Focused Scam Guides
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Rental Scams in the United States
US rental fraud costs Americans millions of dollars annually, with fraudulent listings appearing on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and Zillow. Scammers clone legitimate listings and collect deposits from multiple victims for properties they have no right to rent.
CountryCrypto Scams in Nigeria: Ponzi, Fake Exchange, and P2P Fraud
Nigeria's vibrant crypto community has been repeatedly targeted by Ponzi schemes, fake exchanges, and P2P marketplace fraud. The SEC Nigeria has issued multiple warnings and enforcement actions, but new operations emerge faster than regulation can respond.
PlatformInvestment Scams on WhatsApp: Broadcast and Group Channel Fraud
Investment fraudsters use WhatsApp broadcast lists and channels to distribute fake trading signals and promote fraudulent investment platforms, exploiting the app's trusted contacts framework to lend credibility to their approach.
CountryRecovery Scams in Australia: ASIC and AFCA Impersonation
Australian fraud victims are re-targeted by fake asset recovery firms that impersonate ASIC, the AFCA, or law enforcement to collect upfront fees. ScamWatch data shows Australians lose significant sums to this secondary layer of fraud.
PlatformPhishing Scams on Telegram: Account Takeover and Crypto Seed Theft
Phishing on Telegram targets users with fake bot notifications, admin impersonation messages, and malicious mini-apps that harvest account login codes and crypto wallet seed phrases.
PlatformFake Stores on Snapchat: Counterfeit Drops and Non-Delivery Fraud
Fraudulent sellers use Snapchat Stories and DMs to promote fake limited-edition clothing drops, trainers, and electronics. The ephemeral nature of Snapchat makes complaints harder to document and enables rapid reselling of the same victims.
CountryInvestment Scams in the United States
The United States sees more reported investment fraud losses than almost any other country, with billions lost annually to crypto investment scams, pig-butchering, and unregistered securities offerings. The SEC and FTC actively pursue perpetrators but prevention requires consumer vigilance.
PaymentWhatsApp Job Scams Paid via Cryptocurrency
WhatsApp job scams that demand earnings unlocked by cryptocurrency deposits exploit the irreversible, pseudonymous nature of crypto payments to prevent victims from recovering funds after repeated recharge demands.
CountryRental Scams in the United Kingdom
Fraudulent rental listings on Rightmove, Zoopla, Facebook Marketplace, and SpareRoom target UK renters facing a competitive housing market, collecting deposits via bank transfer for properties the scammer has no right to let.
CountryRomance Scams in the United Kingdom
Romance fraud is one of the highest-value scam categories in the United Kingdom by total losses, with victims losing millions collectively each year. Report Fraud (formerly Action Fraud) reports significant under-reporting due to shame, meaning real losses are likely far higher.
CountryCrypto Scams in Ireland
Irish consumers have lost significant sums to cryptocurrency fraud, including fake exchange platforms, celebrity-endorsed deepfake investment ads, and pig-butchering schemes that target the country's growing crypto-curious population.
PlatformFake Trading Platforms Introduced via Dating Apps
Pig-butchering operators systematically use dating apps as recruitment channels, establishing romantic connections before introducing fraudulent crypto trading platforms. Dating app matches are the most common initial contact point for this category of fraud globally.
CountryPig-Butchering Scams in India
India's rapidly growing crypto and stock market investor base has been targeted by pig-butchering operations that blend romance and investment fraud. SEBI and CERT-In have both issued alerts as Indian losses from these schemes accumulate.
CountryPig-Butchering Scams Targeting Filipinos
Filipino workers and OFWs are targeted by pig-butchering operations that exploit the remittance-sending culture and aspiration for passive income. Some Filipinos are also trafficked into scam compounds to operate these schemes against other victims.
CountryFake Support Calls in Singapore: SPF and MAS Impersonation
Singapore residents receive impersonation calls from people claiming to be Singapore Police Force officers, MAS representatives, or CPF Board staff, using authority and arrest threats to coerce immediate payments.
CountryCrypto Scams in Canada: FINTRAC Gaps and Social Media Fraud
Canadians lose hundreds of millions of dollars annually to cryptocurrency fraud, with investment scams topping the list. Scammers exploit gaps in FINTRAC's real-time visibility and the lack of a central crypto investor protection fund.
CountryPig-Butchering Romance Scams in Australia
Australia's ACCC ScamWatch data consistently shows romance-based investment fraud as one of the highest-loss categories. Pig-butchering operations specifically target Australian seniors and middle-aged adults via dating sites and social media.
