Focused Scam Guides
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Rental Scams Targeting Property Seekers in Ireland
Ireland's severe housing shortage and high rental prices create a target-rich environment for scammers who post fake listings on Daft.ie, Rent.ie, and Facebook Marketplace, collecting deposits from multiple victims for properties they do not own or control.
PlatformTask Scams Recruiting Through Pinterest Pins and Ads
Pinterest's aspirational content ecosystem is exploited by task scam recruiters who post Pins advertising flexible home income opportunities, directing users to WhatsApp or Telegram groups where advance-fee task fraud is operated.
CountryPig Butchering Investment Scams Targeting German Residents
German residents are targeted by pig butchering operations that present as crypto or forex investment opportunities through social media contacts and dating apps, with platforms mimicking BaFin-regulated brokers to bypass initial suspicion.
PaymentPhishing Scams That Exploit QR Codes for Payment Fraud
Quishing (QR code phishing) tricks victims into scanning malicious QR codes that redirect to fake payment portals or login pages, harvesting bank credentials or directing crypto transfers to scammer wallets — appearing in physical spaces, emails, and social media.
CountryInvestment Scams Targeting Malaysian Investors
Malaysian investors are targeted by Macau scam variants, fake forex and crypto platforms, and pig butchering operations that exploit strong social media usage and high financial aspirations among working-age Malaysians.
PlatformFake Online Partners Operating on Hinge
Scammers create detailed Hinge profiles using AI-generated or stolen photos to establish convincing romantic connections, before steering matches into financial scams including crypto investment, emergency money requests, or advance-fee schemes.
CountryFake Tech Support Scams Targeting Irish Consumers
Irish consumers receive fake Microsoft, Apple, and bank support calls claiming their devices or accounts have been compromised, and are directed to pay for non-existent fixes via gift cards, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency.
PaymentCrypto Scams That Route Payments Through Google Pay
Cryptocurrency scammers direct victims to send Google Pay transfers as an intermediate step in fake investment funding, exploiting the payment method's familiarity and trusted brand to make fraudulent requests appear routine.
CountryFake Parcel Delivery SMS Scams in Malaysia
Malaysian mobile users receive fraudulent delivery notifications impersonating Pos Malaysia, DHL Malaysia, and J&T Express, directing them to phishing sites that harvest banking credentials or install malicious APKs under the guise of parcel tracking.
CountryRental Scams Targeting Property Seekers in Canada
Canadian rental seekers — particularly in Vancouver, Toronto, and Calgary — face a surge of fake listings on Kijiji, Facebook Marketplace, and Craigslist, where fraudsters collect deposits and first-month rent before the victim discovers the property was never theirs to rent.
CountryRecovery Scams Targeting Fraud Victims in Canada
Canadian fraud victims who have lost money to investment, crypto, or romance scams are re-targeted by fake recovery services claiming affiliation with the RCMP, CAFC, or legal firms, charging upfront fees for fund recovery that never occurs.
CountryFake Trading Platforms Targeting Investors in Singapore
Singaporean investors are targeted by fraudulent trading platforms that falsely claim MAS licensing, recruit through Telegram investment groups and social media, and typically form part of larger pig butchering or romance scam operations.
PaymentMarketplace Scams That Demand Apple Pay Cash Payment
Marketplace fraudsters request Apple Pay Cash transfers instead of platform-native payment, bypassing buyer protection and exploiting Apple Pay's trusted brand to make an unsafe payment method feel secure.
CountryRomance Scams Targeting South Africans
South African consumers face romance fraud through Facebook, Instagram, and dating apps, with scammers posing as overseas professionals and quickly steering relationships toward financial requests or fake investment platforms.
CountryPhishing Scams Targeting Bank and MyInfo Accounts in Singapore
Singapore residents are targeted by phishing attacks impersonating DBS, OCBC, UOB, Singpass, and CPF, using SMS spoofing and fake login portals to harvest banking credentials and MyInfo personal data.
PaymentInvestment Scams That Require Cryptocurrency Deposits
Investment scam platforms that mandate cryptocurrency as the only deposit method use the irreversibility and pseudonymity of crypto transfers to eliminate any practical path to recovery once funds are sent.
