Focused Scam Guides
4,021 guides on how specific scams play out on particular platforms, via particular payment methods, in particular countries, and under specific impersonated brands.
Romance Scams on Instagram
How romance scammers operate specifically on Instagram — from DM openers to steering you off-platform — and how to stay safe.
PlatformPig-Butchering Scams on WhatsApp
How pig-butchering investment scams use WhatsApp's private messaging, group features, and end-to-end encryption to groom victims over weeks before introducing a fraudulent trading platform.
PlatformTask Scams on Telegram
How fraudulent 'like and earn' or 'app review' task scams use Telegram channels, bots, and anonymous accounts to recruit workers, collect small deposits, and then vanish.
PlatformMarketplace Seller Scams on Facebook
How fraudulent sellers exploit Facebook Marketplace's local listings, Messenger integration, and Facebook Pay to take payment and disappear — or ship nothing at all.
PlatformCrypto Giveaway Scams on X (Twitter)
How crypto giveaway fraud exploits X's reply threads, impersonation of verified accounts, and fast-moving tweet culture to trick users into sending cryptocurrency they will never recover.
PlatformFake Recruiters on LinkedIn
How fraudulent recruiters exploit LinkedIn's professional credibility, job search culture, and InMail system to phish credentials, collect personal data, or advance investment and advance-fee scams.
PlatformAccount Takeover Scams on Instagram
How attackers phish Instagram login credentials, hijack accounts, and then use those accounts to scam the victim's own followers — and how to recover access and prevent it.
PaymentInvestment Scams Paid by Cryptocurrency
Why scammers specifically demand cryptocurrency for fraudulent investments, how the irreversibility of blockchain transactions works against victims, and what limited options exist after funds are sent.
PaymentMarketplace Seller Scams via Zelle
How fraudulent sellers steer marketplace buyers toward Zelle, why its bank-to-bank speed means payments are nearly irreversible, and how to protect yourself when buying online.
PaymentTask Scams via Cash App
How task scams collect 'deposit' payments through Cash App, why the platform's peer-to-peer model offers limited fraud recourse, and what to do if you've sent money.
PaymentFake Tech Support Scams Demanding Gift Cards
Why fake tech support scammers demand payment in gift card codes, the specific retailers they target, and why any legitimate support call that mentions gift cards is a scam.
PaymentRental Scams via Wire Transfer
How fraudulent landlords use wire transfer requests to take security deposits and first month's rent for properties they do not own or that do not exist, and why wire transfers are particularly hard to recover.
PaymentBusiness Email Compromise via Bank Transfer
How BEC fraud intercepts or impersonates business email to redirect legitimate bank transfers to scammer-controlled accounts, and the verification steps that prevent it.
CountryPig-Butchering Scams in the United States
How pig-butchering investment scams target US residents — from initial contact through fake trading platforms — with US-specific reporting routes and consumer protections.
CountryFake Toll Violation Scams in the United States
How smishing campaigns impersonate US toll authorities — E-ZPass, SunPass, FasTrak, and others — to steal payment card details and personal information from drivers.
CountryFake Delivery Texts in the United Kingdom
How smishing messages impersonating Royal Mail, Evri, DPD, and other UK carriers are used to harvest card details and personal data — with UK-specific reporting routes.
CountryInvestment Scams in Australia
How investment fraud targets Australians — from crypto romance scams to fake managed funds — and the specific Australian reporting routes through Scamwatch and ASIC.
CountryTask Scams in the Philippines
How online task fraud targets workers in the Philippines — particularly through fake part-time job offers on Facebook and Telegram — and the Philippine-specific reporting routes through the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group.
CountryCrypto Scams in Canada
How cryptocurrency fraud targets Canadians — from fake exchanges to romance-linked investment schemes — and how to report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and FINTRAC.
PlatformFake Stores on TikTok
How fraudulent shops exploit TikTok's viral product videos, LIVE shopping events, and seamless checkout links to sell counterfeit or non-existent goods to unsuspecting viewers.
