Scam & Fraud Glossary

Name: Scam & fraud glossary
Creator: ScamEncyclopedia

Plain-English definitions of the scam and fraud terms you’ll see across this site and in the news.

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159 Stop Scams UK Helpline
3-D Secure (3DS)
419 scam

A

AARP Fraud Watch Network
ACCC Scamwatch
Account Abstraction Wallet
Account Enumeration
Account Farming
Account Hijacking
Account Recovery Fraud
Account takeover (ATO)
Account Takeover via Carrier Chat
Account verification scam
Account-Opening Fraud
ACH Reversal
ACH Transfer
Acquiring Bank
Action Fraud
Action Fraud
Ad Fraud
ADCC (Anti-Deception Coordination Centre)
Address Poisoning
Advance Fee Scheme
Advance-fee fraud
Advance-Fee Job Scam
Advance-Fee Loan
Advance-Fee Purchase Scam
Advance-Fee Variant Scams
Adversarial AI in Fraud
Adversary-in-the-Middle (AiTM)
AFCA (Australian Financial Complaints Authority)
Affiliate Fraud
Affinity Fraud
Affinity Romance Scam
Airdrop Farming / Fake Airdrop Scam
Airdrop scam
AML (anti-money laundering)
AML (Anti-Money Laundering)
Angler Phishing
Anti-Money Laundering (AML)
APP fraud (authorised push payment)
APP Fraud Reimbursement
APP Fraud Reimbursement Scheme (UK)
Approval / Allowance Phishing
Approval Phishing
Arbitrage Betting Scam
ARP Spoofing
ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission)
Asset Recovery
ATM Skimmer
Attack Surface
Auction Fraud
AUSTRAC (Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre)
Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA)
Authenticator App
Authorised Push Payment (APP) Fraud
Authorised Push Payment (APP) Fraud
Authorized Push Payment (APP) Fraud
Autodialer
Autodialer / War Dialing
Autoship Requirement

C

CAFC (Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre)
Call Forwarding Diversion Scam
Call Pumping (Traffic Pumping)
Call-Forwarding Hijack
Callback Fraud
Callback Phishing
Callback Scam
Caller-ID Spoofing
Cancellation Friction
Card Cracking
Card Dump
Card Skimmer
Card Skimming
Card Testing
Card Trapping
Card-not-present fraud (CNP)
Carding
Carer's Allowance Scam
Cash App and Peer-to-Peer Payment Fraud
Cash Trapping
Cash-Out
Casino Bonus Abuse
Casket Swap Scam
Catfish Persona
Catfishing
Cemetery Plot Resale Scam
CEO fraud
CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command)
Chain Letter
Change-of-Address Fraud
Chargeback
Chargeback Fraud
Charity scam
Cheque Washing
Child Benefit Scam
Child Identity Theft
Chip Dumping Scam
CIFAS
CIFAS Protective Registration
CISA (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency) – US
Citizens Advice Scams Action
Class Action
Clergy Impersonation Scam
Click Fraud
Clickjacking
Clipboard Hijacker
Clone Firm
Clone Phishing
Cloned Firm Fraud
Cold Wallet
Combosquatting
Complicit Money Mule
Condolence Email Malware
Confirmation of Payee (CoP)
Consumer Duty
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
Consumer Sentinel Network
Contactless Skimming
Content ID Claim Jacking
Contingent Reimbursement Model (CRM) Code
Conversation Hijacking
Cookie Theft
Cooling-Off Period
Copyright Strike Extortion
Cost of Living Payment Scam
Council Tax Rebate Scam
Counterfeit / Knockoff Goods Scam
Counterfeit Religious Charity Registration
Courier Fraud
Courier scam
Creator Fund Payout Phishing
Credential (Login Credential)
Credential Harvesting
Credential Phishing
Credential stuffing
Credit Freeze (Security Freeze)
Cremation Ashes Fraud
Cross-Chain Bridge
Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
Crowdfunding Fraud
Crypto Casino Rug Pull
Crypto Drainer
Crypto Giveaway Scam
Crypto Influencer Shill
Crypto Job Scam
Crypto Money Mule
Crypto Ponzi Scheme
Crypto Recovery Scam
Crypto Romance Scam
Crypto Tax Scam
Cryptocurrency Exit in Romance Fraud
Cryptocurrency Payment Fraud
CryptoRom
Cult Financial Exploitation
Currency Exchange Fraud
Custodial vs Non-Custodial Wallet
Cyber Insurance