PlatformFake Sellers and Stores Operating Through Reddit
Scammers operate within Reddit's buy-sell-trade subreddits (r/Knife_Swap, r/GunAccessoriesForSale, r/photomarket, r/Flipping) using aged accounts with fabricated trade histories to sell counterfeit, non-existent, or misrepresented goods.
CountryPig Butchering Investment Scams Targeting People in Ireland
Irish consumers are targeted by pig butchering operations through social media and dating apps, with scammers posing as overseas Irish or European professionals before steering victims toward fake investment platforms using EUR-denominated dashboards.
PaymentWhatsApp Job Scams That Demand Bank Transfer Deposits
Some WhatsApp task job operations request advance deposits via bank transfer — framed as security bonds or training fees — exploiting bank transfer familiarity to appear more legitimate than crypto while still providing no recovery path for victims.
CountryFake Parcel Delivery Scams Targeting Philippine Mobile Users
Philippine mobile users receive fraudulent delivery notifications impersonating LBC Express, J&T Philippines, Lazada, and Shopee logistics, directing them to phishing sites that harvest GCash, Maya, and bank login credentials.
PlatformInvestment Scams Operating Through Signal Channels
Scammers exploit Signal's privacy reputation to create a false sense of exclusivity and security around fake investment groups, using the encrypted platform to evade detection while recruiting victims into advance-fee and pig butchering schemes.
CountryFake Tech Support Scams Targeting New Zealanders
New Zealand consumers receive fake Microsoft, Apple, and bank fraud department calls, as well as pop-up computer scares, that trick victims into paying for non-existent fixes or granting remote access to their devices.
PlatformCrypto Scams Spread Through Facebook Pages and Groups
Facebook's advertising system, Groups, and Pages are exploited by crypto scammers running fake celebrity endorsement ads, fraudulent giveaway campaigns, and pig butchering recruitment operations targeting users across age groups.
CountryRomance Scams Affecting Chinese Nationals at Home and Abroad
Romance scams targeting Chinese nationals operate through WeChat, Tantan, Momo, and international dating apps, with pig butchering operations based in Southeast Asian compounds specifically recruiting Chinese-speaking operators to target Chinese-speaking victims globally.
CountryRental Property Scams Targeting Tenants in India
Rental scams in India's major cities — Bengaluru, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Pune — target relocating professionals and students with fake listings on NoBroker, Housing.com, and Facebook, collecting advance deposits and brokerage fees for properties the scammer does not own or control.
CountryPhishing Scams Targeting GCash, Maya, and Bank Users in the Philippines
Philippine mobile users face high-volume phishing targeting GCash, Maya (PayMaya), BDO, BPI, and Metrobank, using SMS spoofing, Facebook Messenger links, and cloned e-wallet portals to harvest account credentials and OTPs.
CountryCrypto Scams Targeting New Zealand Investors
New Zealand investors face a growing volume of cryptocurrency fraud through fake trading platforms, celebrity endorsement scams on social media, and pig butchering schemes that the FMA has specifically flagged as high-risk for the New Zealand market.
CountryRecovery Scams Targeting Fraud Victims in Nigeria
Nigerian fraud victims — particularly those who lost money to advance-fee, investment, or romance scams — are re-targeted by fake recovery services posing as EFCC investigators, international law firms, or specialised cyber forensics companies.
PaymentTask Scams That Demand Prepaid Card Deposits
Some task scam operations request prepaid Visa or Mastercard numbers as the deposit or payment mechanism, exploiting the cards' anonymity and the victim's assumption that a widely used card type implies legitimacy.
CountryFake Trading Platforms Targeting New Zealand Investors
Fraudulent trading platforms targeting New Zealanders impersonate FMA-regulated brokers or claim to be FMA-licensed to solicit cryptocurrency and forex investments, with the FMA's investor alert list growing consistently as new operations are identified.
PaymentRomance Scams That Collect Payments via Interac E-Transfer
Romance scammers targeting Canadian victims frequently request Interac e-transfer payments for fabricated emergencies, exploiting the payment method's dominance in Canadian peer-to-peer transactions and its lack of chargeback protection once funds are accepted.
PlatformFake Customer Support Scams Operating Through Telegram
Scammers impersonate the official support channels of crypto exchanges, software platforms, and financial services on Telegram, harvesting login credentials, seed phrases, and personal data from users seeking genuine help.
