Focused Scam Guides
Page 34 of 42.
Premium Bond Prize Scams via Email
How fraudulent emails impersonate National Savings and Investments (NS&I) to claim recipients have won a Premium Bond prize, then extract fees or banking details to release the funds.
PlatformSecond-Chance Lottery Scams via Email
How fraudulent emails mimic legitimate second-chance lottery promotions to extract ticket submission fees, personal data, or banking details from lottery players.
PlatformWinner Notification Call Scams via Robocalls
How automated robocalls deliver fake prize winner notifications to millions of numbers simultaneously, directing recipients to claim processes that extract fees and personal data.
PlatformFake Raffle Text Scams via SMS
How fraudulent SMS messages claim recipients have won a raffle or prize draw, directing them to click links or call numbers that lead to data harvesting or fee extraction.
PlatformInternational Sweepstakes Advance Fee Scams via Email
How emails claiming recipients have won a foreign lottery or sweepstakes extract escalating advance fees for taxes, customs, legal clearance, and currency conversion before the promised prize.
PlatformPrize Claim Processing Fee Scams via Phone Calls
How phone-based fraudsters posing as prize claim agents demand processing fees, taxes, or insurance payments from apparent winners before releasing prizes that do not exist.
PlatformMail Theft Identity Fraud via Postal Mail
How thieves steal physical mail to harvest identity documents, financial statements, and pre-approved credit offers used to commit identity fraud and open fraudulent accounts.
PlatformCheck Washing Fraud via Postal Mail
How thieves intercept cheques from outgoing mail and chemically alter the payee name or amount, depositing the modified cheque fraudulently while the original sender remains unaware.
PlatformCheck Interception and Diversion via Postal Mail
How fraudsters intercept cheques in transit through the postal network or at the delivery point, diverting them for deposit into fraudulent accounts.
PlatformPackage Redirection Fraud via Postal Mail
How fraudsters redirect in-transit parcels to their own addresses by exploiting delivery update systems, customer service channels, or compromised account access.
PlatformMail Forwarding Abuse Scams via Postal Mail
How fraudsters submit unauthorised change-of-address requests to redirect victims' mail, enabling identity theft and financial fraud while cutting off the victim's receipt of important correspondence.
PlatformCounterfeit Postage Scams via Postal Mail
How fraudulent online sellers and schemes sell fake postage stamps and labels, costing recipients unexpected postage fees and exposing buyers to legal risk.
PlatformFake PO Box Rental Scams via Email
How fraudulent email-marketed PO box and virtual mailbox services collect rental fees for mail addresses that do not exist or forward mail to unsecured or criminal operations.
PlatformGifting Circle and Cash Gifting Schemes on Facebook
How Facebook groups promote cash gifting circles — presented as mutual support networks or women's empowerment schemes — that are mathematically unsustainable pyramid structures.
PlatformForex MLM Recruitment Schemes on Instagram
How multi-level forex trading recruitment schemes use Instagram lifestyle content to recruit victims into paying for trading signals, mentorship packages, and downline recruitment structures.
PlatformTravel Club MLM Schemes on Facebook
How Facebook-promoted travel club memberships disguise multi-level recruitment structures as discounted holiday packages, generating income primarily from new member recruitment rather than genuine travel savings.
PlatformInventory Loading MLM Traps on Facebook
How Facebook-based MLM recruitment encourages distributors to purchase large quantities of product inventory — far beyond retail demand — to achieve rank or bonus thresholds that benefit upline members.
PlatformChain Letter Money Schemes via Email
How email-based chain letter schemes disguise pyramid structures as investment opportunities or mutual support networks, requiring participants to forward money and the letter to recruit new victims.
PlatformFake Affiliate Network Pyramid Scams on Facebook
How Facebook-promoted fake affiliate marketing networks use affiliate business framing to disguise pyramid recruitment structures that charge membership fees and pay primarily for recruiting rather than genuine product sales.
PlatformSubscription Trap Scams via Email
How scammers use email to enrol you in unwanted recurring charges, from fake free-trial confirmations to deceptive unsubscribe links.
PlatformFake Browser Coupon Extension Scams
Malicious browser extensions that pose as coupon or cashback tools to steal credentials, inject ads, and harvest payment details.
PlatformFake Flash Sale Countdown Scams on Instagram
How scammers use Instagram Stories and posts with artificial countdown timers to pressure shoppers into impulse purchases from non-existent stores.