D

DAO (Decentralised Autonomous Organisation)
Dark Patterns (Privacy)
Dark web
Dark Web Monitoring
Dark-Web Marketplace
Data breach
Data Breach Notification
Data Broker
Data Entry Job Scam
Death Certificate Identity Theft
Debt Collection Scam
Debt-Settlement Scam
Deed Fraud
Deepfake
Deepfake Fraud
Deepfake KYC Bypass
Deepfake Livestream Giveaway Scam
Deepfake Romance Fraud
Deepfake Video Fraud
Deepfake Voice
Deepfake Voice / AI Voice Cloning Scam
Deepfake Voice Clone
DeFi Lending Protocol
DeFi Protocol
Deposit Match Clawback
Device Fingerprinting
Digital Arrest Scam
Digital Certificate (TLS/SSL)
Digital Identity Wallet
Digital Pen Pal Scam
Direct Debit Fraud
DISA Toll Fraud
Disability Benefit Scam
Disaster Relief Fraud
Disclosure
Display-Name Spoofing
Dispute Resolution
DNS Spoofing (DNS Cache Poisoning)
Do Not Call Registry
Do-Not-Call Registry Bypass
Document Forgery
Dormant Account Fee (Casino)
Downline / Upline
Downline Manipulation
Drainer-as-a-Service (DaaS)
Drip Pricing
Drive-By Download
Drop Account
Drop-Surfing
Dropshipping Fraud
Dropshipping Scam
Due Diligence
Dumpster Diving
Duplicate Ticket Barcode Fraud
Dusting Attack

F

Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA)
Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)
Faith Healer Medical Device Scam
Faith Healing Fee Scam
Faith-Based Crowdfunding Fraud
Faith-Based Loan Forgiveness Scam
Faith-Based MLM Recruitment
Faith-Based Timeshare / Retreat Property Scam
Fake Benefits Eligibility Checker
Fake Benefits Eligibility Text
Fake Benefits Portal
Fake Brand Sponsorship Scam
Fake Charity Grant Scam
Fake Charity Lottery
Fake Charity Solicitation
Fake Check Overpayment Scam
Fake Crypto Exchange
Fake Death Notification Scam
Fake Debt Collector
Fake Escrow Scam
Fake Executor Impersonation
Fake Franchise Opportunity
Fake Funeral Bill Scam
Fake Invoice
Fake invoice scam
Fake Landlord
Fake Landlord Scam
Fake Online Memorial Page
Fake Ordination Certification Scam
Fake Presale Code Scam
Fake Profile Consistency Tells
Fake Review / Astroturfing
Fake RNG Certificate
Fake Shipping Notification Scam
Fake Solicitor Probate Scam
Fake Staking Scam
Fake Storefront
Fake Talent Management Scam
Fake Ticket Insurance Scam
Fake Ticket Resale Site
Fake Verification Badge Scam
Fake Wallet App
Fake-Review Fraud
False Income Promise
False Prophecy Guru Scam
Faster Payments
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
FCA Consumer Duty (UK)
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Final Expense Insurance Mis-Selling
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
Financial Fraud Kill Chain
Financial Grooming
Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS)
Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) – UK
Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS)
FINTRAC (Canada)
First-Party Fraud
Fixed Match Scam
Flash Loan Attack
Fleeceware
FluBot Malware
FMA (Financial Markets Authority – New Zealand)
Follower Count Fraud
Food Assistance (SNAP) Card Skimming Scam
Forced Matrix Scheme
Foreclosure Rescue Scam
Formjacking
Fraud Alert
Fraud Alert (Credit)
Frauds to Finnish Police / KRP Cybercrime Unit
Fraudulent Adoption Ministry Scam
Fraudulent Heir Hunter Firm
Fraudulent Work-at-Home Kit
Free Government Grant Scam
Free-Trial Trap
Friendly Fraud
Friendly Fraud (Commerce)
Front-Running (Crypto)
FTC ReportFraud (US)
Fullz
Funeral Home Price Gouging
Future Faking