PlatformOff-Platform Payment Scams on eBay
eBay scammers contact potential buyers or sellers outside eBay's checkout system, claiming payment or shipping is easier through alternative channels. Buyers who comply lose eBay Money Back Guarantee protection.
CountryInvestment Scams in South Africa
South Africans face a persistent threat from binary options fraud, Ponzi schemes, and fake property investment platforms. The FSCA's warning register is updated regularly but cannot keep pace with new fraudulent entities.
PlatformPhishing Scams on Discord
Discord's server-based communities and direct-message system are exploited by phishers who clone official bots, send fake nitro giveaways, and hijack high-value accounts.
PlatformPhishing Scams on WeChat
WeChat's ecosystem of mini-programs, QR codes, and Official Accounts gives phishers multiple entry points to steal credentials and WeChat Pay balances.
PlatformFake Trading Platforms Promoted on Facebook
Facebook's advertising system and Groups are routinely exploited to promote fraudulent investment and trading platforms using celebrity deepfakes and community trust.
PlatformFake Trading Platforms Promoted on Instagram
Instagram's aspirational culture and influencer economy make it a prime channel for fake trading platforms that use lifestyle imagery, fake profit screenshots, and paid promoters to recruit victims.
PlatformFake Trading Platforms Distributed via WhatsApp Groups
WhatsApp's encrypted group chats are used to run fake 'VIP investment clubs' that funnel members toward fraudulent trading platforms through a mix of social proof, fake profits, and controlled group dynamics.
PlatformPig Butchering Scams on LinkedIn
LinkedIn's professional credibility makes it a high-value hunting ground for pig butchering scammers who pose as successful executives, fund managers, or wealthy entrepreneurs to build investment-focused relationships.
PlatformPig Butchering Scams on Telegram
Telegram's large group capacity, bot ecosystem, and absence of content moderation make it the primary off-platform destination for pig butchering scammers and the source of fake trading group invitations.
PlatformPig Butchering Scams on Reddit
Reddit's investment and crypto subreddits attract pig butchering scammers who post helpful advice to build credibility, then DM interested users with personalised platform recommendations.
PlatformTask Scams on Discord
Discord servers posing as legitimate task platforms recruit users with offers of cryptocurrency rewards for simple jobs, then demand 'activation deposits' before any earnings can be released.
PlatformTask Scams on Signal
Signal's reputation for privacy and security is exploited by task scammers who frame the app as proof of their operation's legitimacy, recruiting victims via WhatsApp before migrating them to Signal for tighter control.
PlatformRomance Scams on Discord
Discord's gaming and interest-based servers create a context where deep personal connections develop quickly, making it a growing venue for romance scammers targeting emotionally invested community members.
PlatformRomance Scams on WeChat
WeChat's Moments feature and group chat invitations enable romance scammers to cultivate relationships within Chinese-speaking diaspora communities before steering victims to fraudulent investment platforms.
PlatformCrypto Scams on Discord
Discord's crypto and NFT communities are targeted by wallet drainers, fake token launches, and compromised announcement channels that direct users to malicious sites.
PlatformCrypto Scams on Reddit
Reddit's crypto subreddits are targeted by recovery scammers, fake project shills, and seed phrase fishing attempts through posts, comments, and DMs.
PlatformFake Delivery Notification Scams on Facebook
Facebook Messenger and Facebook ads are used to send fake parcel delivery notifications that harvest personal and payment details through convincing courier-branded pages.
PlatformInvestment Scams on TikTok
TikTok's viral short-video format amplifies fake investment advice, fraudulent trading platform promotions, and crypto giveaway scams to vast audiences through a powerful recommendation algorithm.
PlatformRecovery Scams on Telegram
Telegram channels and groups posing as cryptocurrency recovery agencies, fraud investigation firms, and legal services target previous scam victims with false promises of fund retrieval for an upfront fee.
PlatformRental Scams on Gumtree
Gumtree's classifieds format attracts fake rental listings — often copied from legitimate sites — where landlords demand advance payments before any property viewing.
PlatformMarketplace Scams on Amazon
Amazon's third-party marketplace is exploited by scammers who create fake seller accounts, ship empty boxes or counterfeit goods, and manipulate the review system to appear trustworthy.
PlatformMarketplace Scams on Etsy
Etsy's handmade and vintage marketplace is exploited by scammers who list dropshipped factory goods as handmade, sell non-existent digital downloads, and run off-platform payment diversion schemes.
