Focused Scam Guides
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Fake Carrier Bill Overdue Disconnect Scam on SMS
Scammers send text messages impersonating a mobile carrier, claiming an overdue bill will cause service disconnection within hours unless the recipient pays immediately through a link.
PaymentFake Carrier Bill Overdue Disconnect Scam via Gift Cards
In phone call variations of this scam, callers claiming to be from a carrier's billing department demand overdue payment through gift cards, since gift card codes function like untraceable cash once shared.
PlatformPhone Unlocking Service Scam on eBay
Sellers on eBay list carrier phone unlocking services for a flat fee, collect payment through the listing, and either deliver nothing or a code that doesn't actually unlock the device.
BrandPhone Unlocking Service Scam Impersonating Carrier Brands
Scammers build fake websites and ads that impersonate the branding of major mobile carriers, claiming to be an 'official partner' unlocking service to appear more trustworthy.
PlatformGambling Loss Recovery Scam on Telegram
Recovery scammers operate through Telegram channels and direct messages, targeting people who have posted about gambling losses elsewhere online with promises to recover their money for an upfront fee.
PaymentGambling Loss Recovery Scam via Cryptocurrency
Fake fund recovery services insist gambling loss recovery fees must be paid in cryptocurrency, exploiting its irreversibility to guarantee the fee is never seen again.
PlatformFake Poker App Bot Scam on Mobile App Stores
Apps listed on mobile app stores claim to offer an automated 'bot' that plays poker for the user and guarantees winnings, but instead collect a subscription fee or in-app purchase for software that doesn't work as advertised.
PlatformBookmaker Account Verification Phishing Scam on SMS
Text messages impersonating a betting platform claim the recipient's account needs urgent re-verification, directing them to a fake login page that steals credentials and payment details.
PlatformEsports Skin Betting Scam on Discord
Discord servers built around esports betting communities host fake skin betting sites and 'guaranteed win' tipsters that trick members into depositing tradeable in-game items that are never returned.
BrandEsports Skin Betting Scam Impersonating the Steam Marketplace Brand
Skin betting scams present themselves as integrated with or endorsed by the Steam marketplace, using its trading system's branding and terminology to appear as an official extension of a trusted platform.
PlatformHorse Racing Tipster Syndicate Scam on WhatsApp
Tipster syndicates recruit members into WhatsApp groups promising insider horse racing information and guaranteed winning bets in exchange for a subscription fee or profit share.
CountryCasino Withdrawal Tax Fee Scam in the United States
In the US, this scam exploits real IRS gambling winnings tax rules, convincing victims that a 'tax clearance' payment must be sent before a casino withdrawal can be released.
PlatformFake Betting Affiliate Signup Scam on Instagram
Instagram influencers and fake accounts promote betting site sign-up links promising guaranteed bonuses or profit-sharing, but the links lead to unlicensed sites or the promised bonuses never materialize.
PlatformIn-Play Betting Bot Scam on YouTube
YouTube videos and livestreams promote automated in-play betting bots that supposedly exploit live odds fluctuations for guaranteed profit, selling access to software that doesn't perform as demonstrated.
CountryResponsible Gambling Refund Scam in the United Kingdom
In the UK, this scam exploits genuine 'affordability' and vulnerable customer redress schemes run by real gambling operators and the Gambling Commission, tricking past bettors into paying a fee to access a fake refund.
PlatformFake Inheritance Notification Scam on Email
Unsolicited emails claiming the recipient is due a large inheritance from a distant or unknown relative ask for personal details and upfront fees to release funds that don't actually exist.
PaymentFake Inheritance Notification Scam via Wire Transfer
Fake inheritance schemes rely on international wire transfers for upfront fees because wires are difficult to trace across borders and nearly impossible to reverse once completed.
CountryUnclaimed Estate Heir Scam in the United Kingdom
In the UK, this scam exploits the real Bona Vacantia list of unclaimed estates published by the Treasury Solicitor, using genuine public records to make fake heir tracing claims appear credible.
PaymentFake Will Executor Fee Scam via Money Order
Scammers posing as will executors demand payment via money order for fake probate or administration fees, exploiting the fact that money orders are hard to trace and offer no dispute process.