PlatformRomance Scams on Snapchat
How romance scammers use Snapchat's disappearing messages, Snap Map, and streaks culture to build false intimacy with victims before steering conversations toward financial requests.
PlatformCrypto Trading Scams on YouTube
How fraudulent AI trading platforms use YouTube livestreams, monetised ads, and deepfake celebrity endorsements to funnel viewers into fake crypto investment schemes.
PlatformCounterfeit Goods on eBay
How counterfeit products are sold through eBay listings, the signals that separate genuine items from fakes, and how to use eBay's Money Back Guarantee and external routes to seek redress.
PlatformGame Account Takeover Scams on Discord
How attackers use Discord DMs, fake bot invitations, and phishing links disguised as game rewards to steal gaming account credentials and in-game assets.
PlatformFake Customer Support Scams on Facebook
How scammers pose as brand or Facebook support agents in comments and Messenger to harvest account credentials, card details, and remote access from people seeking legitimate help.
PlatformJob Task Scams on WhatsApp
How fraudulent part-time job offers use WhatsApp groups, fake HR managers, and staged 'commission' payments to collect deposits from people seeking flexible work.
PlatformSextortion on Snapchat
How sextortion scammers use Snapchat's disappearing content to build false confidence before threatening to distribute intimate images — and why paying never stops the demands.
PaymentEmergency Money Requests via Gift Cards
How scammers exploit family crisis scenarios — impersonating grandchildren, friends, or officials — to pressure victims into buying gift cards and reading codes over the phone.
PaymentPig-Butchering Scams Paid via Bank Transfer
How pig-butchering investment fraud uses bank transfers as the payment entry point, the window for recovery that exists with bank-to-bank payments, and the protections that differ from crypto.
PaymentForeign Lottery Scams via Gift Cards
How fraudulent lottery notifications demand gift card payment for 'release fees' and 'taxes' before winnings that don't exist can be 'claimed' — and why no real lottery works this way.
PaymentRecovery Scams That Demand Cryptocurrency
How fraudulent asset-recovery services target people who have already lost money to scams, demanding upfront cryptocurrency fees to 'trace and recover' funds that they will never retrieve.
PaymentInvoice Redirection Scams via Wire Transfer
How attackers intercept or impersonate supplier invoices to redirect legitimate wire transfers to fraudulent accounts — and the verification step that stops it every time.
PaymentVehicle Escrow Scams via Wire Transfer
How fake vehicle listings use fraudulent escrow services to collect wire transfer deposits for cars, motorcycles, and boats that don't exist or aren't for sale.
PaymentFake Charity Scams That Request Cryptocurrency
How fraudulent appeals exploit disasters, conflicts, and causes to collect crypto donations that never reach any charitable purpose — and how to verify before donating.
PaymentTask Scams That Use PayPal
How task scams exploit PayPal's familiarity and Friends and Family feature to collect deposits — and why the payment method choice matters for your ability to dispute a charge.
CountryRomance Scams in the United States
How romance fraud affects US residents — from dating app contact through cryptocurrency demands — with US-specific reporting routes through the FTC and FBI IC3.
CountryInvestment Scams in the United Kingdom
How investment fraud targets UK residents — from clone firm scams to crypto romance schemes — with UK-specific tools including the FCA ScamSmart checker and Report Fraud (formerly Action Fraud) reporting.
CountryPig-Butchering Scams in Singapore
How pig-butchering investment fraud targets Singapore residents, the ScamShield app available to Singaporeans, and how to report to the Singapore Police Force and MAS.
CountryFake Tech Support Scams in Canada
How fake tech support fraud targets Canadians — from Microsoft pop-up scams to CRA impersonation — and how to report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
CountryTask Scams in India
How online task fraud targets workers in India through WhatsApp and Telegram, the Indian reporting routes through cybercrime.gov.in and the 1930 helpline, and why part-time job deposits are always a scam signal.
