Focused Scam Guides
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Grandparent Scam via Phone Calls
How fraudsters call elderly victims pretending to be a grandchild in urgent trouble, using shame, urgency, and often a second caller posing as a lawyer or police officer to extract cash before the family can verify anything.
PaymentFamily Emergency Money Scam via Wire Transfer
How fraudsters claiming a family member is in immediate danger or financial crisis push victims to send a wire transfer, relying on the speed and difficulty of reversing wired funds before the story can be checked.
PaymentFake Boss Gift Card Request Scam
How an urgent message impersonating a manager or executive asks an employee to buy gift cards on the company's behalf and send back the redemption codes, which are then cashed out instantly and untraceably.
PlatformFake CEO Text Employee Scam via SMS
How a text message impersonating a company's CEO pressures an employee into an urgent, confidential wire transfer or sensitive action, exploiting corporate authority and the informal, immediate feel of SMS.
PaymentFake Bank Fraud Department Call Scam via Bank Transfer
How a caller impersonating your bank's fraud department convinces you your account is compromised and talks you through moving money by bank transfer into a so-called 'safe account' that actually belongs to the scammer.
PaymentBail Money Relative Scam via Western Union
How a caller falsely claims a family member has been arrested and directs the victim to send bail money through Western Union, exploiting the service's speed and cash-pickup design to collect funds anonymously.
PaymentAccident Emergency Relative Scam via MoneyGram
How a caller falsely claims a family member has been seriously injured and needs money sent immediately via MoneyGram to cover fabricated medical treatment or transport costs.
PaymentVirtual Kidnapping Ransom Hoax Scam via Cryptocurrency
How a caller falsely claims to have kidnapped a family member and demands an immediate cryptocurrency ransom, exploiting crypto's speed and irreversibility to collect payment before the hoax can be uncovered.
PaymentFake Lawyer Relative Arrest Scam via Cashier's Check
How a caller posing as a lawyer claims a family member has been arrested and requests an urgent cashier's check for legal fees or bail assistance, exploiting the appearance of certified funds to seem legitimate.
PaymentStranded Relative Abroad Scam via Wire Transfer
How a message or call claims a traveling family member has been robbed or lost their documents overseas and needs emergency funds wired immediately, relying on the difficulty of quickly verifying details across borders.
PaymentFake Embassy Emergency Scam via Wire Transfer
How scammers posing as embassy or consular staff push panicked relatives toward an urgent wire transfer to 'free' a detained family member.
CountryNeighbor Spoofing Impersonation Scam in the United States
How US robocallers spoof local area codes and prefixes to make scam calls look like they're coming from a neighbor down the street.
PlatformFake Friend New Number Scam on WhatsApp
How scammers message on WhatsApp pretending to be a friend or family member texting from a 'new number,' then ask for urgent money.
PaymentFake Utility Emergency Caller Scam via Gift Cards
How scammers posing as utility company representatives threaten disconnection unless a victim pays an 'overdue bill' with gift cards.
CountryFake Health Insurance Scams in the United States
How fraudulent health insurance policies are marketed to US consumers during open enrollment, promising full coverage that never actually pays out.
CountryFake Life Insurance Scams in the United Kingdom
How unregulated or fraudulent life insurance offers target UK consumers with premiums collected for policies that will never pay out.
PaymentFake Insurance Claims Settlement Scams via Bank Transfer
How fraudsters posing as insurers or claims handlers demand upfront bank transfers to 'release' a fast settlement that never arrives.
CountryFake Travel Medical Insurance Scams in Australia
How bogus or unregulated travel medical insurance is sold to Australian travellers heading overseas, leaving them exposed to unpaid medical bills.
PaymentWarranty and Insurance Renewal Scams via Credit Card
How unsolicited renewal calls pressure victims into reading out their credit card number for a warranty or policy they don't actually need.
PlatformFake Pet Insurance Scams on Facebook
How fraudulent pet insurance offers spread through Facebook ads and groups, collecting premiums for cover that later denies every claim.
CountryDisaster Insurance Scams in the United States
How scammers target US flood, fire, and storm victims posing as insurers, adjusters, or FEMA-linked contractors after a declared disaster.
PlatformFake Health Plan and Membership Scheme Scam on Email
How unsolicited emails promote unregulated 'health benefit' memberships that look like insurance but carry no obligation to pay claims.
PlatformFake Extended Warranty and Product Insurance Scam on SMS
How text messages warning that a warranty is about to expire trick recipients into paying for worthless extended cover.
PaymentFake Travel Insurance Policy Scam via PayPal
How fraudulent travel insurance sellers use PayPal payment links to collect premiums for policies with no real cover behind them.