PlatformFake Wholesale Liquidation Scams on Facebook
How scammers use Facebook Groups and Marketplace to sell non-existent wholesale or liquidation pallets, targeting resellers and small business owners.
PlatformFake Pre-Order Scams on Social Media
How scammers create hype for upcoming products on social media, collect pre-order payments, and then vanish before delivering anything.
PlatformFake Warranty Registration Scams via Email
How scammers send fraudulent warranty registration emails after real purchases to harvest personal details and push unnecessary extended-warranty products.
PlatformSocial Commerce Livestream Scams on TikTok
How scammers exploit TikTok Shop livestreams to sell counterfeit goods, pocket payments for items never shipped, and manipulate viewers with fake auction pressure.
PlatformCounterfeit Luxury Goods Scams on Facebook Marketplace
How counterfeit designer handbags, watches, and accessories are sold on Facebook Marketplace using convincing photos and authentication theater.
PlatformFake Charity Product Scams via Email
How scammers use email campaigns promoting charity-branded merchandise to collect donations or product payments that never reach any genuine cause.
PlatformFake Instagram Boutique Scams
How scammers create polished Instagram shop accounts to sell clothing, accessories, or homewares that are never delivered or are cheap counterfeits.
PlatformFake Concert Merchandise Store Scams on Social Media
How scammers create fake official merchandise stores promoted through social media around major tours and events, selling counterfeits or nothing at all.
PlatformGroup Buy Social Commerce Scams on Facebook
How scammers organise group-buy schemes in Facebook Groups to collect pooled payments from multiple buyers, then disappear before delivering any goods.
PlatformTriangulation Fraud on Online Marketplaces
How scammers use stolen credit card data to fulfil your legitimate marketplace order while leaving the true cardholder defrauded and you at risk of chargeback.
PlatformFake Pet Shipping Fee Scams on Facebook
How scammers advertise pets for free or at low cost on Facebook, then extort escalating shipping, insurance, and customs fees from victims.
PlatformLost Pet Reward Scams on Social Media
How scammers respond to lost-pet posts on social media to falsely claim they have found the animal and extract reward money before it becomes clear they do not.
PlatformExotic Pet Sale Scams on Classifieds Sites
How scammers list rare or exotic animals on classifieds platforms to collect payment for creatures that do not exist or cannot legally be sold.
PlatformFake Stud Service Scams on Facebook
How scammers advertise fraudulent dog or cat stud services in Facebook Groups, taking fees from breeders for non-existent or unregistered animals.
PlatformFake Veterinary Crowdfunding Scams on Social Media
How scammers fabricate or exaggerate pet medical emergencies on social media to raise money for non-existent veterinary bills.
PlatformFake Emotional Support Animal Registration Scams Online
How scammers sell worthless ESA certificates and registration documents through official-looking websites, misleading tenants and travellers about their legal standing.
PlatformFake Pet Microchip Registry Scams Online
How scammers operate unofficial microchip databases that accept registration fees but are not linked to any veterinary or rescue lookup network.
PlatformFake Travel-to-Meet-You Scams on Dating Apps
How romance scammers on dating apps create elaborate travel stories and crises to solicit money for flights or travel expenses to visit a victim they have no intention of meeting.
PlatformRomance Recovery Scams via Phone Calls
How scammers cold-call romance fraud victims pretending to be investigators or recovery specialists, extracting further payments in exchange for fake fund-recovery services.
PlatformWidow and Widower Romance Scams on Facebook
How scammers pose as recently bereaved widows or widowers on Facebook to build sympathetic romantic relationships and extract money from lonely adults.
PlatformOnline Matchmaking Agency Scams via Email
How fake or deceptive matchmaking agencies use email to sell expensive membership packages with fabricated profiles and no genuine matching service.
PlatformVisa Sponsorship Romance Scams on Dating Apps
How scammers on dating apps build romantic relationships and then request financial help to cover visa or immigration sponsorship fees that do not exist.
PlatformPsychic Romance Guidance Scams via Email
How fraudulent psychics use personalised email sequences to convince lonely adults they can predict or restore romantic love, extracting ongoing payments for useless readings.
PlatformMilitary Deployment Leave Fee Scams on Facebook
How scammers pose as deployed military personnel on Facebook to build romance and then request fees to fund emergency leave travel to visit their partner.
PlatformOnline Marriage Visa Fee Scams on Dating Apps
How scammers on dating apps propose marriage quickly and then request payment for fabricated marriage visa, legal, or registration fees.