CountryCrypto Scams in Australia
How cryptocurrency fraud targets Australians — from social media investment pitches to superannuation crypto schemes — with reporting routes through Scamwatch, ASIC, and ReportCyber.
CountryFake Delivery Texts in the United States
How smishing messages impersonating USPS, FedEx, UPS, and Amazon steal card details and personal information from US residents — with reporting routes through the FTC and FBI IC3.
CountryBank Impersonation and Safe-Account Scams in Australia
How callers posing as Australian bank fraud teams and police convince victims to move funds to a 'safe account' — with reporting routes through Scamwatch, ReportCyber, and AFCA.
PlatformPhishing Scams on Email
How phishing emails mimic banks, couriers, and government agencies to harvest login credentials and card details — the header signals, link tricks, and habits that protect you.
PlatformFake Delivery Texts via SMS
How smishing messages impersonating parcel carriers reach millions of phones and harvest card details through lookalike payment pages — why SMS makes these harder to verify, and how to protect yourself.
PlatformCrypto Giveaway Scams on Telegram
How fraudulent crypto giveaway channels use Telegram's anonymous groups, pinned messages, and bot-driven fake engagement to steal cryptocurrency from users seeking free tokens.
PlatformFake Stores via Google Search Ads
How fraudulent online retailers buy Google Ads to appear above legitimate search results, collect payment for goods that never arrive, and how to verify before you buy.
PlatformRomance Scams on Facebook
How romance scammers use Facebook's profile system, friend suggestions, and Messenger to build false relationships — and the profile signals that reveal a scammer before emotional investment deepens.
PlatformInvestment Mentor Scams on WhatsApp
How fraudulent investment mentors use WhatsApp groups to simulate a community of successful traders, build credibility through staged wins, and collect fees for courses and platforms that deliver nothing.
PlatformFake Tech Support Scams on YouTube
How fake tech support operators use YouTube comment sections, pinned links under tech help videos, and fake tutorial channels to direct viewers to fraudulent phone numbers and remote-access sessions.
PlatformMarketplace Scams on Craigslist
How fraudulent sellers and buyers exploit Craigslist's anonymous classifieds, unverified listings, and cash-or-transfer payment culture to defraud both sides of transactions.
PaymentInvestment Scams Paid via Bank Transfer
How fraudulent investment platforms collect bank transfers by mimicking legitimate financial intermediaries — the narrow recall window that makes early reporting critical, and the verification checks that stop payment before it leaves your account.
PaymentRomance Scams That Demand Cryptocurrency
How romance fraud pivots from emotional grooming to cryptocurrency payment requests — why crypto is chosen over bank transfer, and what the irreversibility of blockchain transactions means for recovery.
PaymentTech Support Scams Demanding Wire Transfers
How fake tech support callers escalate from gift card demands to wire transfers for larger amounts — the bank verification step that sometimes intercepts these payments, and what to do if a transfer has been sent.
PaymentPig-Butchering Scams Paid via Stablecoins (USDT)
Why pig-butchering scammers increasingly demand payment in USDT and other stablecoins, how stablecoin transfers differ from volatile crypto for the scammer's operational needs, and what victims should know about tracing.
PaymentFake Cheque Overpayment Scams
How fraudulent buyers send overpayment cheques to sellers, exploit the gap between apparent clearance and actual verification, and collect a refund before the cheque bounces — leaving the seller out of pocket.
PaymentRental Listing Scams via Cash App
How fake landlords collect security deposits and first month's rent through Cash App — why the peer-to-peer platform offers no renter protection, and what to do if a payment has been sent.
PaymentForeign Lottery Scams via Wire Transfer
How lottery advance-fee fraud escalates to wire transfer demands for larger 'release fees' — why the payment method shift from gift cards to wire signals the scammer believes significant funds are available, and what to do.
PaymentGrandparent Scams via Cash Courier
How emergency money request scammers send couriers to collect cash directly from victims' homes — why the in-person cash pickup is the highest-pressure variant of this fraud, and why no real emergency works this way.