PaymentPhishing Scams That Demand Gift Card Payment
Phishing campaigns that successfully harvest credentials or create fear often pivot to demanding gift card payment — a method scammers prefer because it is anonymous, instant, and almost impossible to reverse.
PaymentPhishing Scams That Demand Wire Transfers
Phishing attacks targeting businesses and high-value individuals often culminate in fraudulent wire transfer instructions — exploiting the appearance of legitimacy that international bank transfers carry.
PaymentPig Butchering Scams Paid via Zelle
Pig butchering scammers targeting US victims frequently request Zelle transfers in early investment stages because Zelle's bank-to-bank transfers are fast, frictionless, and lack the buyer protection of credit cards.
PaymentPig Butchering Scams Paid via Venmo
Pig butchering scammers use Venmo's social payment app to collect initial investment deposits from US victims, exploiting the app's trusted, casual payment context to reduce suspicion.
PaymentPig Butchering Scams Demanding Gift Card Payments
Some pig butchering scams — especially those targeting less technically confident victims — use gift card demands before transitioning to cryptocurrency, exploiting the same anonymity that makes gift cards attractive to all fraud types.
PaymentTask Scams That Collect Payments via Zelle
Task scammers targeting US victims request Zelle payments for the 'activation deposits' and 'upgrade fees' that characterise task fraud, exploiting the instant, non-reversible nature of Zelle transfers.
PaymentTask Scams That Collect Payments via Venmo
Task scammers use Venmo's familiar peer-to-peer payment interface to collect 'unlock fees' and 'upgrade deposits' from US victims, where the casual app context reduces suspicion compared to a wire transfer.
PaymentTask Scams That Demand Wire Transfer Payments
High-value task scam victims are often asked to make domestic or international wire transfers as deposit amounts escalate, mimicking legitimate business payment processes to extract large sums.
PaymentFake Trading Platforms That Accept Zelle Deposits
Fraudulent trading platforms targeting US users accept Zelle deposits framed as brokerage account funding, exploiting the bank-integrated transfer interface to make the payment feel like a legitimate investment.
PaymentRental Scams That Demand Zelle Payment
Rental scammers increasingly request deposits and first month's rent via Zelle because transfers are instant, cannot be charged back by the sender, and arrive in the scammer's account before the victim can stop them.
PaymentRental Scams That Demand Venmo Payment
Rental scammers target US renters with Venmo deposit requests, leveraging the app's casual familiarity to make fraudulent payments feel like a normal peer-to-peer transaction with a real landlord.
PaymentRomance Scams That Demand Gift Card Payments
Romance scammers use gift card demands when a victim resists wire transfers or cryptocurrency, framing the untraceable payment as an emergency solution that will be 'paid back' once the crisis is resolved.
PaymentRecovery Scams That Demand Gift Card Payment
Fake recovery services target scam victims with promises to retrieve lost funds, then demand gift card payment as an 'administrative' or 'processing' fee before any recovery begins.
PaymentRecovery Scams That Demand Zelle Payment
Recovery fraud operators targeting US victims collect upfront fees via Zelle, presenting the bank-integrated transfer as proof of their legitimate business status while exploiting its irreversibility.
PaymentMarketplace Scams That Demand Gift Card Payment
Marketplace scammers — especially fake buyers and overseas seller scams — frequently demand gift cards as a payment alternative, knowing that codes are anonymous, instant, and untraceable.
PaymentMarketplace Scams That Demand Cryptocurrency Payment
Marketplace scammers use cryptocurrency payment requests to eliminate all buyer and seller protections, making transactions irreversible before the fraud is discovered.
PaymentInvestment Scams That Demand Gift Card Payments
Some investment fraudsters — particularly those targeting less financially experienced victims — request gift cards as an initial investment method, framing the untraceable payment as a simple entry point into a lucrative opportunity.
PaymentInvestment Scams Paid via Wire Transfer
Large-scale investment fraud almost always involves wire transfers — domestic or international — because the amounts involved exceed peer-to-peer app limits and wires carry the veneer of formal business transaction.
PaymentPig Butchering Scams Paid via Cash App
Cash App's peer-to-peer instant transfers and Bitcoin functionality make it a dual-purpose payment tool for pig butchering scammers who first collect deposits as Cash App payments before transitioning to crypto.
PaymentFake Trading Platforms Funded via Cryptocurrency
Fraudulent trading platforms almost universally require cryptocurrency deposits because blockchain transactions are irreversible, cross-border, and cannot be charged back — making them ideal for fraud operators.