CountryFake Parcel Delivery SMS Scams in South Africa
South African mobile users receive fraudulent delivery notifications impersonating Postnet, Aramex, DHL South Africa, and The Courier Guy, directing them to phishing pages that harvest banking credentials and card details.
PlatformRomance Scams Originating From Meetup Group Interactions
Scammers infiltrate Meetup groups to establish in-community trust before transitioning contact to private messaging, where they build romantic relationships and eventually present financial crises or investment opportunities.
CountryPhishing Scams Targeting Irish Bank and Revenue Customers
Irish consumers are targeted by phishing attacks impersonating AIB, Bank of Ireland, Revolut, Revenue Commissioners, and An Post, using SMS spoofing and cloned login portals to capture banking credentials and Revenue MyAccount access.
PaymentCrypto Scams That Require Wire Transfer Funding
Crypto investment scammers instruct victims to wire large sums to overseas accounts as a 'crypto purchase' step, using the international wire transfer's irreversibility and the procedural legitimacy of bank transactions to extract substantial funds.
CountryFake Tech Support Scams Targeting South African Consumers
South African consumers receive fake Microsoft, Apple, and bank fraud department calls that harvest remote access credentials, OTPs, and banking PINs, sometimes overlapping with 'vishing' operations specifically designed for the South African banking environment.
CountryPig Butchering Investment Scams Targeting Malaysians
Malaysia has become a high-frequency target for pig butchering operations, with Chinese-speaking networks specifically crafting culturally resonant approaches for Malaysian-Chinese victims through WhatsApp, WeChat, and dating apps.
PaymentMarketplace Scams That Insist on Western Union Payment
Sellers on online marketplaces who demand Western Union payment are almost universally fraudulent — the payment method's irreversibility and cash-collection model make it a definitive red flag for any consumer goods transaction.
CountryRental Property Scams Targeting Tenants in Singapore
Singapore's high property costs and competitive rental market attract scammers who post fake HDB and condominium listings on PropertyGuru, 99.co, and Facebook Marketplace, collecting deposits from victims who cannot afford to lose their housing search funds.
CountryFake Parcel Delivery Scams Targeting Chinese Mobile Users
Chinese mobile users receive fraudulent SMS and WeChat messages impersonating SF Express, JD Logistics, Cainiao, and other carriers, directing them to phishing pages that harvest Alipay, WeChat Pay, and bank credentials.
CountryRecovery Scams Targeting Fraud Victims in the Philippines
Filipino fraud victims — particularly those who lost money to task scams, pig butchering, or GCash fraud — are re-targeted by fake recovery services impersonating NBI investigators, BSP officials, or international cybercrime units.
PlatformRomance Scams on Nextdoor
How romance scammers exploit Nextdoor's neighbourhood-trust model to build credibility before pivoting to financial requests.
PlatformInvestment Scams on Twitch
How investment fraudsters use Twitch livestreams, chat raids, and fake influencer accounts to promote fraudulent trading platforms and crypto schemes to a young audience.
PlatformFake Store Scams on Signal
How fraudulent sellers use Signal groups and direct messages to sell non-existent goods, exploiting the app's privacy reputation to evade accountability.
PlatformSeed Phrase Phishing on Discord
How crypto scammers use Discord support impersonation, fake bot prompts, and compromised server announcements to steal wallet seed phrases.
PlatformCounterfeit Goods on Etsy
How counterfeit and misleadingly described goods circulate on Etsy, exploiting the platform's handmade brand to pass off mass-produced or fake items as authentic artisan products.
PaymentRental Deposit Scams via Venmo
How fraudulent landlords pressure renters into paying deposits and first-month rent via Venmo, then disappear — leaving victims with no buyer protection and no property access.
PaymentRecovery Scams via Western Union
How fake fund-recovery services target prior fraud victims by demanding Western Union wire fees to 'release' frozen assets or process a refund that does not exist.
PlatformPhishing Scams on WeChat
How phishing attacks exploit WeChat's mini-programs, QR code sharing, and group chats to steal credentials and payment details from users.
PaymentTask Scams via Google Pay
How task scammers use Google Pay's instant transfers to collect commission deposits and fake upgrade fees from remote workers, then vanish.