CountryRomance Scams in Australia
How romance fraud targets Australians across dating apps and social media — with Australian-specific reporting routes through Scamwatch, IDCARE, and the Australian Cyber Security Centre.
CountryInvestment Scams in Canada
How investment fraud targets Canadians — from clone-firm pitches to pig-butchering — with provincial securities commission checks and reporting routes through the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
CountryPig-Butchering Scams in the United Kingdom
How pig-butchering investment fraud targets UK residents — from clone firm tactics to bank transfer grooming — with the FCA ScamSmart checker, Report Fraud (formerly Action Fraud), and APP fraud reimbursement options.
CountryTask Scams in the United States
How online task fraud targets US workers through fake part-time job offers on social media and messaging apps — with reporting routes through the FTC, FBI IC3, and state attorneys general.
CountryCrypto Scams in Singapore
How cryptocurrency fraud targets Singapore residents — from fake MAS-licensed platforms to social media investment pitches — with MAS verification tools, ScamShield, and SPF reporting routes.
CountryBank and Police Impersonation Scams in the United Kingdom
How callers posing as UK bank fraud teams and police officers manipulate victims into authorising transfers — with the 159 hotline, APP fraud reimbursement rules, and Report Fraud (formerly Action Fraud) reporting.
CountryFake Tech Support Scams in the United States
How fake tech support fraud targets US residents — from Microsoft pop-up alerts to IRS impersonation — with FTC and FBI IC3 reporting routes and the payment methods most commonly demanded.
CountryFake Delivery Texts in Australia
How smishing texts impersonating Australia Post, DHL, and Toll Group steal card details and personal information from Australians — with reporting routes through Scamwatch, ReportCyber, and the ACCC.
PlatformGift Card Scams Delivered via Phone Call
How fraudulent phone callers — posing as government agencies, utility companies, or tech support — use the voice channel's authority and urgency to steer victims toward buying gift cards and reading the codes aloud.
PlatformFake Job Scams on Job Boards (Indeed, LinkedIn Jobs, ZipRecruiter)
How fraudulent job listings on major job boards harvest personal data, charge upfront fees, or pivot to task and investment scams — and how to vet a job posting before applying or sharing any information.
PlatformCrypto Wallet Drainer Scams on Discord
How wallet drainer malware and phishing links are distributed through Discord servers, compromised bots, and fake NFT or token mint announcements — and how to protect your crypto wallet from on-chain theft.
PlatformFake Store Scams via Instagram Ads
How fraudulent online shops use Instagram's paid advertising to reach targeted audiences with stolen product photos, collect payment, and deliver nothing — or ship poor-quality counterfeits.
PlatformRomance Scams on Dating Apps
How romance scammers exploit dating app matching systems, profile verification gaps, and in-app messaging to build trust before steering victims off-platform and into financial requests.
PlatformDeepfake Investment Ads on Facebook
How AI-generated celebrity endorsement videos are used in Facebook paid ads to promote fraudulent investment platforms — how to identify synthetic media, and why the celebrity's apparent involvement is always fabricated.
PlatformPhishing Scams via SMS (Smishing)
How smishing campaigns exploit SMS's lack of a sender-domain check, alphanumeric sender ID spoofing, and mobile-browser URL truncation to harvest credentials and card details at scale.
PlatformRomance Scams on WhatsApp
How romance scammers use WhatsApp's voice notes, profile photos, and status updates to manufacture intimacy — and why the platform's end-to-end encryption leaves less evidence for victims to show authorities.
PlatformTask Scams on TikTok
How task scam operators use TikTok's algorithm, DMs, and creator culture to recruit workers into fake 'app rating' and 'boosting' jobs that collect deposits and deliver nothing.
PlatformFake Stores on Facebook Marketplace
How fraudulent store-fronts use Facebook Marketplace's category listings, Messenger checkout flows, and profile recycling to sell goods that never arrive — distinct from individual seller fraud.