PlatformFake Medical Emergency Scams on Facebook
How scammers fabricate sudden medical crises on Facebook — through direct messages or crowdfunding posts — to extract urgent money from friends, family connections, and strangers.
PlatformHard-to-Cancel Subscription Scams via App Stores
How deceptive apps use confusing app store subscription flows to lock users into recurring charges that are difficult to identify and cancel.
PaymentGrey Charge Recurring Scams via Bank Transfer
How small, obscurely labelled recurring bank debits accumulate unnoticed, originating from deceptive authorisations that victims signed without understanding they were agreeing to ongoing charges.
PlatformAuto-Renewal Surprise Scams via Email
How deceptive auto-renewal schemes send late or misleading renewal notices by email, ensuring the charge is processed before the customer can cancel.
PlatformFake Unsubscribe Link Scams via Email
How scammers embed fraudulent unsubscribe links in spam emails that confirm your address is active, harvest credentials, or silently enrol you in additional marketing.
PlatformMembership Club Billing Scams via Email
How fake or deceptive membership clubs enrol consumers via email offers and bill them repeatedly for access to benefits that are worthless, inaccessible, or non-existent.
PlatformJuice Jacking Scams at Public Charging Points
How tampered public USB charging stations can install malware or extract data from connected devices while appearing to simply charge them.
PlatformEvil Twin Wi-Fi Scams on Public Networks
How attackers set up fake Wi-Fi hotspots with names identical to legitimate public networks to intercept traffic and steal credentials from connected devices.
PlatformMalicious Browser Extension Scams
How attackers distribute harmful browser extensions through stores and third-party sites to steal data, hijack sessions, and inject advertising into every page you visit.
PlatformUSB Baiting Scams in Public Spaces and Workplaces
How attackers leave infected USB drives in car parks, offices, and public areas hoping someone will plug them in and inadvertently launch malware.
PlatformMFA Push Bombing Scams via Phone Calls
How attackers flood a victim's authentication app with approval requests then call them posing as tech support to convince them to approve access.
PlatformFake Data Removal Service Scams via Email
How fraudulent data broker removal services charge ongoing fees for automated opt-out processes that consumers can perform themselves for free.
PlatformFake Wi-Fi Captive Portal Scams on Public Networks
How attackers create fraudulent captive portal login pages on rogue Wi-Fi hotspots to harvest email addresses, passwords, and payment card details.
PlatformCredential Stuffing Attacks Delivered via Email
How attackers use leaked email-password combinations from data breaches to access accounts at scale, often announcing their success through extortion emails.
PlatformBanking Trojan and Infostealer Scams via Email
How malware delivered through email attachments and links harvests banking credentials, card details, and session cookies from infected devices.
PlatformMalicious APK Sideloading Scams via Phone Calls
How scammers use phone calls to convince Android users to install malicious APK files outside the Play Store, granting attackers remote control of the device.
PlatformAdversary-in-the-Middle Session Theft Scams via Email
How phishing emails direct victims to attacker-controlled proxy sites that capture live authentication sessions and bypass multi-factor authentication in real time.
PlatformData Breach Extortion Scams via Email
How scammers send threatening emails claiming to have obtained your personal data from a breach and demanding payment to prevent its publication or misuse.
PlatformPhone Upgrade Contract Scams via Phone Calls
How scammers impersonate telecom providers over the phone to lock consumers into fraudulent upgrade contracts, port their numbers, or obtain device insurance payouts.
PlatformRoaming Data Top-Up Scams via SMS
How scammers send fake carrier SMS alerts about roaming data exhaustion to collect payment for top-ups that are never applied to the real account.
PlatformLost Phone Insurance Claim Fraud via Phone Calls
How scammers pose as phone insurance or carrier representatives to collect excess payments for fraudulent insurance claims or block legitimate claims to harvest sensitive details.
PlatformTelecom Cramming Charges on Phone Bills
How unauthorised third-party charges for subscriptions and services are added to phone bills without the customer's genuine consent.
PlatformeSIM Swap Fraud via Phone Calls
How fraudsters use social engineering calls to convince carrier staff to transfer a victim's number to an eSIM they control, then intercept all calls and SMS including two-factor authentication codes.
PlatformOne-Ring Wangiri Callback Scams via Phone Calls
How scammers make single-ring calls from international premium-rate numbers, hoping the recipient will call back and incur high per-minute charges.
