A message circulating in ApeMars-related Telegram channels is promoting a $500,000 presale bonus, claiming each holder can receive between $1,000 and $5,000 in free APEMARS allocation. Users are told to visit apemars-defi.xyz, click “Claim Token,” connect a wallet, and approve a transaction. Based on the source material, this is not an official announcement and follows a well-known wallet-drainer phishing pattern.
The linked domain does not match the official site
The message says loyal holders are eligible for a presale reward, but the main issue is where it sends users. Across the ApeMars timeline cited in the source — presale activity, listing coverage, crash-related reporting, and the verified July 5, 2026 claim deadline — the official domain has consistently been apemars.com. The domain in the Telegram post, apemars-defi.xyz, has not appeared in verified ApeMars communications.
That mismatch matters. Scam operators regularly register lookalike domains by attaching words such as “defi,” “claim,” or “official” to a project name in order to make a phishing page look familiar at first glance.
“Approve the transaction” is where the attack happens
The flow described in the message is simple: connect a wallet, then approve a transaction. That second step is the danger point. The source explains that malicious contracts can use token approvals to gain permission to move assets out of a wallet. The action may look like a routine claim, but the effect can be the opposite of receiving tokens.
A legitimate airdrop claim generally uses a wallet signature to confirm ownership. A broad approval request is a different thing. The message also uses vague eligibility language and a wide reward range — $1,000 to $5,000 — without showing any wallet-specific balance check tied to a presale purchase. That kind of wording is built to attract clicks from as many readers as possible.
Five warning signs highlighted in the source
The original material points to five red flags in this case. First, the domain is not the official ApeMars website. Second, the offer promises free value without showing any concrete verification of purchase history or wallet holdings. Third, the timing exploits a communications gap. Fourth, the approval step is itself the likely attack vector. Fifth, the message relies on promotional formatting and urgency while omitting verifiable details such as contract references or prior official notices.
The communications gap is especially relevant here. According to the source, ApeMars’ official X account and Instagram have been suspended since the June 7, 2026 crash, with no public explanation. That has left Telegram as the main trusted channel for many holders, making it easier for phishing posts to circulate without an obvious official post to compare against.
What holders should check now
If a user has not interacted with apemars-defi.xyz, the safest move is to avoid the site entirely, not connect any wallet, and not approve any transaction. The source says the official portal for legitimate APRZ-related claims has always been apemars.com. It also lists a verified Ethereum Mainnet contract address: 0xaab17f1fccea5be51f6e2a5254927e06b06a985f. Any claim instruction should be checked against that address on Etherscan.io before action is taken.
If a wallet was already connected and a transaction was approved, the source advises immediate action: review and revoke token approvals using a tool such as revoke.cash, then move remaining assets to a new secure wallet if compromise is suspected. It also recommends reporting the Telegram message to channel administrators and, where possible, submitting the domain to phishing databases.
From the information provided, the Telegram post advertising an ApeMars “$500,000 airdrop” is unverified, points to a non-official domain, and uses a claim flow that matches documented wallet-drainer behavior. Any future ApeMars claim, airdrop, or recovery notice should be checked against apemars.com only.