PlatformFake Pet Insurance Policy Scam on Instagram
How fraudulent pet insurance policies are promoted through Instagram ads and influencer posts, collecting premiums that deny every claim.
CountryCrop and Farm Insurance Fraud Scam in the United States
How fraudulent agents target US farmers with fake crop insurance policies or exclusion-riddled coverage that never pays out after a bad season.
CountryInsurance Premium Diversion Scams in the United Kingdom
How rogue UK brokers collect insurance premiums from clients but never pass them to the insurer, leaving policyholders unknowingly uninsured.
PaymentClaim Reprocessing Fee Scams via Bank Transfer
How fraudsters charge an upfront bank transfer to 'resubmit' or 'escalate' an insurance or benefits claim, then disappear.
PaymentCar Wrap Vehicle Advertising Scam via MoneyGram
How scammers pose as advertising companies offering to pay drivers for car wraps, then have them forward MoneyGram funds to a fake 'installer.'
PlatformOnline Survey and Paid Panel Scam on TikTok
How TikTok videos and ads promote survey and paid-panel sites promising easy income that never actually pays out.
PlatformGet-Paid-to-Click App Scam on Telegram
How Telegram groups and channels promote get-paid-to-click apps that harvest data and ad revenue but never actually pay users.
PaymentFake Freelance Client Overpayment Scam via Zelle
How fraudulent 'clients' overpay freelancers through Zelle, then request a refund of the surplus before the original payment reverses as fraudulent.
PlatformContent Writing Upfront Fee Scam on LinkedIn
How fake content agencies post writing jobs on LinkedIn, then charge applicants a registration or training fee before any work begins.
PlatformFake Proofreading Job Scam on Email
How fraudulent proofreading employers recruit by email and charge new hires for certification or training that leads to no actual work.
PlatformFake Product Tester Scam on Instagram
Instagram ads and DMs invite users to become 'paid product testers,' then collect a shipping fee or card details and either deliver nothing or enroll victims in unwanted charges.
PlatformFake Transcription Job Scam via Email
Unsolicited emails offering flexible, home-based transcription work lead applicants to pay for 'training' or 'certification' materials before any real job ever appears.
PlatformFake Social Media Evaluator Job Scam on Facebook
Facebook groups and pages advertise 'search and social media quality evaluator' roles that impersonate legitimate rating programs, then charge fake fees or harvest identity documents.
PaymentFake Translation Job Scam via Bank Transfer
Fraudulent translation agencies recruit linguists with attractive per-word rates, then demand a bank transfer for 'certification' or 'software licensing' fees before any paid work is provided.
PlatformFake Charity Raffle and Prize Draw Scam on Facebook
Facebook posts and groups promote raffle tickets for supposedly charitable causes, collecting payments for a draw that never happens and a charity that never receives anything.
CountryFake Charity Prize Draw Scams in the United Kingdom
UK households, especially older residents, are targeted by mailed and phoned prize draw offers using charitable branding to sell tickets while keeping all proceeds for the organizer.
PlatformPremium-Rate Competition Entry Scam via SMS
Text-message competitions invite entrants to text a premium-rate number, charging far more per message than disclosed while offering little or no real chance of winning a prize.
CountryStolen Package (Porch Piracy) Scams in the United States
Package theft from doorsteps, commonly called porch piracy in the United States, spikes around the holiday season as delivery volumes rise and thieves follow delivery trucks through residential neighborhoods.
PaymentPet Insurance Scams via Bank Transfer
Fraudulent pet insurers collect monthly premiums by bank transfer or direct debit for policies that turn out to provide no real coverage when a claim is filed.
PaymentBrowser Lock Scams Paid via Gift Cards
Fake 'your computer is locked' browser pop-ups direct victims to call a bogus support line, where scammers demand payment in gift cards to 'unlock' a device that was never actually locked.
PlatformFake Parental Control App Scam on TikTok
TikTok ads and videos promote parental monitoring apps that charge ongoing subscription fees, harvest a child's personal data, or install malware while providing little to no real monitoring.
PlatformPhishing-as-a-Service Kit Scams on Telegram
Telegram channels and groups advertise ready-made phishing kits complete with real-time credential relay and anti-detection tools, letting low-skilled buyers run convincing phishing campaigns against everyday users.
PaymentFake Box Office Will-Call Scam via PayPal
Ticket sellers claim they've already reserved seats under a buyer's name at a venue's will-call window, collecting a PayPal 'friends and family' payment for a reservation that never actually exists.