PlatformHotel Phishing Scams via Email
How scammers send fake hotel booking confirmation and payment-update emails to harvest card details from travellers who believe they are managing a real reservation.
PlatformFake Visa Services Scams via Email
How fraudulent visa application services use email to intercept travellers researching visas, charge unnecessary fees, and process applications that are never submitted.
PlatformFake Travel Insurance Scams via Email
How fraudulent travel insurance emails sell worthless policies that provide no real cover, leaving travellers unprotected when they most need it.
PlatformFake Ticket Scams on Social Media
How scammers sell fake, invalid, or non-existent event tickets through social media, targeting buyers for sold-out events at elevated prices.
PlatformFake Travel Points and Miles Scams via Email
How phishing emails impersonate airline and hotel loyalty programmes to harvest account credentials and steal accumulated points or miles.
PlatformFake Passport Renewal Scams via Email
How fraudulent passport renewal services use email to intercept applicants with official-looking forms, charging unnecessary fees and risking the loss of sensitive identity documents.
PlatformFake Cruise Deal Scams via Email
How fraudulent cruise deal emails offer deep-discount packages that either do not exist or come with hidden conditions that make the headline price unachievable.
PlatformFake Travel Agency Scams via Email
How fraudulent travel agencies use email marketing to sell package holidays, flights, or hotel bookings that are never confirmed with the actual suppliers.
PlatformFake Vacation Rental Host Scams on Facebook
How scammers advertise non-existent or unavailable vacation rental properties on Facebook and direct-pay platforms to collect deposits from holidaymakers.
PlatformFake Global Entry and TSA PreCheck Scams via Email
How fraudulent websites and emails charge unnecessary fees for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or equivalent trusted traveller programme applications that applicants can submit for the official government fee alone.
PlatformFake Lost Luggage Compensation Scams via Email
How scammers target travellers with delayed or lost baggage by sending fake airline compensation emails that collect personal details and bank information under the guise of processing a claim.
PlatformFake Car Rental Deposit Scams on Booking Sites
How fraudulent car rental operators and misleading deposit practices leave travellers without vehicles or facing unexpected deductions from deposit holds.
PlatformFake Event Travel Package Scams via Email
How scammers sell non-existent travel packages bundling accommodation, transport, and tickets to major events, collecting full payment before delivering nothing.
CountryHoliday Club and Timeshare Presentation Scams in the UK
How high-pressure holiday club and timeshare presentations in the UK trap consumers into expensive long-term contracts for memberships with minimal real-world value.
PlatformFake Airbnb Host Deposit Scams on Booking Sites
How scammers impersonate Airbnb or other short-let platform hosts to collect security deposits outside the platform's payment system, then disappear.
PlatformFlight Upgrade Offer Scams via Email
How scammers send fake airline upgrade offer emails to collect payment card details or loyalty programme credentials under the cover of a legitimate-seeming seat improvement.
PlatformFake Energy Broker Scams via Phone Calls
How scammers posing as energy brokers or comparison service agents over the phone switch households to higher-cost tariffs or charge commission fees without providing a genuine service.
PlatformFake Utility Rebate Scams via Phone Calls
How scammers pose as utility companies or government agencies over the phone to collect banking details under the cover of processing a refund or rebate.
PlatformSmart Meter Scams at the Doorstep
How scammers pose as smart meter installation engineers to gain entry to homes, charge for unnecessary or non-existent work, or steal from properties.
PlatformFake Water Quality Scams at the Doorstep
How doorstep scammers exploit anxiety about tap water quality to sell expensive and unnecessary filtration equipment or service contracts.
PlatformGreen Grant Scams via Phone Calls
How scammers impersonate government green energy schemes over the phone to charge upfront fees for grants that do not exist or to gather personal data for identity fraud.
PlatformFake Broadband ISP Scams via Phone Calls
How scammers impersonate broadband providers over the phone to switch customers to inferior contracts, collect router deposit fees, or install remote access malware under the guise of technical support.
PlatformFake Boiler Cover Scams via Phone Calls
How scammers sell worthless boiler cover policies over the phone that collect premiums but deny or ignore all claims.
PlatformFake Meter Reading Scams at the Doorstep
How doorstep callers pose as meter readers to gain access to homes, charge for non-existent services, or carry out distraction theft.
PlatformFake Tree Removal Doorstep Scams
How rogue traders arrive at the door claiming a tree poses an urgent safety risk, collect large upfront payments for removal, and perform inadequate work or disappear.