H

Hardware Security Key
Hardware Wallet
Hawala
Helpdesk Social Engineering
High-Yield Investment Programme (HYIP)
HKMA (Hong Kong Monetary Authority) – Anti-Scam Measures
HMRC / Tax-Office Impersonation
Holy Water / Blessed Oil MLM
Home Assembly Scam
Homoglyph
Homograph / IDN Attack
Homograph Attack
Honey Trap
Honeypot Token
Hostage and Ransom Romance Scam
Hot Wallet
Housing Benefit Scam

J

Jamtara Scam Hub Phenomenon
Job scam
Jugging
Juice Jacking

K

Keylogger
Keylogger Attack
Know Your Customer (KYC)
KYC (Know Your Customer)
KYC (Know Your Customer)
KYC / AML (Know Your Customer / Anti-Money Laundering)
KYC Payout Stall

M

Mail Theft Fraud
Malvertising
Malware
Malware Delivery
Man-in-the-middle attack (MitM)
Man-in-the-Middle Attack (MitM)
Mandate Fraud
Manufactured Coincidence (Wrong Number Contact)
Marketplace Fee Fraud
Marketplace Seller Impersonation
MAS (Monetary Authority of Singapore) – Scam Prevention
MAS FIDO (Financial Industry Disputes Resolution Centre)
Matched Betting Scam
Matrix Scheme
Medical Identity Theft
MetaMask Support Scam
MEV (Maximal Extractable Value)
MFA Fatigue
MFA Fatigue (Push Bombing)
Military Romance Scam
Missed-Call Scam
Mission Trip Fundraising Scam
Mixer / Tumbler
MLM (multi-level marketing)
MLM Income Disclosure Statement (IDS)
MLM Market Saturation
Mobile Banking Trojan
Mobile Number Harvesting
Money Flipping
Money Laundering
Money mule
Money Mule Herder
Money Mule Recruitment
Money Mule Recruitment Scam
Money-Mule Recruitment
Moving-Company Scam
Mule Account
Mule Herding
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Mystery Shopper Scam

N

NASC (National Anti-Scam Centre)
National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)
National Trading Standards Scams Team (UK)
NCSC (National Cyber Security Centre) – UK
Negative Option Marketing
Negative-Option Billing
Neighbor Spoofing
Netsafe (New Zealand)
Network Slicing Security Risk
NFC Relay Attack
NFT Intellectual Property Scam
NFT Mint Scam
NFT Royalty Bypass
NFT Wash Trading
No More Ransom Project
Non-Delivery Fraud
Number Recycling Fraud
Number Spoofing (Telephone Spoofing)
Number Spoofing Scam Bait

O

OAuth Consent Phishing
Obituary Mining
Offshore Business Romance Scam
Ombudsman
One-Time Passcode (OTP) Interception
Open Redirect
Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT)
Oracle Manipulation
OSINT Reconnaissance
OTP (one-time passcode)
OTP Bot
OTP Interception
OTT Messaging Spoofing
Overpayment / Refund-Excess Scam
Overpayment Fraud
Overpayment Scam
Overseas Customs Scam (Romance Variant)

