Focused Scam Guides
Page 38 of 42.
Fake Google Business Verification Scam Impersonating the Google Business Profile Brand
Scammers impersonate Google Business Profile's official verification and support communications to trick owners into paying fees or handing over account access.
PlatformFake Google Business Verification Scam via Phone Calls
Scammers cold-call business owners claiming to be from Google, using urgency about listing suspension to extract verification codes or payment over the phone.
PlatformMerchant Payment Processor Scam via Phone Calls
Cold callers posing as payment processing representatives pressure small business owners into switching processors or paying fees based on fabricated rate comparisons.
PaymentMerchant Payment Processor Scam via ACH Transfer
Scammers posing as payment processors obtain business bank account and routing numbers, then initiate unauthorized ACH withdrawals framed as fees or equipment charges.
PlatformFake Business Loan & Grant Scam on Facebook
Facebook ads and groups promise guaranteed small business loans or 'free' government grants, then charge upfront fees for financing that never materializes.
PaymentFake Business Loan & Grant Scam via Wire Transfer
Fraudulent lenders demand wire transfers for 'insurance,' 'collateral,' or 'tax' fees before releasing a promised business loan or grant that never exists.
PlatformDirectory Listing Subscription Scam via Phone Calls
Cold callers convince business owners to 'confirm' or 'renew' a business directory listing, quietly enrolling them in an expensive recurring subscription.
PaymentDirectory Listing Subscription Scam via Credit Card
Directory scammers rely on recurring credit card charges that continue quietly for months because small monthly fees often go unnoticed on business statements.
CountryFake Tax Registration & Compliance Scam in the United States
Scammers exploit US business owners' unfamiliarity with EIN registration, state annual reports, and IRS correspondence to charge fake compliance fees.
PaymentBusiness Overpayment Refund Scam via Cashier's Check
A 'customer' sends a small business a cashier's check for more than the agreed amount, then asks for the difference back before the bank discovers the check is fake.
PlatformFake Cell Tower Lease Scam on Facebook Marketplace
Scammers use Facebook Marketplace and local buy-sell groups to pose as telecom site-acquisition agents offering to lease rural or roadside land for a cell tower that will never be built.
PaymentFake Cell Tower Lease Scam via Wire Transfer
Fraudulent tower-lease brokers ask landowners to wire an upfront 'application' or 'survey' fee, then disappear with the money once the transfer clears.
PlatformNumber Neighbor Spoofing Scam via Robocalls
Automated dialing systems spoof caller ID to show a number that shares your area code and first three digits, exploiting the instinct to answer calls that look local.
CountryNumber Neighbor Spoofing Scam in the United States
US phone numbers' predictable area-code-plus-prefix structure makes neighbor spoofing especially effective at getting recipients to answer unknown calls.
CountryFake Do Not Call Registry Scam in the United States
Scammers impersonate the US National Do Not Call Registry, calling consumers to charge a fake 'registration fee' or threaten fines for a free government service.
PaymentFake Do Not Call Registry Scam via Gift Cards
Scammers impersonating the Do Not Call Registry pressure victims into buying gift cards to pay a fake registration fee or avoid a fabricated non-compliance fine.
PlatformRigged Online Casino Scam on Telegram
Telegram channels promote unlicensed online casinos with manipulated game outcomes, using fake win screenshots and paid group admins to lure depositing players.
PaymentRigged Online Casino Scam via Cryptocurrency
Unlicensed crypto casinos accept irreversible cryptocurrency deposits, then manipulate odds or freeze withdrawals once a player's balance grows.
PlatformFake Sports Betting Site Scam on Facebook
Facebook ads and fan-page posts promote fake sports betting sites with inflated odds and welcome bonuses, luring bettors into depositing on unlicensed platforms.
PaymentFake Sports Betting Site Scam via Bank Transfer
Fake betting sites push bettors toward direct bank transfers instead of card payments, avoiding chargeback protections while collecting deposits into accounts that quickly disappear.
PlatformBetting Tipster Guaranteed Wins Scam on Telegram
Paid Telegram tipster channels promise 'guaranteed' or 'VIP' betting tips with fabricated track records, charging subscription fees for picks that perform no better than chance.
