it. That exposes another wallet instead of verifying yours.

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How the Polymarket Member Access Invitation Scam Works

Step 1: The message claims that you have been selected

The email frames enhanced access as a result of historical participation. That makes clicking feel like claiming a benefit rather than responding to an unknown advertiser.

Its businesslike tone helps. Not every fraudulent message is full of spelling errors or obviously unrealistic riches; some imitate restrained administrative correspondence.

Check whether the invitation appears in your genuine account or established project announcements. Do that independently, without following the email’s activation route.

A familiar platform name in the sender field is insufficient. Expand the address and examine the link, while remembering that even a compromised account can send dishonest material.

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Step 2: The activation button moves you to a separate portal

The reported link takes the recipient to an unofficial portal rather than the normal Polymarket destination. The domain includes the brand and a year.

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Neither element creates affiliation. A year can reinforce the invitation-cycle story while a project name helps the address look relevant at a glance.

Read the actual registered domain, not just the recognizable word. Thepolymarketportal-2026[.]com is not a page under polymarket.com.

Do not ask the portal whether it is official. A counterfeit website can display an official-looking answer as easily as an official-looking homepage.

The safer route begins at Polymarket’s established website. Confirm any claimed benefit there before continuing.

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Step 3: A market-themed landing page leads into a clone

The documented flow first displays a branded landing page, then offers entry to a market board. This extra stage makes the destination feel like a substantial service.

A familiar market layout can reduce the surprise of arriving somewhere new. You see categories and activity that resemble the platform you expected.

Those details still belong to the same unverified destination. Moving between its pages does not provide an independent check on its operator.

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Keep the address in view when the interface changes. A convincing screen is not a reason to forget the separate domain that brought you there.

Sports, world events, and cryptocurrency are normal prediction-market subjects. Their presence can establish the theme, but not the invitation’s authenticity.

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Step 4: Verification becomes a claim process

The imitation interface uses a code-verification panel tied to unlocking a claim. Apparent claiming counters and wallet notifications make the reward look active.

Those displays are not transaction evidence. A website can announce that others are receiving benefits without proving that any reported claim occurred.

Notice the change from the email’s promise. Enhanced discovery or access features should not quietly become an unexplained cryptocurrency-claim procedure.

Ask what the benefit is and why a wallet needs to authorize it. If those answers come only from the counterfeit page, they are not reliable.

Do not hurry because other wallets seem to be finishing first. The activity display is part of the page trying to influence your decision.

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Step 5: A wallet request supplies the dangerous authority

The claim or signup flow offers popular wallet connection methods. Familiar product names can make an unfamiliar request seem standard.

After connection, the flow may request a signature or token approval. Those requests can authorize something materially different from verifying an invitation code.

Read the request in the wallet itself. A website’s claim that an action is verification cannot turn asset-spending authority into a harmless identity check.

Decline anything you cannot interpret. No private access code justifies exposing your recovery phrase, and no legitimate-looking signup label guarantees a safe approval.

If you approved an action, examine the actual network and transaction. Do not rely on the clone’s description of what supposedly happened.

A normal wallet connection alone is not proof of theft. Conversely, approving a malicious request does not require a visibly broken computer or a stolen email password.

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Check the Invitation Without Using It

Use the platform’s own support entry point

Polymarket publishes support guidance through its help center. Its website support and US app support have distinct contact routes, so match the service you actually use.

The official support instructions identify those routes. Start there rather than using a contact supplied by the imitation portal.

Ask a simple question: does this invitation and its exact domain belong to your account’s service? Supply the email with sensitive information removed where appropriate.

Keep the question focused on the invitation. Do not attach identity documents or recovery material merely to ask whether a domain is genuine.

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Check whether the stated benefit remains consistent

Save the email’s complete offer before reporting it. A cropped code panel can omit the selection claim or activation destination that explains why the message was convincing.

When warning another recipient, identify the exact invitation variant. An unrelated legitimate account notification should not be dismissed merely because it carries the same brand.

List what the email promised: selected access, discovery tools, or market features. Compare that with the action demanded by the destination.

An unexplained jump to token approval is not a minor interface difference. It changes what you are giving the operator permission to do.