PaymentFuneral Home Overcharge Scam via Credit Card
Some funeral homes exploit grieving families' emotional state and time pressure to push unnecessary add-on charges onto a credit card bill before the family has had time to compare costs or read the itemized price list.
CountryPrepaid Funeral Plan Scams in the United Kingdom
In the UK, unregulated or fake prepaid funeral plan providers took payments for future funerals that were never delivered, a problem that grew before regulation tightened in 2022.
PaymentPrepaid Funeral Plan Scams Paid by Bank Transfer
Fraudulent funeral plan sellers push customers toward direct bank transfers into company accounts instead of protected trust or insurance arrangements, making the money unrecoverable once spent.
PlatformDigital Legacy Account Access Scams on Facebook
Scammers exploit Facebook's memorialisation and legacy contact features, contacting grieving families and offering to 'unlock' or 'transfer' a deceased relative's account for a fee.
BrandDigital Legacy Account Scams Impersonating the Apple Brand
Scammers impersonate Apple support to target families trying to access a deceased relative's iPhone, iCloud photos, or Apple ID through the company's real Digital Legacy program.
PlatformGenealogy Heir Hunter Scams Sent by Email
Fraudsters email people out of the blue claiming they are due an unclaimed inheritance from a distant relative, then charge upfront fees for genealogy research or legal work that never delivers anything.
PaymentLife Policy Payout Release Fee Scams Paid by Wire Transfer
Fraudsters posing as insurers or claims agents tell beneficiaries a life insurance payout is ready but requires a wire transfer of 'release fees' or 'taxes' first, then vanish once paid.
PlatformLife Policy Payout Release Fee Scams Run by Phone
Cold callers posing as insurance claims staff use scripted, high-pressure phone calls to convince beneficiaries a payout is ready and a fee must be paid immediately over the phone to release it.
PlatformFake Benefit Application Fee Scams on Facebook
Facebook ads and groups promote fake 'benefit application assistance' pages that charge a fee to submit a government benefits application that is free through the real agency.
PaymentFake Benefit Application Fee Scams Paid With Gift Cards
Scammers demanding a fee to process a government benefits application often insist on payment by gift card, a method no real agency accepts and one that makes the payment untraceable and final.
CountryUnemployment Benefit Identity Fraud in the United States
Fraudsters in the US used stolen personal information to file unemployment claims in victims' names with state agencies, a scheme that surged dramatically during periods of high claim volume.
PlatformUnemployment Benefit Identity Fraud Phishing Emails
Phishing emails impersonating unemployment agencies trick recipients into confirming personal details that are then used to file or redirect fraudulent unemployment claims.
PlatformDisability Benefit Grant Scams on Facebook
Facebook groups and ads targeting disabled people and their carers promote fake 'disability grants' or paid application help that either steals personal details or charges for a free process.
PlatformEBT Food Assistance Phishing Scams by SMS
Text messages impersonating state EBT or SNAP food assistance programs claim a card is suspended or funds are pending, tricking recipients into entering their card number and PIN on a fake site.
CountryChild Benefit Update Phishing Scams in the United Kingdom
Fraudsters impersonate HMRC in texts and emails claiming a Child Benefit account needs updating, tricking UK parents into handing over banking and personal details on fake gov.uk lookalike pages.
CountryEnergy Bill Rebate Phishing Scams in the United Kingdom
Fake texts and emails impersonating Ofgem, energy suppliers, or the government promise UK households an energy rebate in exchange for bank details that are then used for fraud.
PlatformCost of Living Payment Phishing Scams by SMS
Text messages impersonating government departments tell recipients they are eligible for a cost of living payment and must click a link to confirm bank details, which are then stolen.
CountryPension Credit Reactivation Scams in the United Kingdom
Fraudsters contact UK pensioners claiming their Pension Credit has lapsed and needs 'reactivating' through a fee or bank detail confirmation, targeting a benefit tied to Winter Fuel Payment eligibility.