PlatformMatched Betting Course Scam on Instagram
Instagram influencers sell overpriced 'matched betting' courses promising risk-free profit from bookmaker bonuses, often reselling free public information or oversimplifying real risks.
PlatformFixed Match Tip Scam on WhatsApp
Scammers use WhatsApp groups to sell supposedly 'fixed' sports match outcomes, collecting payment for insider information that does not exist.
PaymentCasino Bonus Clawback Scam via E-wallet
Online casinos process winnings into e-wallets, then invoke obscure bonus terms to reverse or seize the balance right before a player can withdraw to their bank.
PaymentCrypto Casino Rug Pull Scam via Cryptocurrency
New crypto casinos collect deposits in a native or partner token, build up a deposit pool, then vanish with the funds in a coordinated rug pull.
PlatformCrypto Casino Rug Pull Scam on Discord
Discord servers built around a new crypto casino use fake hype, giveaways, and role-based trust signals to drive deposits before the operators vanish.
PlatformFantasy Sports Entry Fee Scam on Facebook
Facebook groups and ads promote unofficial fantasy sports leagues with cash entry fees and inflated prize pools, then vanish once entries have been collected.
PlatformBetting Arbitrage Software Scam on YouTube
YouTube ads and 'case study' videos promote betting arbitrage software claiming automated, risk-free profit, charging for tools that underperform or don't work as advertised.
PlatformObituary and Death Notice Phishing Scam on Facebook
Scammers monitor Facebook condolence posts and shared obituaries to identify grieving families, then send phishing messages posing as funeral homes, charities, or 'memorial page' verification services.
PlatformGrief Medium and Psychic Scam on Instagram
Fraudulent 'mediums' use Instagram ads and DMs targeting recently bereaved users with promises of messages from deceased loved ones, escalating to paid readings and ongoing subscription charges.
PaymentGrief Medium and Psychic Scam Paid via Zelle
Fraudulent mediums push grieving clients toward Zelle for reading fees and 'spiritual clearing' payments because it settles instantly with no buyer protection or chargeback option.
PaymentDeceased Debt Collection Scam Paid via Zelle
Fake debt collectors contact grieving relatives claiming the deceased owed money and pressure them to 'settle the estate debt' immediately using Zelle, which offers no chargeback once sent.
BrandMemorial Crowdfunding Scam Impersonating the GoFundMe Brand
Scammers create fraudulent fundraisers that mimic the look of GoFundMe or clone its branding entirely on lookalike sites, soliciting donations for a funeral that either doesn't exist or that they have no connection to.
PlatformMemorial Crowdfunding Scam on Facebook
Scammers share fabricated or hijacked memorial fundraiser links across Facebook groups and pages, relying on the platform's rapid sharing to outrun any fact-checking before donations start rolling in.
PaymentTombstone and Headstone Deposit Scam Paid via Bank Transfer
Fake monument dealers collect a large upfront bank transfer deposit for a custom headstone that is never engraved or delivered, then disappear or stop responding once payment clears.
CountryRepatriation and Body Transport Scam Targeting Families in Thailand
Scammers exploit the confusion families face when a relative dies while traveling or living in Thailand, posing as repatriation agents or embassy-linked fixers who demand large upfront fees to 'release' and fly the body home.
PaymentRepatriation and Body Transport Scam Paid via Wire Transfer
Scammers demand international wire transfers to 'release' or fly home a deceased relative's remains, exploiting the payment method's speed and irreversibility across borders.
PaymentEstate Account Unlock Fee Scam Paid via Wire Transfer
Scammers posing as bank or estate administration staff claim a deceased relative's frozen account can only be 'unlocked' after a wire transfer fee is paid, a step no legitimate bank ever requires.
PlatformIn-Memory Charity Donation Scam on Facebook
Scammers create fake 'in memory of' charity fundraiser posts on Facebook, using a real death notice as the emotional hook while routing donations to accounts unconnected to any actual charity.
BrandIn-Memory Charity Donation Scam Impersonating the Red Cross Brand
Scammers name a widely trusted organization like the Red Cross as the requested memorial charity, then route donations through an unaffiliated link that has nothing to do with the real organization.