PlatformEvent Cancellation Refund Phishing Scam via Email
Fraudulent emails falsely claim a still-happening event has been cancelled, prompting genuine ticket holders to enter their ticket or account login details on a fake refund page.
PaymentFake Travel Health Certificate Scams via Cryptocurrency
Sites selling counterfeit vaccination records and travel health clearances often accept cryptocurrency, letting operators collect payment anonymously for documents that can carry legal and health risks.
CountryFake Visa and ETA Application Site Scams Targeting Australia
Unofficial websites impersonate Australia's official Electronic Travel Authority application process, charging inflated fees to submit a form travellers could file directly with the Australian government for a fraction of the cost.
PlatformTravel Document Courier Scams on WhatsApp
Fraudsters posing as couriers or embassy agents contact travellers on WhatsApp demanding 'customs' or 'release' fees for travel documents supposedly being delivered, then vanish once paid.
PaymentFake Travel Review Extortion Scams via Bank Transfer
Fraudsters threaten to post damaging fake reviews about a hospitality business or traveller unless a bank transfer is sent, or demand payment in exchange for removing already-posted negative content.
CountryFake Airport Fast Track Service Scams in the United Kingdom
Fraudulent websites and touts sell bogus fast-track security or immigration passes for major UK airports, charging for a service that is either free through official channels or doesn't exist at all.
PlatformFake Energy Rebate Text Scams via SMS
Unsolicited text messages claim the recipient is owed a government or energy supplier rebate, using a link to a fake page designed to steal banking details or account credentials.
PaymentEnergy Switching and Broker Overcharge Scam via Bank Transfer
Unscrupulous energy brokers collect commissions and fees via bank transfer or direct debit while failing to secure genuinely competitive deals, or lock businesses into long contracts with hidden charges.
CountryFake Water Company Refund Scam in the United Kingdom
Fraudsters impersonate UK regional water companies, offering a supposed overpayment refund that requires bank details or an 'administration fee' to release funds that don't actually exist.
CountryBroadband Router Upgrade Scam in the United Kingdom
Fraudsters pose as UK broadband providers offering a free or discounted router upgrade, using the call or visit to install malware, harvest account credentials, or add hidden charges to a bill.
PlatformEnergy Prepayment Meter Top-Up Scam on Facebook
Facebook Marketplace and community group listings offer discounted prepayment energy top-up codes that turn out to be stolen, duplicated, or fake, leaving buyers without credit and at risk of further consequences.
PlatformZelle Payment Scams on Facebook Marketplace
On Facebook Marketplace, scammers pose as buyers or sellers and steer the deal onto Zelle, using fake "business account upgrade" refund tricks and hold deposits to take instant, near-irreversible payments.
PlatformCash App Flip & Fake Giveaway Scams on Instagram
On Instagram, fake money-flip and giveaway accounts use lookalike handles, comment replies, and DM funnels to promise multiplied Cash App payouts. You send first through an irreversible transfer, and the flip, prize, or circle never pays.
PlatformCash App Fake Support Scams on Google Search
Scammers buy Google search ads and seed spam pages for "Cash App support" queries so a locked-out or missing-payment user finds a fake helpline number at the top of results, then phones straight into an impostor "agent."
PlatformVenmo Accidental Payment Reversal Scam on Facebook Marketplace
On Facebook Marketplace, a 'buyer' pays a seller by Venmo, then claims they accidentally overpaid or double-paid and begs for the difference back. The stolen-funded payment is later reversed, leaving the seller out the refund they sent.
PlatformPayPal Friends & Family "Goods" Scam on eBay
On eBay, a seller (or buyer) steers the deal off eBay's managed checkout into a PayPal Friends & Family payment, stripping away both eBay's Money Back Guarantee and PayPal's Purchase Protection at once.
PaymentMarketplace "Business Account Upgrade" Scam via Zelle
On peer-to-peer marketplaces, a scammer claims your Zelle account must be "upgraded to a business account" before their payment can land, then uses spoofed Zelle emails and a refundable "upgrade fee" to steal instant, irreversible transfers.
PlatformFake Payment-App Notification Phishing via Text Message
A text disguised as a Zelle, Venmo, PayPal, or Cash App alert lands on the same phone that holds your money app, one tap from a spoofed login page or a fake fraud line that harvests your password and one-time code.
CountryBitcoin ATM & Crypto Kiosk Scams in the United States
In the U.S., impersonation and tech-support scammers direct victims — often older adults — to withdraw cash and feed it into one of the country's tens of thousands of Bitcoin ATMs, scanning a QR code that sends an instant, irreversible payment to the fraudster.