PaymentRomance Scams via MoneyGram
How romance scammers steer victims toward MoneyGram wire transfers for financial requests, exploiting its global reach and limited consumer protection.
PaymentAdvance Fee Scams via Bank Transfer
How advance fee fraud operators collect escalating bank transfer payments by promising a large sum that never arrives, leaving victims with irreversible losses.
PaymentFake Trading Platforms: Wire Transfer Deposits
How fraudulent trading platforms accept initial deposits via wire transfer to appear regulated, before transitioning victims to irreversible crypto funding.
CountryRomance Scams in Ireland
How romance scammers target people in Ireland across dating apps, social media, and messaging platforms, with specific patterns reflecting Irish digital habits and financial systems.
CountryInvestment Scams in New Zealand
How investment fraud targets New Zealanders through social media ads, cold-call boiler rooms, and crypto platforms, with reporting routes to FMA and Netsafe.
CountryPhishing Scams in Malaysia
How phishing attacks in Malaysia target Maybank, CIMB, and e-wallet users through fake banking SMS, Macau scam phone calls, and social media impersonation.
CountryFake Tech Support Scams in Germany
How fake tech support scammers target German residents through browser lockscreen alerts, phone calls impersonating Microsoft and Telekom, and remote access schemes.
CountryCrypto Scams in South Africa
How cryptocurrency fraud targets South Africans through high-profile investment schemes, WhatsApp investment groups, and fake exchange platforms.
CountryTask Scams in New Zealand
How task-based job scams recruit New Zealanders via WhatsApp and Telegram, then demand cryptocurrency deposits to unlock commission payouts.
PaymentRomance Scams via Bank Transfer
How romance scammers move victims from emotional grooming to requesting direct bank transfers, and why this payment method is specifically chosen for larger financial requests.
CountrySIM Swap Scams in the United States
How SIM swap fraud operates in the US, targeting crypto holders and high-value account owners by socially engineering mobile carriers to transfer phone numbers.
PlatformFake Airdrop Scams on X (Twitter)
How fake cryptocurrency airdrop scams spread through X using compromised verified accounts, reply spam, and promoted posts to drain wallets.
PlatformMarketplace Seller Scams on Facebook Marketplace
How fraudulent sellers on Facebook Marketplace use fake listings, Zelle and Venmo payment scams, and fake buyer overpayment schemes to defraud both buyers and sellers.
CountryPig Butchering Scams in New Zealand
How pig-butchering investment fraud has emerged as a major threat in New Zealand, with the FMA issuing specific warnings about crypto trading platforms targeting Kiwi investors.
PlatformFake Delivery Texts on Telegram
How parcel delivery phishing scams spread via Telegram messages, using channel forwarding and bot-generated links to harvest card details from recipients.
CountryRental Listing Scams in Germany
How fraudulent rental listings on German platforms like Immoscout24 and WG-Gesucht target apartment hunters with advance payment requests and fake landlord profiles.
PlatformPrize Notification Scams on Email
Fraudulent emails claim the recipient has won a prize from a draw, promotion, or loyalty programme they never entered, then use the claim process to harvest personal data or extract an upfront fee.
PaymentAccount Takeover Scams via Bank Transfer
How fraudsters use account takeover to initiate unauthorised bank transfers, and how push payment fraud via stolen credentials differs from card fraud.
CountryWhatsApp Job Scams in the United Kingdom
How WhatsApp task and job scams target UK residents with commission work offers that escalate into cryptocurrency deposit demands.
CountryFake Arrest Warrant Scams in India
How scammers in India impersonate CBI, ED, TRAI, and courier companies to threaten victims with fake arrest warrants, extorting payments to avoid non-existent legal proceedings.
PlatformSocial Media Shop Scams on TikTok
How fraudulent sellers use TikTok Shop, TikTok LIVE commerce, and influencer-linked storefronts to sell counterfeit or non-existent goods to viewers.
CountryQR Code Scams in Australia
How fraudulent QR codes are used in Australia to redirect payments, steal myGov credentials, and enable fake parking and dining payment fraud.
PaymentCrypto Scams via MoneyGram
How cryptocurrency scammers use MoneyGram transfers to fund crypto purchases that are then sent to scammer wallets, bypassing exchange fraud controls.