CountryNext of Kin Banking Inheritance Scam Targeting the United Kingdom
Scammers contact UK residents claiming to represent a bank or solicitor handling a deceased relative's dormant account or unclaimed estate, demanding fees before releasing supposed inheritance funds.
PaymentNext of Kin Banking Inheritance Scam Paid via Wire Transfer
Scammers demand international wire transfers to release a fabricated inheritance from a distant or unknown relative, using the payment method's cross-border speed to collect fees before disappearing.
PaymentProbate Advance Loan Scam Paid via Bank Transfer
Fraudulent lenders offer heirs a fast cash advance against a pending inheritance, then demand upfront bank transfer fees or extract hidden repayment terms far worse than the estate's actual value.
PlatformCarer Allowance Application Scam on Facebook
Facebook groups for carers and disability support are targeted with posts and ads offering to 'fast-track' carer allowance applications for an upfront fee, often taking payment and personal data without ever filing anything.
PaymentWinter Fuel Payment Scam via SMS Links
Text messages claiming a winter fuel payment is 'pending' or requires 'confirmation' direct recipients to a fake portal that harvests banking details under the pretense of releasing the payment.
PlatformStimulus Relief Payment Scam on Facebook
Facebook posts and ads announce 'new' stimulus or relief payments and direct users to fake claim forms designed to steal personal and banking information.
PlatformBenefit Reactivation SMS Scam
Text messages warn that a recipient's benefits have been 'suspended' or 'deactivated' and must be reactivated by clicking a link and entering personal or banking details.
PaymentCouncil Tax Refund Phishing Scam via Email
Emails claiming a council tax overpayment refund is due direct recipients to a fake council portal that captures banking details rather than issuing any refund.
PlatformProsperity Gospel Seed Money Scam on Facebook
Facebook pages and livestreams run by self-styled preachers urge followers to send 'seed money' offerings, promising that God will multiply the gift into financial breakthroughs — money that instead funds the operator's lifestyle.
PaymentFake Tithing Donation Portal Scam via Payment Apps
Fraudulent donation portals mimicking a church's real online giving page route tithes to peer-to-peer payment app accounts controlled by scammers instead of the congregation's actual bank account.
PlatformMissionary Support Fraud Scam on Facebook
Fake missionary profiles and pages on Facebook solicit ongoing financial support for overseas ministry work that does not exist, using stolen photos and fabricated updates to sustain the deception.
PlatformPilgrimage Travel Package Scam on Facebook
Facebook ads and group posts advertise discounted pilgrimage travel packages to religious sites that are never delivered, taking deposits or full payment before disappearing.
PaymentChurch Building Fund Scam via Crowdfunding Sites
Fake or exaggerated church building or renovation campaigns on crowdfunding platforms collect donations for construction projects that are never completed — or never begun.
PlatformFaith Healing Donation Scam on Facebook
Facebook livestreams and pages run by self-proclaimed healers solicit donations in exchange for remote prayer or 'healing' for viewers' medical conditions, exploiting desperation around illness.
PaymentClergy Emergency Gift Card Scam via Text Message
Scammers impersonate a pastor or priest by text message, claiming an urgent personal emergency and asking a congregant to urgently buy gift cards on their behalf, then send the codes.
PlatformReligious Affinity Investment Scam on Facebook
Fraudsters use shared faith identity in Facebook groups to promote investment schemes marketed as 'faith-based' or 'Christian' opportunities, exploiting trust within the religious community to bypass normal skepticism.
PlatformFake Zakat Collection Scam on Facebook
Fraudulent pages and profiles solicit Zakat donations on Facebook during Ramadan and other giving periods, claiming to distribute funds to the needy while diverting the money to personal accounts.
PaymentBlessing Money Swap Scam via In-Person Cash Exchange
A con artist approaches a target in person claiming a religious ritual requires swapping 'blessed' money for the victim's real savings, then switches the bag or envelope to walk away with the cash.
PlatformHoly Relic Sale Scam on Online Marketplaces
Sellers on online marketplaces list fabricated or mundane objects as authentic holy relics — pieces of scripture, saints' artifacts, or blessed items — charging high prices for items with no genuine provenance.