PlatformMoney-Mule Bank-Account Recruitment Scams on Telegram
On Telegram, "payment agent" job channels, bot-run onboarding, and unsolicited DMs recruit you to receive stolen money into your bank account and forward it, often converted to crypto, for a commission, making you the traceable launderer.
PaymentMobile Wallet Push-Provisioning Scam via Apple Pay
Scammers phish your card number, then start adding it to Apple Pay on their own iPhone. When your bank's Apple Pay verification code arrives, a fake "fraud team" call pressures you to read it back — enrolling your card on their device.
CountryATM Card Trapping (Lebanese Loop) Scam in France
In France the Lebanese loop is known as the "collet marseillais": a sleeve hidden in a distributeur's card slot traps your carte bancaire while a helpful bystander memorises your PIN, then extracts the card and withdraws cash once you leave.
CountryATM Cash-Trapping Scam in the United Kingdom
A device fitted over a UK cashpoint's dispenser traps your banknotes as they pay out. The slot looks empty, you assume a fault and leave, and the scammer returns to collect — while your account is still debited.
PaymentNFC-Relay "Ghost Tap" Scams via Contactless Payments
Criminals relay your contactless card or wallet signal live to a mule tapping at a real reader, exploiting no-PIN limits and tap-and-go speed to run many small purchases while your card stays in your pocket.
PlatformCard-Testing (Carding) Scams on Online Checkouts
Fraudsters aim automated bots at online checkout and payment forms, pushing floods of stolen card numbers through as tiny charges or zero-value authorizations to sort the live cards from the dead ones.
CountryEBT & Benefits-Card Skimming and Cloning in the United States
In the US, SNAP and cash-assistance benefits load onto magnetic-stripe EBT cards with no chip, so skimmers on grocery and ATM readers clone them and drain a household's food and cash benefits, often within hours of the monthly deposit.
CountryPOS Terminal Tampering Scams in the United States
In the US, card-machine tampering centers on pay-at-the-pump fuel skimmers, magnetic-stripe fallback, and the American habit of servers carrying your card to a back station, all of which quietly copy your card and PIN.
PlatformDocuSign & E-Signature Phishing Scams via Email
A phishing email dressed as a DocuSign or Adobe Sign "review and sign" notification uses a spoofed sender and a Review Document button that hides a lookalike login page, harvesting your email password and 2FA code.
PlatformGoogle Voice Verification Code Scam on Craigslist
A Craigslist "buyer" or "renter" replies to your ad, says they've been burned before, and asks you to read back a code Google texts you — which quietly links a Google Voice number to your phone.
PlatformOTP Bot One-Time-Code Scams via Phone Calls
Automated OTP bots and live vishing agents place spoofed calls posing as your bank's fraud line, then walk you through reading out or keying in the one-time code that authorises the scammer's own login or payment.
PlatformREAL ID Application-Fee Scams via Text Message
Scammers send smishing texts posing as your state DMV, warning your license isn't REAL ID compliant and linking to a fake portal that charges a bogus fee and harvests your ID data.
PlatformFictitious-Regulator & Fake Authority Scams via Email
Scammers email official-looking letters from an invented financial authority — or a spoofed real regulator — to endorse a bogus platform or demand a "release fee" before you can withdraw funds that never existed.
PaymentFacebook Marketplace Scams Paid via Zelle
On Facebook Marketplace, scammers steer buyers and sellers off-platform to Zelle, exploiting its instant, bank-to-bank, largely irreversible transfers and the false belief that Zelle carries buyer protection.
PlatformWedding Vendor Scams on Instagram
Scammers build convincing wedding-vendor Instagram accounts from stolen portfolios and impersonated handles, take deposits over DM, then vanish before the wedding day.
PlatformFake Adoption Scams on Facebook
Scammers on Facebook pose as expectant mothers or facilitators, contacting hopeful adoptive parents through profiles, groups, and Messenger to collect escalating "expenses" for a placement that never happens.
PlatformSurrogacy Agency Scams on Facebook
Fake surrogacy agencies and 'surrogates' work Facebook groups, Pages, and Messenger to collect program fees, escrow deposits, and expenses from intended parents for matches, pregnancies, and journeys that never actually exist.
PlatformVanity Publishing Scams via Cold Calls
Boiler-room callers phone self-published and hopeful authors claiming a studio, agent, or major publisher wants their book, then extract staged fees for treatments, republishing, and marketing that lead nowhere.
PlatformScam PAC & Political Donation Fraud via Text Message
Scam PACs and fake campaign appeals blast urgent donation texts from rotating numbers, using shortened links to lookalike donation pages that pocket the money and quietly enroll donors in recurring withdrawals.