CountryPhishing Scams in Australia
Australians face high volumes of phishing attacks impersonating myGov, the ATO, major banks, and Australia Post, with SMS and email phishing among the most reported scam types to Scamwatch.
CountryPhishing Scams in the United Kingdom
UK phishing campaigns impersonate HMRC, Royal Mail, NHS, and high-street banks with sophisticated SMS and email attacks that exploit PAYE tax deadlines, parcel delivery seasons, and NHS appointment confirmations.
CountryPhishing Scams in the United States
US phishing attacks impersonate the IRS, USPS, Social Security Administration, major banks, and popular tech brands — with spear-phishing and business email compromise among the highest-cost variants.
CountryPhishing Scams in India
India's rapid digital financial adoption — driven by UPI, NEFT, and digital banking — has created a large attack surface for phishers impersonating NPCI, major banks, and government tax and pension portals.
CountryPhishing Scams in Canada
Canadian phishing attacks target CRA, Service Canada, Canada Post, and major banks — with tax season and CERB-related campaigns among the highest-volume attacks reported to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
CountryFake Trading Platforms Targeting Australians
Australians lose hundreds of millions of dollars annually to fake trading platforms promoted via social media, celebrity deepfake ads, and WhatsApp groups — ASIC maintains a warning list of unlicensed platforms.
CountryFake Trading Platforms Targeting People in the United Kingdom
The UK's FCA maintains an active warning list of fraudulent trading platforms and has run sustained ScamSmart campaigns, yet UK investors lose hundreds of millions of pounds annually to clone firms and fake brokers.
CountryTask Scams Targeting People in Germany
Task scams operating in German-speaking markets recruit via WhatsApp and Telegram, targeting job-seekers and part-time workers with offers of remote task work paid in cryptocurrency or bank transfer.
CountryTask Scams in Malaysia
Malaysia is a primary source and target market for task scams, with organised crime groups operating from Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru running operations that exploit high youth unemployment and familiarity with digital payments.
CountryTask Scams in South Africa
Task scams targeting South Africans exploit high unemployment by offering credible-sounding remote income through WhatsApp-based 'digital marketing' or 'social media' work, with cryptocurrency payment introduced once trust is established.
CountryCrypto Scams in Germany
Germany's strong tech adoption and large crypto-curious population make it a target for fake exchange scams, deepfake celebrity investment promotions, and BaFin-impersonation fraud.
CountryCrypto Scams in Malaysia
Malaysia's growing crypto adoption is targeted by unlicensed exchanges, pig butchering scams, and fake mining platforms promoted through Malaysian social media and messaging apps.
CountryRomance Scams in Germany
Germany's large online dating user base and cultural openness to international relationships make it a significant target for romance fraud, with losses increasingly involving cryptocurrency and bank wire transfers.
CountryRomance Scams in Malaysia
Malaysia is both a major target and a significant source country for romance fraud, with pig butchering operations actively recruiting Malaysian operators and targeting Malaysian victims through dating apps and social media.
PaymentMarketplace Scams That Demand Zelle Payment
Marketplace scammers request Zelle payment to bypass platform buyer protections, taking advantage of the instant, bank-integrated transfer that cannot be charged back once the seller or buyer disappears.
PaymentRomance Scams That Demand Western Union Transfers
Romance scammers frequently demand Western Union as a payment method because transfers are instant, cash-based, and nearly impossible to reverse, making it a preferred tool for extracting money from victims after a period of emotional grooming.
CountryPhishing Scams Targeting Internet Users in Nigeria
Nigerian internet users face a high volume of phishing attacks targeting bank account credentials, BVN numbers, and mobile money wallets, with criminals using cloned banking portals and SMS spoofing to harvest financial access.
PlatformInvestment Scams Spread Through Nextdoor Communities
Scammers infiltrate Nextdoor neighbourhood groups to promote fake investment schemes, exploiting the platform's community trust and the assumption that neighbours would not deceive one another.
CountryFake Trading Platforms Targeting US Investors
American investors are targeted by fraudulent online trading platforms that mimic legitimate brokerages, display fabricated profits, and block all withdrawals — often discovered only after victims have invested tens of thousands of dollars.
PaymentTask Scams That Pay Out Via MoneyGram
Task scammers occasionally use MoneyGram as a payout mechanism to appear more 'legitimate' than crypto — but victims must first send a deposit or fee before any MoneyGram payout materialises, making the payment method irrelevant to the fraud.