Do not accept a vague explanation that everyone must synchronize a wallet. Ask for verified documentation of the specific action or decline it.

Keep account login and wallet authorization separate

Someone who obtained a wallet approval may not have your email password. Someone who collected a sign-in credential may create a different account exposure.

Record both if both occurred. A good recovery plan should not assume that changing one password resolves a cryptocurrency permission.

Likewise, revoking an allowance does not fix a phrase already disclosed. The remedy must match the information or authority you actually handed over.

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What to Do if You Have Fallen Victim to This Scam

  1. Stop the activation process. Reject outstanding wallet prompts and leave the portal. Remove its connection through the wallet application’s own controls.

    Do not use the invitation code again to check whether it still works. A repeated attempt adds interaction, not useful proof.

  2. Save the message and authorization records. Keep the sender details, destination, code, accepted requests, and any transaction hashes. Preserve the sequence of events.

    Do not include secret wallet words in evidence shared with support. An investigation can begin with the public transaction and the suspicious message.

  3. Review inappropriate spending access. Use verified wallet-provider guidance to inspect permissions on the relevant chain. Revoke unwanted allowances where applicable.

    Disconnecting a website may leave on-chain approval intact. Investigate consequential signatures as well, rather than assuming every request appears as an ordinary transfer.

  4. Recover credentials or keys that were disclosed. Protect an account login through the genuine provider. Replace exposed wallet secrets with fresh keys through a trusted process.

    Make account changes on equipment you trust. If the imitation asked for a software installation, include that additional exposure in the recovery assessment.

  5. Report the impersonation and any loss. Notify Polymarket through its official support channel and any exchange involved in relevant transfers. Provide concise, specific evidence.

    For US fraud reporting, use IC3. Retain case numbers and responses, but do not assume that filing a report guarantees funds will return.

  6. Check software exposure when it actually occurred. If you executed a download or gave remote access, scan the affected device with trusted protection such as Malwarebytes.

    AdGuard can reduce some malicious-ad exposure. These tools do not reverse a wallet transaction, and opening the invitation email alone does not demonstrate infection.

  7. Refuse another claim or recovery charge. Do not pay someone who says your bonus needs release, your wallet needs validation, or your stolen funds require an upfront rescue fee.

    Block unverified follow-up contacts after preserving their messages. Use the provider’s established support route, not the person who approached you.

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Is Your Device Infected? Run a Free Malware Scan

Slow performance, constant pop-ups, or strange behavior? These are classic signs of a malware infection. A quick way to check is to scan your device with Malwarebytes Free, one of the most trusted malware removal tools available. If you only visited a scam page and didn’t download or install anything, this scan is optional.

The free version detects and removes the most common threats, including:

  • Adware β€” the cause of those annoying pop-ups
  • Browser hijackers β€” unwanted redirects and changed homepages
  • Trojans and spyware β€” hidden programs stealing your data
  • Potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) β€” software you never asked for

πŸ‘‰ Select your device below β€” Windows, Mac, or Android β€” then follow the simple steps to download Malwarebytes, scan your system, and remove any threats it finds. The scan usually takes 5 to 20 minutes.

Run a Malware Scan with Malwarebytes for Windows

Malwarebytes is one of the most popular and trusted anti-malware tools for Windows β€” and it’s completely free for removing infections. It catches threats that many antivirus programs miss, including adware, browser hijackers, and trojans. Follow the steps below to scan your PC and remove what Malwarebytes finds.

  1. Download Malwarebytes

    Click the button below to download the latest version of Malwarebytes for Windows from the official source. The free version is all you need β€” it will scan your computer and remove adware, browser hijackers, and other malicious software at no cost.

    Malwarebytes Free for WindowsScans and removes malware at no cost
    Download MalwarebytesOfficial installer for Windows 11 and 10. Your download starts right away.Want real-time protection? See Malwarebytes Premium
  2. Install Malwarebytes

    When the download finishes, open your Downloads folder and double-click the MBSetup file. If Windows shows a User Account Control pop-up, click “Yes” to allow the installation.