PlatformCrypto Giveaway Scams on YouTube
How fraudulent crypto giveaway streams hijack YouTube channels, impersonate celebrities using pre-recorded footage, and run continuous 'send to double' scams — and why this format has no legitimate version.
PlatformAccount Takeover Scams on Snapchat
How attackers use phishing snaps, verification code requests, and third-party app lures to hijack Snapchat accounts — then use those accounts to scam the victim's friends through trusted-sender messages.
PaymentInvestment Scams Collected via Zelle
How fraudulent investment platforms persuade victims to send initial deposits via Zelle — exploiting its bank-to-bank speed and near-zero dispute options — before transitioning to crypto for larger amounts.
PaymentPig-Butchering Scams Paid via Wire Transfer
How pig-butchering investment fraud uses international wire transfers to move large sums — the narrower recovery window compared to domestic bank transfer, and the timed steps that matter.
PaymentFake Support Scams Demanding Apple and Google Play Gift Cards
Why fake tech support callers specifically name Apple iTunes and Google Play gift cards — how the digital redemption chain works, and the card-specific steps that can stop funds from being spent.
PaymentMarketplace Seller Scams via Venmo
How fraudulent marketplace sellers steer buyers toward Venmo, why the platform's social feed and peer-to-peer design create false confidence, and what the distinction between Venmo's payment types means for fraud recovery.
PaymentRomance Scams That Collect via Cash App
How romance scammers steer victims toward Cash App for financial transfers — using its instant peer-to-peer mechanics and limited dispute options — before escalating to cryptocurrency.
PaymentFake Antivirus Scams That Demand Gift Cards
How fake security software pop-ups and cold calls create virus panic before demanding gift card codes as payment for 'removal' — and why genuine antivirus software never requests gift card payment.
CountryFake Delivery Texts in Singapore
How smishing texts impersonating SingPost, DHL, and Ninja Van steal card details and personal information from Singapore residents — with ScamShield, SPF reporting, and the official carrier domains.
CountryInvestment Scams in India
How fraudulent investment platforms target Indian investors through WhatsApp groups and Telegram channels — with SEBI verification, the 1930 Cyber Crime Helpline, and cybercrime.gov.in reporting routes.
CountryRomance Scams in Canada
How romance fraud targets Canadians — from dating app contact through crypto ATM and wire transfer demands — with reporting routes through the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and provincial support.
CountryFake Tech Support Scams in Australia
How fake tech support fraud targets Australians — from NBN and Telstra impersonation to Microsoft pop-ups — with Scamwatch and ReportCyber reporting routes and the Australian-specific variants.
CountryPig-Butchering Scams in the Philippines
How pig-butchering investment fraud targets Filipinos via dating apps and Facebook — with GCash deposit mechanics, PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group reporting, and SEC Philippines verification.
CountryTask Scams in the United Kingdom
How online task fraud targets UK workers through WhatsApp job offers and Telegram groups — with Report Fraud (formerly Action Fraud) and the 159 hotline as reporting routes, and the UK-specific payment patterns.
PlatformInvestment Scams on Reddit
How fraudulent investment promoters exploit Reddit's upvote system, community trust, and pseudonymous accounts to pump penny stocks, fake crypto projects, and fraudulent trading platforms.
PlatformFake Stores on Pinterest
How fraudulent retailers use Pinterest's shoppable pins, board curation, and aspirational aesthetics to funnel users to fake storefronts that collect payment for goods that never arrive.
PlatformTask Scams on Indeed
How fraudulent task and micro-job listings exploit Indeed's job board credibility to recruit workers into deposit-based scams — and why a listing on a major job board is not a guarantee of employer legitimacy.
PlatformRomance Scams on Tinder
How romance scammers exploit Tinder's swiping mechanic, profile photo norms, and conversational immediacy to manufacture emotional closeness before steering victims toward financial requests.
PlatformFake Tech Support Found via Google Search Ads
How fraudulent tech support operators buy Google Search ads to appear above legitimate company support pages — intercepting users seeking real help and redirecting them to scam phone numbers.