PaymentTelevangelist Donation Phishing Scam via Email
Phishing emails impersonating well-known televangelist ministries ask viewers to 'update' donation payment details or claim a special prayer request requires an urgent gift, harvesting card details instead.
PlatformReligious Scholarship Fee Scam on Facebook
Facebook posts and pages advertise scholarships for religious education or seminary study that require an upfront 'processing' or 'registration' fee before any funds are supposedly released — funds that never arrive.
PlatformFake VIP Meet-and-Greet Scam on Instagram
Scammers use Instagram DMs and comment sections around tour announcements to sell VIP meet-and-greet packages that were never allocated to them and do not exist.
PaymentFake VIP Meet-and-Greet Scam via Zelle
Sellers of fake VIP meet-and-greet packages often insist on Zelle because the transfer is instant, hard to reverse, and carries no purchase-protection guarantee.
PlatformSporting Event Ticket Scam on Facebook Marketplace
Facebook Marketplace's local, informal listing format makes it a favorite spot for sellers to list sporting event tickets they don't have, or the same ticket to multiple buyers.
PaymentSporting Event Ticket Scam via Venmo
Ticket scammers ask buyers to pay by Venmo's 'friends and family' option specifically because it strips away the purchase protection that Venmo's goods-and-services option would provide.
PlatformQR Code Ticket Transfer Scam via SMS Text Messages
Scammers send text messages with a QR code or transfer link claiming to hand over a purchased ticket, but the code is fake, expired, or leads to a credential-harvesting page.
BrandQR Code Ticket Transfer Scam Impersonating the Ticketmaster Brand
Scammers spoof Ticketmaster's real transfer emails and app design to trick buyers into scanning fake QR codes or logging into cloned pages, impersonating the well-known brand to look legitimate.
PlatformFan-to-Fan Resale Fraud Scam on Craigslist
Craigslist's anonymous, no-account-needed listing format makes it a common ground for fan-to-fan ticket resale posts where the seller collects payment and disappears without ever transferring a real ticket.
PlatformFake Ticket Marketplace Scam on Google Search Results
Fraudulent ticket resale websites buy paid search ads and optimize for common event-name searches so they rank above or alongside legitimate marketplaces, tricking buyers who assume a top search result must be trustworthy.
BrandFake Ticket Marketplace Scam Impersonating the StubHub Brand
Fraudulent sites copy StubHub's logo, layout, and buyer-guarantee language to look like the real resale marketplace, impersonating the well-known brand to sell tickets that don't exist.
PlatformSeason Ticket Transfer Scam on Facebook Groups
Team and stadium fan Facebook Groups are a common venue for season-ticket-holder scams, where a poster claims to be transferring unused seats but disappears once payment is sent.
CountryTheatre Show Ticket Scam in the United Kingdom
West End and touring UK theatre tickets are a frequent target for resale fraud, with fake sellers exploiting popular sold-out shows and international tourists unfamiliar with the local ticketing landscape.
PlatformFake Charity Gala Ticket Scam via Email
Scammers send email invitations for charity galas that borrow the name and cause of a real or plausible-sounding organization, selling tickets to an event that either doesn't exist or never sees a cent go to charity.
PaymentConference Registration Scam via Wire Transfer
Fake conference organizers request registration fees by wire transfer specifically because it's difficult to reverse and doesn't require the kind of verifiable business account a real event would typically hold.
PlatformTheme Park Discount Ticket Scam on Facebook Ads
Fraudulent theme park ticket sellers run paid Facebook ads offering steep discounts on admission, collecting payment for passes that are invalid, duplicated, or simply never delivered.
PlatformWristband Upgrade Scam on Instagram
Around festivals and multi-day events, scammers use Instagram DMs and event hashtags to sell fake wristband upgrades — VIP access, extra-day passes, or backstage areas — that don't correspond to any real allocation.
PlatformLast-Minute Ticket Pressure Scam on Facebook Marketplace
Scammers list 'day-of' or last-minute tickets on Facebook Marketplace and deliberately compress the buying window so victims skip normal verification steps out of fear of missing the event entirely.