    Windows File Explorer Downloads folder with the Malwarebytes setup file highlighted
  3. Follow the On-Screen Prompts to Install Malwarebytes

    The setup wizard will walk you through a few quick screens:

    • Choose where you’re installing the program β€” “Personal Computer” or “Work Computer” β€” then click Next.

      Malwarebytes Setup asking you to choose a protection type, with Personal selected
    • Malwarebytes will now install on your device. This usually takes under a minute.

      Malwarebytes Setup installing the program, with the progress at 92 percent
    • When installation is complete, the “Welcome to Malwarebytes” screen will open automatically.

      Welcome to Malwarebytes screen with the Get started button highlighted
    • On the final screen, click Open Malwarebytes to launch the program.

      Malwarebytes Setup success screen with the Open Malwarebytes button highlighted
  4. Optional: Check for rootkits with a Custom Scan

    You don’t need to change any settings for a normal scan. The standard Threat Scan in the next step is enough for most problems, so you can go straight to it.

    If you also want to check for rootkits, use a Custom Scan. In current versions of Malwarebytes, rootkit scanning is only available there:

    1. On the Scanner tile, click the three-dot menu and select Advanced Scan.
    2. Choose Custom Scan. In its options, check Scan for rootkits.
    3. Select your system drive (usually C:\) as the location to scan, then start the scan. It takes longer than a Threat Scan.
    4. When it finishes, review and quarantine the results as described in the steps below.

    Rootkit scanning isn’t available on Windows devices with ARM processors.

  5. Start the Scan

    Click the blue Scan button. Malwarebytes will automatically update its virus database and start checking your computer for malware.

    Malwarebytes dashboard with the Scan button on the Scanner tile highlighted
  6. Wait for the Scan to Finish

    The scan checks your entire system for browser hijackers and other malicious programs, so it can take 5 to 20 minutes depending on your computer. Feel free to do something else β€” just check back occasionally to see the progress.

    Malwarebytes Threat Scan in progress, listing the scan stages and the number of items scanned
  7. Quarantine the Detected Threats

    When the scan is done, you’ll see a list of everything Malwarebytes found β€” malware, adware, and potentially unwanted programs. Click the “Quarantine” button to remove all of them at once.

    Malwarebytes Threat Scan results listing detected potentially unwanted programs, with the Quarantine button highlighted

    Malwarebytes will now remove the malicious files and registry entries and move them safely into quarantine.

    Malwarebytes moving the selected detections to quarantine
  8. Restart Your Computer

    Some threats can only be fully removed after a reboot. If Malwarebytes asks you to restart, click Yes. Once you’re logged back in, Malwarebytes has finished removing the threats it found.

    Malwarebytes message asking to restart the computer to finish the removal, with the Yes button highlighted

When the scan is done, check whether the problems you noticed have stopped. If they continue, see the options below.

Keep your PC protectedStop the next infection before it starts
If your antivirus let this threat through, it may not be enough on its own. Malwarebytes Premium adds real-time protection that blocks malware, ransomware, and malicious websites before they can infect your computer.See Malwarebytes Premium

If you are still having problems with your computer after completing these instructions, then please follow one of the steps:

Run a Malware Scan with Malwarebytes for Mac

Malwarebytes for Mac is a free on-demand scanner that removes the malware other security software tends to miss β€” adware, browser hijackers, and unwanted programs included. Cleaning an infected Mac with Malwarebytes has always been completely free, and it’s our go-to recommendation. Follow the steps below to scan your Mac and remove what Malwarebytes finds.

  1. Download Malwarebytes for Mac

    Click the button below to download the latest version of Malwarebytes for Mac.

    Malwarebytes Free for MacScans and removes malware at no cost
    Download MalwarebytesOfficial installer for macOS. Your download starts right away.Want real-time protection? See Malwarebytes Premium
  2. Open the Malwarebytes setup file

    When the download finishes, open your Downloads folder and double-click the setup file to begin the installation.

    Double-click on setup file to install Malwarebytes

  3. Follow the On-Screen Prompts to Install Malwarebytes

    The Malwarebytes for Mac Installer will guide you through a few quick screens. Click “Continue” and keep following the prompts until the installation completes.