PlatformFake Online Stores Operating Through WeChat
Fraudulent retailers use WeChat's Moments feature and private mini-program shops to sell counterfeit or non-existent goods, exploiting the platform's closed ecosystem where buyer protection is minimal and disputes are difficult to escalate.
CountryPig Butchering Scams Targeting South Africans
Pig butchering investment fraud is growing rapidly in South Africa, where scammers recruit victims via social media and dating apps before steering them toward fake crypto trading platforms denominated in ZAR or USD, often operating out of Southeast Asian scam centres.
PlatformCrypto Scams Spreading Through Twitch Streams
Fraudsters hijack popular Twitch channels or create lookalike streams to broadcast fake celebrity crypto giveaways, using live-stream legitimacy and real-time countdown timers to pressure viewers into sending cryptocurrency to a 'doubling' address.
CountryRental Scams Targeting Property Seekers in Australia
Australian rental seekers — particularly in tight metropolitan markets like Sydney and Melbourne — are targeted by fake listings on Domain, Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace, and Flatmates.com.au, losing bond deposits and first-month rent to scammers who never owned the property.
PaymentFake Tech Support Scams That Demand MoneyGram Transfers
Tech support scammers instruct victims to purchase MoneyGram money orders or initiate transfers to pay for fictional virus removal services, computer protection plans, or account reinstatement fees.
CountryRomance Scams Targeting New Zealanders
New Zealanders are disproportionately targeted by romance and investment hybrid scams — particularly pig butchering — given the country's high internet usage, affluent demographics, and relatively small, trusting online communities.
CountryPhishing Scams Targeting Bank Customers in South Africa
South African banking customers face targeted phishing attacks impersonating FNB, Standard Bank, Absa, Nedbank, and Capitec, with criminals harvesting internet banking credentials, OTPs, and card PINs through fake SMS alerts and cloned login portals.
PlatformMarketplace Scams on Nextdoor: Neighbourhood Trust Exploited
Scammers create or hijack Nextdoor profiles to post fake buy-sell-trade listings, exploiting the platform's neighbourhood verification model to make fraudulent sellers appear more trustworthy than anonymous marketplace contacts.
CountryInvestment Scams Targeting Retail Investors in Germany
German investors are targeted by boiler-room operations, fake crypto trading platforms, and clone firms that impersonate BaFin-regulated brokers, often recruiting victims through social media investment groups and cold calls in German and English.
PaymentCrypto Scams That Use Venmo as a Funding Step
Crypto scammers instruct victims to send funds via Venmo as an intermediate step — either to purchase cryptocurrency on their behalf or as a direct payment for a 'crypto investment account' — exploiting Venmo's social features to create false legitimacy.
CountryFake Parcel Delivery SMS Scams Targeting German Recipients
German consumers receive fraudulent SMS messages impersonating DHL, DPD, Hermes, and Deutsche Post, directing them to phishing pages that harvest payment card details or install malware under the guise of rescheduling a delivery.
PlatformRecovery Scams Targeting Fraud Victims on Reddit
Fake recovery agents monitor Reddit communities focused on fraud, scam victims, and cryptocurrency losses, offering to retrieve lost funds in exchange for upfront fees — a secondary scam that victimises people who have already been defrauded.
PlatformFake Job Offers Spread Through Instagram DMs and Stories
Fraudulent employment offers proliferate on Instagram through Stories ads, Reels, and direct messages, promoting flexible remote work, brand ambassador roles, and social media manager positions that require upfront payments for training kits or certifications.
CountryFake Trading Platforms Targeting Indian Investors
India's retail trading boom has attracted fraudulent platforms that mimic SEBI-registered brokers, recruit through WhatsApp investment groups and Telegram channels, and promise guaranteed returns through fraudulent stock tips, options trading, and crypto schemes.
PlatformRomance Scams Operating Through Bumble
Scammers create convincing Bumble profiles to establish romantic connections before steering victims toward financial requests, fake investment platforms, or emergency money transfers — exploiting Bumble's women-first messaging model to appear non-threatening.
PaymentInvestment Scams That Collect Payments via Apple Pay
Investment scammers increasingly direct victims to fund trading accounts via Apple Pay transfers to individual contacts or merchant accounts, exploiting the payment method's trusted branding to make fraudulent requests appear more credible.
CountryCrypto Scams Affecting Chinese Nationals Domestically and Abroad
Despite mainland China's ban on cryptocurrency trading, crypto scams remain prevalent among Chinese nationals through underground OTC markets, pig butchering operations, and fake mining or staking platforms — with overseas Chinese communities facing particularly high targeting rates.