P

Pandemic Relief Fraud
Partial-Delivery Scam
Passkey (FIDO2/WebAuthn)
Password Manager
Password Spraying
Pay-to-Play Job
Payday-Loan Scam
Payment Processor
Payment Reversal / Payment Recall
Payment Systems Regulator (PSR)
Payout Withholding Scam
Payroll Diversion
PBX Hacking
Pension Credit Scam
Pension Death Benefit Scam
Pension Liberation / Pension Scam
Personally Identifiable Information (PII)
Phantom Debt
Phantom Event Scam
Phantom Hacker Scam
Phantom Jackpot Scam
Pharming
Phishing
Phishing Checkout Page
Phishing Kit
Phishing-Resistant MFA
Phone Number Lookup Fraud
Pig butchering (sha zhu pan)
Pig Butchering Job Lure
Pig Butchering Setup Phase
Pig-Butchering Crypto Wallet
Pig-Butchering Fake Trading Platform
Pig-Butchering Operation (Scam Centre)
Pig-Butchering Scam
Pilgrimage Tour Scam
Placement (Money Laundering)
Platform Impersonation Giveaway Scam
Playlist Placement Scam
Poker Bot Collusion
Ponzi scheme
Ponzi vs Pyramid: Key Differences
Port-Out Fraud
Port-Out Scam
Porting Authorisation Code (PAC) Fraud
Power of Attorney Abuse
Power of Attorney Abuse in Late-Life Planning
Pre-Need Funeral Plan Fraud
Premium-Rate Number Fraud
Premium-Rate Number Scam
Prepaid Card
Pretext Call
Pretexting
Price Manipulation / Flash Pricing Scam
Principle of Least Privilege
Private key
Product-Based Pyramid
Prompt Injection
Proof-of-Funds Fraud
Property fraud
Prosperity Gospel Investment Scam
PSD2 / Open Banking
PSR (Payment Systems Regulator)
Public Key / Crypto Address
Pull Payment
Pump and dump
Pump and Dump (Crypto)
Pump Group
Punycode
Punycode Attack
Purchase-Order Fraud
Push Notification Spam
Push Payment
Push Provisioning Fraud
Pyramid Betting System
Pyramid scheme

Q

QR Code Phishing (Quishing)
Quishing (QR code phishing)

R

Rakeback Scam
Ransomware
RAT (remote access trojan)
RCMP Cybercrime and Fraud
RCS Abuse
Real-Time Payments (RTP)
Recovery Fraud
Recovery Room Scam
Recovery scam
Recruitment Chain
Recruitment Fraud
Reentrancy Attack
Refund Scam
Regulation E
Relay Attack
Religious Identity Theft Solicitation
Religious NFT / Token Scam
Religious Relic Authenticity Scam
Religious Romance Scam
Religious Visa Sponsorship Scam
Remittance
Remote-Access Scam
Rental Application Fraud
Rental scam
Repatriation of Remains Scam
Replay Attack
Reply-Chain Attack
Reporting Romance Fraud on Dating Platforms
Reshipping / Repackaging Mule
Reshipping Mule Scam
Reshipping Scam
Restaking (and Restaking Scams)
Restitution
Retail Arbitrage Fraud
Return Fraud
Reverse Image Search (Romance Fraud Check)
Reverse Romance Scam
Reverse-Proxy Phishing
Review Brushing
Rigged Slot Algorithm Claim
Right to Erasure
Robocall
Robocall Fraud
Rogue Access Point
Romance Baiting
Romance Cryptocurrency Wallet Drain
Romance investment fraud
Romance Loan Trap
Romance Mule Recruitment
Romance Recovery Scam
Romance scam
Romance Scam (Payment Stage)
Romance Scam Accomplice Networks
Romance Scam Psychological Aftermath
Romance Scam Reporting Barriers
Romance Tax and Fee Scam
Romance-Job Hybrid Scam
ROSCA Fraud (Tontine / Paluwagan / Stokvel)
Routing Number / Sort Code
Rug pull