    Click Continue to install Malwarebytes for Mac

    Click again on Continue to install Malwarebytes for Mac

    Click Install to install Malwarebytes on Mac

    When the installation is complete, Malwarebytes opens to the Welcome to Malwarebytes screen. Click “Get started“.

    Malwarebytes needs Full Disk Access to check your whole Mac. When it asks, open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Full Disk Access, turn on Malwarebytes (it may be listed as Malwarebytes Protection), and confirm with your password or Touch ID. Then return to Malwarebytes. On macOS Monterey and earlier, this setting is in System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy.

  4. Select “Personal Computer” or “Work Computer”

    Malwarebytes will ask what type of computer you’re installing it on. Click either Personal Computer or Work Computer, whichever applies.
    Select Personal Computer or Work Computer mac

  5. Start the Scan

    Click the “Scan” button. Malwarebytes will automatically update its detection database and begin checking your Mac for malware.
    Click on Scan button to start a system scan Mac

  6. Wait for the Scan to Finish

    Malwarebytes will scan your Mac for adware, browser hijackers, and other malicious programs. This can take a few minutes, so feel free to do something else β€” just check back occasionally to see the progress.
    Wait for Malwarebytes for Mac to scan for malware

  7. Quarantine the Detected Threats

    When the scan is done, you’ll see a list of everything Malwarebytes found. Click the “Quarantine” button to remove all the threats at once.
    Review the malicious programs and click on Quarantine to remove malware

  8. Restart Your Mac

    Malwarebytes will now remove all the malicious files it found. Some threats can only be fully removed after a reboot β€” if Malwarebytes asks you to restart, allow it. Once you’re logged back in, check whether the problems you noticed have stopped. If they come back, save the scan report and ask for help in our forum.
    Malwarebytes For Mac requesting to restart computer

If the problems you noticed continue after the scan, see the options below.

Keep your Mac protectedStop the next infection before it starts
If your Mac got infected, its built-in protection may not be enough on its own. Malwarebytes Premium for Mac adds real-time protection that blocks malware and adware before they can infect your Mac.See Malwarebytes Premium

If you are still experiencing problems while trying to remove a malicious program from your computer, please ask for help in our Mac Malware Removal Help & Support forum.

Run a Malware Scan with Malwarebytes for Android

Malwarebytes for Android scans your phone or tablet for malware, adware, and potentially unwanted apps. The free version scans only when you start a scan. Real-time protection, which checks apps automatically, is part of the paid Premium version.

  1. Download Malwarebytes for Android.

    You can download Malwarebytes for Android by clicking the link below.

    Malwarebytes for AndroidScans your phone and removes malware at no cost
    Get Malwarebytes for AndroidOpens Google Play in a new tab.Want real-time protection? See Malwarebytes Premium for Android
  2. Install Malwarebytes for Android on your phone.

    In the Google Play Store, tap “Install” to install Malwarebytes for Android on your device.

    Tap Install to install Malwarebytes for Android

    When the installation process has finished, tap “Open” to begin using Malwarebytes for Android. You can also open Malwarebytes by tapping on its icon in your phone menu or home screen.
    Malwarebytes for Android - Open App

  3. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the setup process

    When Malwarebytes opens, it walks you through a short setup. Tap Get started and follow the prompts. If you see an offer for a trial or a paid plan, read it before you accept. You can skip it and keep using the free scanner.

    Malwarebytes will ask for permission to access the files on your phone so it can scan them. Tap Allow, or turn on the permission in the Android screen that opens, then return to Malwarebytes.

  4. Run a scan with Malwarebytes for Android

    On the main screen, tap Scan now. In some versions, you open the menu, tap Scanner, and then tap Run a scan.

  5. Wait for the Malwarebytes scan to complete.

    Malwarebytes will now start scanning your phone for adware and other malicious apps. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check on the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
    Malwarebytes scanning Android for Vmalware

  6. Remove the detected apps.

    When the scan has been completed, you will see a list of the threats that Malwarebytes for Android has detected. Next to each detected item, tap the menu icon (three dots), then choose to uninstall the app or delete the file. Android then asks you to confirm. Tap OK or Uninstall to remove the app.

  7. Restart your phone.

    When the detected apps are removed, restart your phone if Malwarebytes asks you to. Then check whether the problems you noticed have stopped.


