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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.
PaymentFake Medicare supplement sellers push victims to set up a recurring bank draft for 'premiums' that quietly continues even after the buyer realizes the plan is fake and tries to cancel.
PlatformFabricated LinkedIn profiles built with AI-generated photos and resumes apply for remote roles, using deepfake video and stolen credentials to pass recruiting screens for jobs that give access to sensitive systems.
PlatformDuring live Zoom interviews, a real-time deepfake filter swaps a different person's face and voice onto the candidate's video feed, letting someone other than the actual applicant pass the screening.
PlatformSellers use AI text generators to flood Amazon listings with hundreds of fake five-star reviews written in varied styles, making low-quality or unsafe products look trustworthy to shoppers relying on star ratings.
PlatformFraudsters use AI face-swap tools over live selfie verification on cryptocurrency exchange apps to open accounts under stolen or synthetic identities, bypassing know-your-customer checks meant to block them.
PlatformA fake AI 'customer support assistant' on WhatsApp Business chats naturally with users, answering questions convincingly before steering them toward a phishing link or a direct request for payment details.
BrandA convincing AI chatbot dressed up in a bank's colors, logo, and tone answers questions like a real support assistant, then guides customers into a fake 'secure verification' flow that steals login credentials.
PaymentAI tools generate realistic invoices matching a company's actual formatting and vendor history, then push finance staff to wire payment to a fraudulent account before the fake document is caught.
BrandScammers use AI tools to recreate a familiar supplier's exact invoice branding and tone, exploiting the trust built up with that vendor to slip a fraudulent bill past a company's normal review process.
CountryFraudsters posing as Gas Safe registered engineers cold-call UK households claiming an urgent legally required gas safety inspection is overdue, then charge for unnecessary work or fabricated certificates.
PlatformSellers on Facebook Marketplace advertise 'papered' purebred puppies with registration documents that are forged, recycled from a different litter, or simply invented.
PaymentPuppy sellers who promise registration papers frequently insist on Zelle deposits, exploiting the fact that Zelle payments settle instantly and offer no buyer dispute process.
PlatformInstagram accounts showcasing exotic parrots, tortoises, or snakes offer to 'handle the import permit' for buyers, collecting fees for paperwork that is fabricated or never filed.
PlatformFacebook pages and groups posing as animal rescues post emotional photos of injured or abandoned animals to solicit donations for care that is never provided.
PaymentFake rescue appeals often direct donors to send money via PayPal's 'friends and family' option, which strips away the buyer protection a genuine charity donation would not need but a scam relies on.
PlatformTikTok ads and sponsored videos push cheap 'pet DNA health test kits' that promise breed and disease-risk results but deliver inaccurate reports, spam subscriptions, or nothing at all.
PlatformText messages claiming a parcel is stuck at customs pending a small duty payment lead recipients to fake payment pages that harvest card details.
BrandScammers frequently impersonate the DHL brand in fake customs release messages because DHL's international shipping role makes customs duty stories especially believable.
PlatformReseller and small-business Facebook groups are used to advertise heavily discounted shipping labels generated through compromised or fraudulent courier accounts, which later get voided or clawed back.
PlatformBulk text blasts claiming a package could not be delivered due to an unpaid fee direct recipients to phishing pages designed purely to harvest card data.
BrandThe USPS brand is one of the most frequently impersonated in undelivered package fee smishing texts because nearly every US household regularly expects mail or parcels from it.
PlatformEmails mimicking courier tracking notifications lure recipients into clicking malicious links or attachments disguised as shipment status updates.
BrandFedEx's brand is regularly impersonated in fake tracking update messages because its purple-and-orange logo and delivery notification format are widely recognized and easy to imitate.
PlatformScammers compromise or spoof a freight forwarder's email thread to insert a fraudulent invoice with altered payment details into an ongoing shipping transaction.
PaymentWire transfer is the payment method fraudulent freight forwarding invoices always demand, since it moves large sums quickly across borders with almost no way to reverse it once sent.
BrandScammers impersonate the UPS brand to contact people about a supposed shipment insurance claim, using the promise of a payout to extract fees or banking details.
PlatformCallers claim a certified legal notice or court document is waiting for pickup or delivery and pressure the recipient to pay a fee or share personal details over the phone to 'release' it.
PlatformMessages posing as a delivery app or driver ask customers to send an additional cash tip directly outside the app after the order is already complete, bypassing the platform's real tipping system.
PaymentScammers posing as delivery drivers ask customers to send a follow-up tip through Venmo, using its easy, casual person-to-person transfer style to make an out-of-app request feel normal.
PlatformA Facebook Marketplace buyer sends a payment for more than the agreed price, claiming it covers 'extra shipping,' then asks the seller to refund the difference before the original payment is discovered to be fake or reversible.