CountryVeterans Benefit Fee Scams in the United States
Unaccredited 'consultants' charge US veterans illegal upfront fees to help file VA disability or pension claims, a practice federal law specifically restricts to protect veterans from exploitation.
PlatformUniversal Credit Advance Loan Scams on Facebook
Facebook ads and messages targeting Universal Credit claimants offer to fast-track an advance payment for a fee, exploiting people waiting on the standard five-week initial payment gap.
PlatformBenefit Overpayment Threat Scams by Phone
Callers posing as government benefits investigators threaten claimants with fines or prosecution over a fabricated overpayment, demanding immediate payment by phone to avoid legal action.
PlatformFake Government Grant Approval Scams on Facebook
Facebook ads and messages tell targets they have been 'approved' for a government grant they never applied for, requiring a fee or personal details to release funds that do not exist.
PaymentFake Government Grant Approval Scams Paid With Gift Cards
Scammers claiming a government grant is ready for release demand a 'processing' or 'tax' payment in gift cards, a method that instantly and irreversibly transfers value to the fraudster.
PlatformHousing Benefit Verification Phishing Emails
Emails impersonating a local council or housing benefits office claim a claimant's details need re-verification, harvesting personal and banking information through a fake portal login.
PlatformCongregation Benevolence Fund Scams on Facebook
Scammers impersonate a church's clergy or benevolence committee on Facebook, messaging congregation members to request emergency 'fund' donations that go straight to the fraudster.
PlatformSpiritual Curse Removal Scams on Instagram
Self-proclaimed psychics and spiritual healers on Instagram use dramatic reels and DMs to convince followers they are cursed, then charge escalating fees for 'removal' rituals that never end.
PaymentSpiritual Curse Removal Scams Paid by Wire Transfer
Some curse removal scammers demand payment by international wire transfer, a method that moves money quickly across borders and is nearly impossible to trace or reverse once received.
PlatformTemple and Mosque Donation Phishing Scams on WhatsApp
Scammers use WhatsApp broadcast messages and cloned community group chats to solicit fake donations for temple or mosque projects, often timed around religious holidays or building appeals.
PaymentTemple and Mosque Donation Scams Using Fake QR Codes
Scammers swap or overlay fake QR codes at places of worship or in printed donation flyers, redirecting scanned payments intended for the temple or mosque straight into their own account.
PlatformOnline Ministry Subscription Scams on YouTube
Fake or exaggerated online ministries use YouTube sermons and livestreams to build an audience, then push viewers toward paid 'membership' tiers promising blessings, prophecy, or exclusive teaching that never materializes as promised.
PaymentOnline Ministry Subscription Scams Using Recurring Credit Card Billing
Some online ministries set up recurring credit card subscriptions with unclear terms or deliberately difficult cancellation processes, quietly continuing to charge members long after genuine interest fades.
PlatformInterfaith Relief Fund Scams on Facebook
Fake interfaith relief campaigns spread on Facebook after disasters or humanitarian crises, using shared imagery and urgent appeals across religious communities to collect donations that never reach any real cause.
PlatformFake Concert Ticket Resale Scam on Facebook Marketplace
Scammers post counterfeit or nonexistent concert tickets on Facebook Marketplace and pressure buyers to pay outside the platform's protections before vanishing.
PaymentFake Concert Ticket Resale Scam via Zelle
Ticket scammers push buyers toward Zelle because its instant, irreversible bank-to-bank transfers leave victims with almost no way to recover the money once a fake ticket fails to materialize.
PlatformSold-Out Event Ticket Scam on Instagram
Scammers exploit desperate searches for sold-out event tickets by running Instagram accounts and comment replies offering tickets that do not exist.
BrandSold-Out Event Ticket Scam Impersonating the Ticketmaster Brand
Fraudsters impersonate the Ticketmaster brand with lookalike sites and fake 'verified resale' badges to sell tickets to sold-out shows that they do not actually possess.
PlatformFestival Ticket & Camping Scam on Facebook Groups
Scammers use official-sounding festival fan and 'buy/sell/trade' Facebook Groups to sell bundled ticket-and-camping packages that never materialize.