PlatformFake Recruiter Scams on LinkedIn
How fraudulent recruiters on LinkedIn use convincing profiles, phantom job listings, and interview processes to harvest personal data or extract fees from job seekers.
CountryRomance Scams in South Africa
How romance scammers target South Africans through dating apps, Facebook, and Instagram, exploiting EFT payment infrastructure and the country's large unbanked population dynamics.
PaymentTask Scams via Bank Transfer
How task scam operators use bank transfer payments to establish legitimacy before pivoting to cryptocurrency deposit demands from remote workers.
CountryInvestment Scams in Singapore
How investment fraud targets Singaporeans through social media ads, messaging app investment groups, and clone firm scams, with SPF and MAS reporting routes.
PaymentFake PayPal Support Scams
How fraudsters impersonate PayPal customer support to redirect refunds, steal account credentials, and install remote access tools during fake billing disputes.
CountryDisaster Relief Scams in the United States
How fraudulent organisations exploit US natural disasters and emergencies to divert charitable donations and impersonate FEMA assistance programmes.
CountryFake Police Scams in Singapore
How scammers impersonate Singapore Police Force officers and government officials to extort payments from residents under threat of arrest or legal proceedings.
PlatformCrypto Giveaway Scams on Instagram
How fake cryptocurrency giveaways spread on Instagram through impersonated celebrity accounts, sponsored posts, and Stories that require sending crypto first to receive more.
PaymentMystery Shopper Scams via Cash App
How fake mystery shopper assignments use Cash App to receive fake overpayment cheques and instruct workers to send funds back via Cash App before discovering the cheque was fraudulent.
CountryFake HMRC Scams in the United Kingdom
How fraudsters impersonate HMRC through phone calls, SMS, and emails to extort tax debt payments or harvest self-assessment login credentials from UK taxpayers.
PaymentRemote Access Scams Targeting Google Pay
How remote access scammers gain control of Android devices to initiate Google Pay transfers, enrol new payment methods, and drain linked bank accounts.
PlatformFake Online Partner Scams on Bumble
How romance scammers exploit Bumble's women-first messaging model to establish credibility before pivoting to financial requests or investment pitches.
CountryInvestment Scams in Canada
How investment fraud targets Canadians through exempt market offerings, social media crypto ads, and affinity group scams, with IIROC and CSA reporting routes.
PlatformCrypto Giveaway Scams on Discord
Fake crypto giveaways flood Discord servers and DMs, promising to double or multiply any cryptocurrency you send to a given wallet. No legitimate project ever requires you to send crypto first to receive more.
PlatformWallet Drainer Scams on Discord
Attackers distribute malicious links through Discord DMs and compromised servers that, when clicked and connected to a crypto wallet, instantly drain all assets. These attacks take seconds and are irreversible.
PlatformFake Game Marketplace Scams on Discord
Scammers impersonate buyers and sellers in gaming-focused Discord servers to steal in-game items, accounts, or real money through fake escrow arrangements and fraudulent item trades.
PlatformFree In-Game Currency Scams on Discord
Bots and users in gaming Discord servers promise free in-game currency or premium items in exchange for account credentials, survey completions, or payments — all of which deliver nothing while stealing data or money.
PlatformPhishing on Discord
Phishing attacks on Discord harvest login credentials, Nitro gift codes, or wallet keys through malicious links sent via DMs, compromised servers, or bots impersonating Discord's own notifications.
PlatformAccount Takeover Scams on Discord
Attackers hijack Discord accounts through phishing, credential stuffing, and social engineering, then use the compromised accounts to scam the victim's friends and server communities.
PlatformFake Charity Scams on Reddit
Fraudulent charity solicitations spread through Reddit posts and DMs, particularly following disasters or viral causes, directing donations to personal wallets or sham organisations.
PlatformPhishing on Reddit
Phishing attacks on Reddit harvest account credentials through fake login pages, malicious links in posts or DMs, and impersonation of Reddit admins or moderators requesting account verification.
PlatformFake Support Calls on Reddit
Scammers pose as tech support agents in Reddit help subreddits or via DM, convincing victims to call fraudulent phone numbers or grant remote access to their devices.