BrandMessages impersonating the USPS brand claim a resident's mailbox or mail delivery point must be 'relocated' or 'verified' for a fee, exploiting trust in USPS's role as the default mail carrier.
BrandScammers impersonate the USCIS brand to contact applicants about a pending case status, demanding an unexpected fee to 'unlock' or 'expedite' the outcome.
PlatformCallers posing as USCIS officers tell applicants their case has a problem requiring an immediate fee, using live pressure and spoofed caller ID to push a quick payment.
CountryThird-party websites impersonate the UK's official Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system, charging inflated fees for a service travelers could get directly from the government at the real price.
PlatformPaid Google search ads place unofficial travel authorization websites above official government results, capturing travelers before they find the real, cheaper application page.
PaymentScammers posing as immigration officials or bond agents demand a detained individual's family wire money quickly to secure release, exploiting the panic of a detention situation.
PlatformFake recruiters on LinkedIn offer jobs with visa sponsorship attached, then request upfront fees for 'sponsorship processing' or 'visa filing' that a real employer would never charge a candidate.
PlatformPrivate Facebook groups marketed as immigration support communities are used by brokers to arrange fraudulent marriages for green card purposes, collecting large fees while exposing participants to serious legal risk.
PlatformTelegram groups promote an 'AI trading bot' that supposedly generates guaranteed returns, structured as a referral scheme where existing members earn commissions for recruiting new depositors.
PaymentAI trading bot schemes require deposits in cryptocurrency, exploiting its irreversibility and the difficulty of tracing funds once they move through multiple wallets.
PlatformWhatsApp groups offering 'exclusive' stock or crypto trading signals charge subscription fees and push a recruitment-based commission structure disguised as investment education.
PlatformTikTok influencers showcase extravagant lifestyles supposedly funded by dropshipping success, selling expensive mentorship courses that deliver generic, outdated, or plagiarized content.
PaymentDropshipping mentorship sellers process payment by credit card, often structuring checkout to include hidden recurring charges or upsells that are difficult to notice or cancel.
PlatformFacebook groups built around concert and sports ticket flipping are a common recruiting ground for ticket reselling MLM schemes that push paid 'reseller tiers' rather than real inventory.
PaymentTicket reselling MLM recruiters favor Zelle for enrollment fees because its instant, hard-to-reverse transfers mimic a casual favor between acquaintances rather than a business payment.
PlatformEnergy and utility MLM recruiters use Facebook posts and community groups to frame a deregulated-energy sales pitch as a low-effort income opportunity for friends and family.
CountryEnergy utility MLM recruitment schemes concentrate in U.S. states with deregulated retail electricity markets, where the existence of legitimate competing suppliers gives the pitch a veneer of plausibility.
PlatformFraudsters send text messages impersonating a state motor vehicle department to trick recipients into photographing and submitting their driver's license for identity theft.
BrandScammers impersonate the recognizable DMV brand and logo to lend false authority to fake portals that harvest driver's license images and personal data.
PlatformScammers impersonate Instagram's Meta Verified program through DMs and ads, tricking users into paying fake fees or handing over login credentials for a badge that never arrives.
PlatformScammers exploit confusion around X's paid checkmark system to sell fake 'verification services' or phish account credentials from users trying to get verified.
PlatformScammers pose as Instagram partnership or bonus program representatives, promising Reels creators inflated payouts in exchange for an upfront 'activation' fee or account login.
PlatformFraudsters impersonate YouTube's Partner Program or Shorts fund to lure creators into fake 'early payout' schemes that require a fee or channel login before any money is released.
PlatformScammers hijack or impersonate X accounts, including verified ones, to DM followers with fake crypto giveaways that require sending funds first to 'unlock' a larger return.
PlatformCompromised or cloned Instagram accounts DM followers and comment on posts claiming a crypto giveaway, using the appearance of a trusted friend or public figure's account to lower guard.
PlatformScammers pose as brand marketing teams DMing Instagram users with 'ambassador' offers that require an upfront product purchase, kit fee, or personal financial details.
PlatformScammers target TikTok creators through comments and DMs with fake brand ambassador offers tied to viral trends, requiring an upfront fee before any real partnership exists.
PlatformCompromised Facebook accounts mass-tag friends in comments containing malware links disguised as shocking photos, videos, or 'is this you?' messages.
CountryScammers target U.S. students and families with fake sites and services charging a fee to 'process' or 'guarantee' FAFSA federal financial aid that is actually free to apply for.
PaymentSome fake FAFSA processing schemes escalate from a card-based 'fee' to demanding gift cards for supposed penalties or expedited processing, exploiting the untraceable nature of gift card codes.
CountryScammers target prospective students, especially international applicants to U.S. universities, with fake acceptance letters demanding an enrollment deposit before any real admission occurs.
PaymentFake acceptance letter scammers favor international wire transfers for deposit payments because wires are fast, largely irreversible, and plausible for genuinely overseas university payments.