PlatformDuplicate Barcode Ticket Scam via Email Transfer
Sellers forward the same emailed PDF ticket or barcode to multiple buyers, so only whoever scans first gets in while everyone else is turned away at the gate.
PaymentDuplicate Barcode Ticket Scam via Venmo
Scammers collect Venmo payments from several buyers for what is really a single ticket, relying on the app's casual, friends-and-family feel to avoid scrutiny.
PlatformPresale Code Phishing Scam via Text Message
Scammers text fans a fake 'exclusive presale code' link designed to harvest login credentials and payment details before tickets even go on sale.
BrandPresale Code Phishing Scam Impersonating the Ticketmaster Brand
Phishing emails and pages dressed up in Ticketmaster's branding trick fans into entering account and payment details to 'unlock' a presale code that does not exist.
PlatformRefunded/Cancelled Event Scam on X (Twitter)
Scammers watch X for news of postponed or cancelled events and swoop into replies pretending to be refund agents or original ticket sellers offering money back.
PaymentRefunded/Cancelled Event Scam via PayPal
Scammers pose as refund processors for a cancelled event and abuse PayPal's 'Friends and Family' or invoice features to trick fans into sending money instead of receiving it.
PlatformFake Creator Subscription Scam on Instagram
Scammers run Instagram accounts impersonating adult content creators, luring followers to pay for a 'subscription' that is hosted nowhere and delivers nothing.
PaymentFake Creator Subscription Scam via Gift Cards
Fake subscription sellers demand payment in retail gift card codes because they are untraceable and impossible to reverse once the codes are handed over.
PlatformCam Site Tip-Bait Scam on Live-Cam Platforms
Performers or accounts on live-cam platforms promise a specific act or private show once a tip or token goal is reached, then stall, change the goal, or vanish after payment.
PlatformAdult Content Verification Fee Scam on Dating Apps
Matches on dating apps direct conversations to a fake 'safety verification' site that charges a fee before any promised private content is ever shared.
PaymentAdult Content Verification Fee Scam via Gift Cards
When a card payment for a fake 'verification fee' feels too traceable, scammers pivot to gift cards instead, framing the switch as a privacy-friendly option.
PlatformFake Creator Manager Scam on Telegram
Scammers pose as talent managers or agency reps on Telegram, promising to grow a creator's subscriber base or brokering fake brand deals in exchange for upfront fees or account access.
PlatformSugar Daddy Allowance Advance Scam on Instagram
Fake 'sugar daddy' accounts on Instagram promise a generous weekly allowance but ask for an upfront fee or gift card before the first payment ever arrives.
PaymentSugar Daddy Allowance Advance Scam via Cash App
Scammers route the fake 'allowance verification' step through Cash App because its instant transfers and casual, informal feel make an upfront payment request seem routine.
PlatformFake Modeling/Content Deal Scam on Instagram
Scammers pose as talent scouts or brand representatives on Instagram, offering a modeling or content deal that requires an upfront fee for 'portfolio processing' or shipping sample products.
PlatformCreator Collab Phishing Scam via Email
Fake brand collaboration emails sent to creators contain malicious attachments or credential-harvesting links disguised as contracts, media kits, or payment forms.
PlatformAdult Dating Site Token Scam on Dating Apps
Adult dating platforms push users toward buying internal 'tokens' or 'coins' to unlock messaging or profiles, with fake or bot-operated profiles designed to burn through a user's token balance without ever leading to a real connection.
PaymentAdult Dating Site Token Scam via Cryptocurrency
Some adult dating platforms sell their internal token packages exclusively through cryptocurrency, using the added anonymity and lack of chargebacks to make disputing a deceptive engagement scheme even harder.
PlatformFake Fan Club Membership Scam on Telegram
Scammers advertise paid 'exclusive fan club' Telegram channels claiming affiliation with a popular creator, collecting membership fees for access that either doesn't exist or is a low-value copy of publicly available content.
PaymentContent Payout Verification Scam via Cryptocurrency
Scammers tell creators their content earnings are ready for payout but require a small cryptocurrency 'verification' or 'gas fee' transfer first, which the creator never gets back and no payout ever follows.