If the problems you noticed continue after the scan, see the options below.

Keep your phone protectedStop the next infection before it starts
Malwarebytes for Android Premium adds real-time protection that blocks malicious apps and scam links before they can harm your phone.See Malwarebytes for Android

If you are still having problems with your phone after completing these instructions, then please follow one of the steps:

A factory reset erases everything on your phone. Your apps, photos, files, and settings are deleted, so use it only if the problem continues after the steps above and after you’ve asked for help. Before you reset:
  • Back up your photos, videos, files, and messages, for example to your Google account or a computer.
  • Make sure you know your Google account email and password. The phone asks for them after the reset. If you changed the password recently, Google recommends waiting 24 hours before you reset.
  • On a Samsung phone, also make sure you know your Samsung account password.
  • If you use an authenticator app for two-step verification, move your accounts to another device or save your backup codes first.
On a Google Pixel, go to Settings > System > Reset options > Erase all data (factory reset). On a Samsung Galaxy phone, go to Settings > General management > Reset > Factory data reset. Menu names differ on other phones, so check your manufacturer’s support site.

Stay Protected: Block Ads and Malicious Sites

No scan can prove a device is completely clean, so it helps to block threats before they reach you. Most infections start with a malicious ad or a fake download button β€” so blocking them at the source is your best defense.

We recommend AdGuard, which blocks malicious ads, phishing pages, and dangerous redirects before they can reach you.

πŸ‘‰ Download AdGuard and browse safely

If the Invitation Arrived at a Work Address

A work inbox does not make a personal crypto offer a business task. Report the suspicious message through your organization’s normal phishing channel.

If you used a company-managed browser or computer, tell the security team whether anything downloaded or ran. Include that fact even if the wallet was personal.

Conversely, do not describe a simple unwanted email as a confirmed company breach. The team needs the actual exposure to decide its response.

Keep colleagues from testing the link on your behalf. A safe report preserves evidence without distributing another invitation to connect a wallet.

If the message was forwarded, include the original sender information where available. A familiar colleague’s forwarding address does not identify the underlying operator.

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Warn the colleague calmly and specifically. Explain that the code and activation destination are unverified, rather than accusing them of intentionally distributing fraud.

After reporting, remove the message from ordinary use so it is not reopened later. Keep the preserved evidence wherever your support process requires it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Polymarket Member Access Invitation real?

The email variant described here is fraudulent. It uses account-history language and a code to send recipients toward an unofficial wallet-drainer portal.

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Does an access code prove my account was selected?

No. A code printed in an email can be fabricated. Verify any genuine selection through the platform’s own account and support channels.

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Is thepolymarketportal-2026.com part of polymarket.com?

They are separate domains. The brand name and year in the imitation’s address do not make it an authorized part of the genuine service.

Can reading the email move my cryptocurrency?

Reading this invitation is not itself a wallet transaction. Review what happened afterward, especially any signature, spending permission, key disclosure, or transfer.

Are the live claiming notifications reliable?

Not as proof of a reward. Activity printed by the same counterfeit website is not independent confirmation that other people received legitimate allocations.

Should I contact the support address inside the portal?

No. Use the official help center and match its support route to the service you use. Do not let the imitation choose who verifies it.

The Bottom Line

Do not activate this Polymarket invitation through its unofficial portal. An access code and account-history story do not authenticate a wallet request.

If you already accepted one, inspect the actual authorization and secure the relevant access. Report the imitation through genuine channels and refuse further payments or secret-sharing requests.

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Pause before the next suspicious message.

A convincing message can lead to a fake login page. These tools add checks and browsing protection alongside your own verification.

Affiliate links We may earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. How we’re funded

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Check the message before you respond.

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Explore AdGuardExplore features on the official website

Features vary by device and plan. These tools add protection; they do not guarantee that a website or offer is trustworthy.

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Written by

Lapain Epuran

Lapain Epuran investigates product scams, from supplements sold with miracle-cure claims to gadgets pushed through misleading ads. She has more than 10 years of experience in investigations and checks each product's claims, seller and refund terms before giving a verdict.

4,008 articlesWriting since 2024
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