PlatformFake Agency Content Recruitment Scam on Instagram
Scammers pose as talent or modeling agencies in Instagram DMs, offering creators fake representation deals that lead to upfront fees or stolen content instead of real work.
PlatformFake Agency Content Recruitment Scam on Telegram
After an initial contact elsewhere, scammers herd creators into Telegram groups run by fake agencies, where the lack of identity verification lets them run the same recruitment script on dozens of targets at once.
PlatformCreator Chargeback Blackmail Scam on OnlyFans
A buyer purchases content on OnlyFans, then threatens the creator with a fraudulent chargeback dispute unless given a refund or extra free content.
PaymentCreator Chargeback Blackmail Scam via Credit Card Chargebacks
Scammers weaponize the credit card dispute system itself, using the 60-to-120-day chargeback window as a threat to extort content creators after a purchase.
PaymentTip Menu Overpayment Scam via Cash App
A buyer sends a faked or reversible Cash App payment that looks larger than the tip menu price, then asks the creator to refund the 'overpayment' before the original payment fails or is reversed.
PlatformTip Menu Overpayment Scam on OnlyFans
A buyer claims to have overpaid a creator's tip menu using an external payment app, then pressures the creator to send back the difference before OnlyFans's payout delay lets them verify anything.
PlatformFake Brand Sponsorship Creator Scam on Instagram
A DM from a supposed brand offers a creator a paid sponsorship deal, then asks for a small upfront fee for 'shipping' or 'contract processing' before vanishing.
PlatformImpersonated Creator Account Scam on Instagram
A cloned Instagram account using a creator's stolen photos follows their real fans and offers fake 'exclusive' content or discounted subscriptions to collect payment for nothing.
BrandImpersonated Creator Account Scam Using the OnlyFans Brand
Scammers build fake sites or checkout pages that copy OnlyFans's own branding, tricking fans into entering payment details on a phishing page disguised as the platform itself, not just as a single creator.
PlatformFake Verification Payout Hold Scam on OnlyFans
A message posing as OnlyFans support claims a creator's payout is on hold pending a 'verification fee' or ID re-upload through a phishing link, mimicking the platform's real onboarding checks.
PaymentFake Verification Payout Hold Scam via Wire Transfer
A fee to 'unlock' a supposedly held creator payout is demanded via wire transfer, exploiting the irreversibility of wires and fake bank details presented as the platform's payment processor.
CountryAdult Webcam Studio Recruitment Scam in the Philippines
Recruitment ads targeting jobseekers in the Philippines promise webcam modeling income, but some in-person 'studios' confiscate documents and trap workers in manufactured debt.
PlatformAdult Webcam Studio Recruitment Scam on Facebook
Fake modeling agency pages and groups on Facebook recruit jobseekers with staged success stories and stolen photos, funneling them toward in-person studios with exploitative terms.
PaymentFake Hacked Webcam Bluff Scam via Bitcoin
A sextortion email demands Bitcoin payment to a specific wallet, using an old leaked password as fake proof of a webcam hack that never actually happened.
PlatformFake Gadget & Device Insurance Scam on Instagram
Scammers run Instagram ads and DM pitches for phone, laptop, and gadget insurance plans that collect a premium then vanish, leaving buyers with no real cover when a device breaks or is stolen.
BrandFake Gadget Insurance Scam Impersonating the AppleCare Brand
Fraudulent sellers copy the look and language of AppleCare and similar manufacturer warranty programs to sell fake extended coverage that pays out nothing when a device is damaged or lost.
PaymentInsurance Reinstatement Fee Scam Paid via Gift Cards
Callers claiming a lapsed insurance policy can be reinstated pressure victims into paying an urgent 'reinstatement fee' with retail gift cards, a payment method no legitimate insurer ever accepts.
PlatformInsurance Reinstatement Fee Scam via SMS Text Messages
Text messages warning that an insurance policy has lapsed push recipients toward a phishing link or callback number to pay a fake reinstatement fee before coverage is supposedly canceled.
CountryFake Medicare Supplement Plan Scam in the United States
During Medicare enrollment periods, scammers across the United States pitch fake Medigap or supplement plans by phone, mail, and door-to-door visits, collecting premiums for coverage that doesn't exist.