PlatformPremium Messaging Access Scam on WhatsApp
Scammers offer 'premium' or 'VIP' direct messaging access to a creator on WhatsApp for a fee, then deliver a generic, unresponsive, or entirely absent chat experience once payment is made.
PaymentPersonal Device Ransomware Scam via Cryptocurrency
Ransomware operators lock a victim's personal files or device and demand payment in cryptocurrency, exploiting its pseudonymity to collect payment with minimal risk of being traced or caught.
PlatformPersonal Device Ransomware Scam via Email
Ransomware most commonly reaches personal devices through email attachments and links disguised as invoices, shipping notices, or urgent account alerts.
PlatformBusiness Negative SEO Extortion Scam via Email
Extortionists email small business owners threatening to bury their search rankings with spammy backlinks or fake negative reviews unless a payment is made, sometimes after already launching a real or fabricated attack.
PlatformFake OSINT Exposure Threat Scam via Email
Scammers email targets claiming to have compiled a damaging open-source intelligence dossier — home address, workplace, family details — and demand payment to prevent its release, when in reality the 'dossier' is often bluffed or built from already-public information.
PlatformRomance/Affair Blackmail Scam on Dating Apps
Scammers use dating apps to build an intimate connection, sometimes with a married or committed target, then threaten to expose the conversation or shared images to a partner, employer, or family unless paid.
PaymentRomance/Affair Blackmail Scam via Cryptocurrency
Affair-exposure blackmailers demand payment in cryptocurrency specifically because it offers the untraceable, irreversible transfer needed to collect repeated payments without being identified.
PlatformGamer SWAT Threat Extortion Scam on Discord
Scammers use Discord DMs and voice channels to threaten a false emergency police call to a gamer's home address unless a payment is made, exploiting gaming community disputes and doxxing information shared in servers.
PlatformSubscription Leak Threat Scam on Email
Fraudsters email people claiming a 'leaked database' proves they signed up for an adult site or gambling account, then demand payment to keep it quiet.
PaymentFake Warrant Payment Threat Scam via Gift Cards
Callers claiming to be law enforcement threaten an arrest warrant unless the victim buys gift cards to 'settle' the matter, a payment method real courts never use.
CountryFake Charity Collector Doorstep Scam in the United Kingdom
Bogus door-to-door charity collectors exploit the UK's long tradition of household giving, often timing visits around real disaster appeals or seasonal campaigns.
PlatformFake Bank Courier Card Collection Scam via Phone Calls
A phone call from someone posing as a bank fraud investigator convinces the victim their card is compromised, then arranges a courier to collect the physical card from their home.
PlatformFake Police Doorstep ID Check Scam via Phone Calls
A follow-up or precursor phone call reinforces a fake officer's doorstep visit, using spoofed police numbers to make the impersonation and 'ID check' feel verified.
CountryFake Council Officer Doorstep Scam in the United Kingdom
Fraudsters posing as local council employees exploit the UK's frequent, genuine council contact around bins, benefits, and home improvement grants to gain entry to homes.
PlatformFake Hospital Relative Admitted Scam via Phone Calls
A caller claims a loved one has been admitted to hospital after an accident and needs money wired urgently for treatment, deposits, or transfer to another facility.
PlatformFake Social Worker Child Scam via Phone Calls
A caller posing as a social worker or child welfare officer claims a child is at risk or has been removed, pressuring a parent or relative into payment or disclosing personal details.
PlatformFake Debt Collector Doorstep Scam via Phone Calls
A phone call warning of an imminent doorstep debt collection visit is used to frighten victims into paying an invented debt before anyone actually needs to show up.
PlatformFake Census Official Scam via Email
Emails impersonating a national statistics office claim recipients must complete a census or survey online and submit personal or financial details to avoid a fine.
PlatformFake Renters Insurance Scam on Facebook Marketplace
Scammers exploit rental listing sites and marketplace groups to push a fake renters insurance requirement on new tenants before they ever see the apartment.
PlatformFake Business Liability Insurance Scam via Phone Calls
Cold callers pressure small business owners into buying or renewing a liability insurance policy that does not exist or provides no real coverage.