PlatformScammers list textbook rentals on Facebook Marketplace and campus buy-sell groups at prices below every real rental service, collecting payment for books they never ship.
PaymentTextbook rental scammers push students toward Zelle payments because the instant, hard-to-reverse transfers close off any recourse once a listed book fails to arrive.
PlatformTikTok ads and creator promotions push fake tutoring or study-help subscriptions that auto-renew at high rates and make cancellation deliberately difficult.
PaymentFake tutoring subscriptions rely on stored credit card details to auto-renew at inflated rates long after the advertised trial period, betting that most users won't notice or dispute the charge.
CountryScammers impersonate U.S. federal and state education grant programs, claiming students or families qualify for free money that requires an upfront processing fee to release.
PaymentFake education grant scammers demand gift cards as the 'processing fee' to release supposed government aid, exploiting the untraceable and non-refundable nature of gift card codes.
PlatformScammers list nonexistent apartments and student rooms near popular study-abroad universities on Facebook Marketplace, collecting deposits from students who can't view the property in person.
CountryThe UK's large international student population and competitive university-town rental markets make it a frequent target for fake student housing listings demanding deposits sight unseen.
PlatformScammers post fake internship listings and recruiter messages on LinkedIn demanding a placement or processing fee before an offer is finalized, exploiting the platform's professional credibility.
PaymentFake internship scammers request wire transfers for placement fees because wires are fast and largely irreversible, especially appealing when targeting students relocating for a program.
PaymentScammers send renewal notices for professional certifications demanding immediate credit card payment, exploiting professionals' fear of letting a real credential lapse.
BrandScammers closely copy the branding and official language of professional certification boards to make fraudulent renewal notices indistinguishable at a glance from the real thing.
CountryScammers exploit long waitlists for U.S. federal housing voucher programs like Section 8 by charging fees for fake expedited applications or nonexistent voucher availability.
PlatformScammers use Facebook groups and ads targeting low-income renters to promise fast-tracked housing vouchers or guaranteed landlord matches in exchange for an upfront fee.
PlatformScammers in gaming Discord servers offer discounted or 'free' game platform gift card codes, either delivering invalid codes after payment or stealing funds through a fake generator tool.
PaymentScammers ask victims to pay for discounted game gift card codes using a different retailer's gift card, creating a layered scam where the payment method itself is also untraceable.
PlatformScammers in gaming Discord servers trick users into sharing Steam trade links or session tokens through fake trading bots and 'skin checker' tools, hijacking real trades to steal inventory items.
BrandScammers replicate Steam's login pages and trade interface closely to trick users into handing over credentials or session access under the guise of official Steam trading tools.
BrandScammers impersonate Steam Support to process fake refunds, tricking users into remote access sessions or overpayment schemes disguised as legitimate refund processing.
PlatformScammers pose as game publisher or platform support staff in Discord DMs, offering to process a refund in exchange for remote access or account details that lead to further theft.
PlatformTikTok videos and comment sections promote fake discounted in-game currency top-ups for gacha games, collecting payment through third-party sites that never deliver the promised currency.
PaymentGacha top-up scammers demand payment in the form of unrelated retail gift cards for discounted in-game currency, exploiting how normal it feels for players to already use gift cards for game purchases.
PlatformScammers recruit game testers through Discord DMs and server postings, requiring an upfront equipment or verification fee before any paid testing work materializes.
PaymentFake game tester job scammers ask new hires to wire an upfront 'equipment' or 'software license' fee before any real testing work or pay begins, relying on the irreversibility of wire transfers.
PlatformScammers list hard-to-find gaming console pre-orders or bundles on Facebook Marketplace at below-retail prices, collect payment, and never ship anything.
PaymentSellers of fake console pre-orders push buyers toward Zelle because its bank-to-bank transfers settle instantly and carry no buyer protection or chargeback option.
PlatformFraudulent repair operations buy Google Search ads for terms like 'fridge repair near me' to intercept panicked homeowners before legitimate local businesses appear.
PlatformFake solar companies run Facebook and Instagram ad campaigns promising government rebates and free installations to collect large upfront deposits before vanishing.
PaymentSome solar sales reps insist on a certified check or cashier's check for the deposit, presenting it as 'safer' when it actually removes the homeowner's ability to stop payment.
PaymentDoorstep paving crews claiming to have 'leftover asphalt' from a nearby job insist on immediate cash payment before driving off, leaving homeowners with no receipt or recourse.
PlatformCleaning companies run Facebook ads advertising a flat 'whole house' cleaning price to get technicians in the door, then upsell aggressively once on site.
CountryIn the UK, this scam exploits public awareness of real government-backed energy efficiency schemes, using their names to convince homeowners that free or subsidized window replacement is available.
PlatformFacebook posts and ads claiming homeowners qualify for a government-funded window replacement program collect personal details through lead forms before a sales call pushes a full-price contract.