S

Safe account scam
Sale of Deceased's Belongings Scam
Sandbox Evasion
Sandwich Attack
Scam Baiting
Scameter
ScamShield
Scamwatch
Scareware
Screen Scraping / Remote Desktop Fraud
Search Engine Poisoning (SEO Poisoning)
Season Ticket Account Takeover
Second-Chance Offer Scam
Section 75 Claim
Secure Enclave
Seed phrase
Seed Phrase Theft
Self-Exclusion Bypass
Seller Account Takeover
Seller Rating Manipulation
SEPA Transfer
Serious Fraud Office (SFO) – UK
Session Hijacking
Settlement (Payments)
Sexting Blackmail
Sextortion
Sha Zhu Pan (Pig Butchering)
Shimming
Short-Code Spoofing
Shoulder Surfing
Silent SMS (Stealth Ping)
SIM Box Fraud
SIM Cloning
SIM Farm (Smishing Kit)
SIM Jacking
SIM Lock / Number Lock
SIM swap
SIM Swap (Crypto Context)
SIM Swap Fraud
SIM Swapping
Singapore Police Force Anti-Scam Centre (ASC)
Singapore Police Force Anti-Scam Hotline
Skimming
Skin Gambling Scam
Small Business Grant Scam
Smart Contract Audit
Smishing
Smishing Kit
Smishing Lure Types
Smishing-to-Sideload Attack
SMS Sender-ID Spoofing
Smurfing
Smurfing / Structuring
Sob Story Escalation
Social engineering
Social Media Account Takeover
Social Media Mule Recruitment
Social Media Romance Recruitment
Social media scam
Social Security Number (SSN) Fraud
Social Security Suspension Scam
Social-Commerce Livestream Scam
Social-Media Investment Scam
Social-Proof Manipulation
Soft Rug
Sou-Sou Fraud
Spam/Scam Text Reporting (7726)
Spear phishing
Speculative Ticket Listing
Spiritual Debt Release Scam
Spiritual Inheritance Blessing Scam
Spoofed Domain
Spoofed Sender ID
Spoofing (caller-ID / email)
Sports Tipster Scam
Spyware
Squaring / Cash Flipping
SS7 Attack
SSL Stripping
SSL/TLS Version Security
Stablecoin Depeg
Stalkerware
Statute of Limitations
Statute-Barred Debt
Stimulus Check Scam
STIR/SHAKEN Caller-ID Authentication
Structuring
Student Loan Forgiveness Scam
Subject Access Request (SAR)
Subscription Dark Pattern
Subscription Trap
Sugar Daddy / Sugar Mommy Scam
Supply Chain Attack
Suspicious Activity Report (SAR)
Sweepstakes Casino Loophole
Sweetheart Scam (Online Dating Fraud)
SWIFT Network
Sympathy Donation Scam
Synthetic identity fraud
Synthetic Identity Fraud
Synthetic Identity Fraud
Synthetic Voice Vishing

U

Unclaimed Inheritance Letter
Undue Influence in Estate Planning
Unemployment Benefits Identity Theft
Unfair Contract Terms
Universal Basic Income Scam
Universal Credit Phishing Scam
Unlicensed Offshore Casino
Unwitting Money Mule
Upfront Training Fee Scam
Upselling Fraud
URL Shortener Abuse

V

Verified Bettor Scam
Video Call Avoidance
VIP Package Upsell Scam
Visa / Work Permit Job Scam
Vishing
Vishing (Voice Phishing)
Vishing Callback / TOAD Attack
Vishing Impersonation Types
Vishing Kit
Voice cloning
Voice Synthesis Fraud
Voicemail Hacking
Voicemail Phishing
VoIP Credential Stuffing
VPN (Virtual Private Network)
Vulnerable Elder Congregant Targeting

W

Wagering Requirement Trap
Wallet drainer
Wangiri (One-Ring Scam)
Wangiri (One-Ring) Scam
Wangiri Fraud
Wash Trade
Wash Trading
Watering Hole Attack
Whaling
WhatsApp Romance Pivot
Widow/Widower Romance Scam
Will Forgery
Winter Fuel Payment Scam
Wire Fraud
Wire Transfer Fraud
Wire Transfer in Romance Fraud
Witting Money Mule
Wrapped Token

Y

Yield Farming

Z

Zero Trust
Zero Trust Security
Zero-Day Vulnerability
Zero-Knowledge Proof
Zombie Debt

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