Focused Scam Guides
Page 9 of 42.
Tax Identity Theft Schemes on Facebook
Facebook pages and ads posing as tax assistance services harvest national ID numbers and financial data needed for fraudulent tax filings, while fake refund posts lure users into submitting personal details.
PlatformChild Identity Theft Risks on Instagram
Parents who publicly share children's names, birthdates, and photos on Instagram inadvertently provide fraudsters with data usable for child identity fraud, particularly when personal details appear in captions and tagged locations.
PlatformChild Identity Theft via WhatsApp
WhatsApp group conversations and school community chats can expose children's personal details to fraudsters when parents share too much identifying information in semi-private group settings that are not as secure as they appear.
PlatformAccount Recovery Help Scams on WhatsApp
WhatsApp messages from strangers claiming to be recovery specialists offer to restore hacked accounts in exchange for fees or credentials, often harvesting the victim's remaining access in the process.
PlatformNew Account Takeover on Reddit
Reddit accounts with significant karma or established reputations in valuable communities are targeted for credential stuffing and phishing takeovers, then used to spread scam links, manipulate votes, or harvest community trust.
PlatformCopyright Strike Takedown Phishing on Discord
Fake copyright infringement claims sent via Discord DM threaten server owners and creators with bot removal or account suspension unless they click external links or pay settlement fees.
PlatformFake Content Monetization Scams on Instagram
Fraudulent Instagram accounts impersonate Meta's creator monetization team or third-party platforms, offering creators bogus badge-activated monetization, subscription income, or reels bonus programmes in exchange for credentials or fees.
PlatformTax Identity Theft Schemes on TikTok
TikTok videos and DMs promote fraudulent tax refund maximisation services and file-on-your-behalf schemes that harvest taxpayer ID numbers and banking details for use in fraudulent return filing.
PlatformCopyright Strike Takedown Phishing via WhatsApp
WhatsApp messages impersonating music labels, photo agencies, or platform legal teams threaten content creators and businesses with immediate legal action unless they click settlement links or pay fees.
PlatformNegative-Option Billing Scams on LinkedIn
Fraudulent business services promoted on LinkedIn enroll professionals in recurring billing plans through negative-option consent buried in fine print, then make cancellation nearly impossible.
PlatformNegative-Option Billing Scams on YouTube
Creators and sponsored ads on YouTube funnel viewers into subscription products where billing consent is buried in checkout flows, resulting in recurring charges that are hard to identify and harder to stop.
PlatformNegative-Option Billing Scams on TikTok
TikTok's short-video format and impulse-driven browsing make it fertile ground for subscription products that capture payment details on fast-loading landing pages where negative-option billing consent is easily missed.
PlatformNegative-Option Billing Scams on Facebook
Facebook ads and Marketplace listings funnel users into subscription plans with auto-renewing charges where cancellation rights are buried or ignored, costing victims months of unwanted fees.
PlatformNegative-Option Billing Scams on Instagram
Instagram's visual-first format and influencer culture are exploited by subscription products that enroll followers through polished aesthetics and sponsored posts hiding auto-renewal traps in checkout fine print.
PlatformFree-Trial Credit Card Trap Scams on LinkedIn
Professional tools advertised on LinkedIn collect card details under a free-trial offer, then charge full subscription fees immediately or after a very short window — leaving professionals with unexpected bills.
PlatformFree-Trial Credit Card Trap Scams on YouTube
YouTube creators and ads promote free-trial offers for tools or courses that silently capture card details and begin charging within days, often for products that do not deliver on their promises.
PlatformFree-Trial Credit Card Trap Scams on TikTok
TikTok's viral content loops amplify free-trial offers that capture card data through fast mobile checkouts, with billing terms that most viewers scroll past before charges begin.
PlatformFree-Trial Credit Card Trap Scams on Facebook
Facebook's targeted advertising enables free-trial trap operators to reach demographically matched audiences with offers that collect card details and begin billing before most users realise they signed up for a subscription.
PlatformFree-Trial Credit Card Trap Scams on Snapchat
Snapchat's young user base and disappearing-content format create ideal conditions for free-trial operators who know that impulsive checkout decisions and ephemeral ads leave little evidence for dispute.
PlatformFake Subscription Renewal Phishing on LinkedIn
Phishing messages impersonating LinkedIn Premium or third-party tools used by professionals tell recipients their subscription has lapsed and urge them to click a link to restore access — stealing card details or credentials.
PlatformFake Subscription Renewal Phishing on X (Twitter)
Phishing DMs and emails impersonating X Premium billing warn users that their verified status or subscription will be revoked, directing them to fraudulent pages that steal login credentials or payment details.
PlatformFake Subscription Renewal Phishing on YouTube
Phishing emails and messages impersonating YouTube Premium billing or channel membership renewals direct users to credential-harvesting sites designed to look exactly like Google account login pages.
PlatformFake Subscription Renewal Phishing on Facebook
Phishing messages impersonating Facebook or Meta billing warn users that their account or Page subscription is at risk, directing them to credential-harvesting sites disguised as Meta login pages.
PlatformFake Subscription Renewal Phishing on Instagram
Phishing messages impersonating Instagram or Meta Verified billing target creators and business accounts with fake account-suspension warnings, directing victims to credential-stealing login pages.
PlatformApp Store Subscription Trap Scams on TikTok
Fraudulent apps promoted through TikTok videos enroll users in expensive App Store subscriptions within seconds of installation, exploiting Face ID or Touch ID to confirm charges before users understand what they are agreeing to.
PlatformApp Store Subscription Trap Scams on Snapchat
Apps advertised through Snapchat ads and Stories use impulsive download behaviour to enroll young users in costly App Store subscriptions that are difficult to cancel and expensive to maintain.
PlatformApp Store Subscription Trap Scams on Instagram
Instagram Shopping tags and influencer partnerships promote subscription-trap apps that convert impulsive installs into high-cost App Store or Google Play subscriptions within moments of first launch.
PlatformApp Store Subscription Trap Scams on Pinterest
Pinterest's inspiration-driven browsing leads users to promoted pins for lifestyle and creativity apps that funnel downloads into unexpected App Store subscriptions through misleading trial prompts.
PlatformRecruitment-Only Pyramid Schemes on LinkedIn
Schemes with no genuine product or service target LinkedIn professionals with 'business opportunity' connection requests, recruiting them to pay entry fees and recruit others — generating income only through chain recruitment.
PlatformRecruitment-Only Pyramid Schemes on Facebook
Facebook Groups and personal profiles are used to run recruitment-only schemes that collect entry fees and perpetuate through chain recruitment, with no genuine product or service generating income.
PlatformRecruitment-Only Pyramid Schemes on Instagram
Instagram's aspirational lifestyle aesthetic is weaponised by recruitment-only pyramid schemes that use luxury imagery and income screenshots to recruit followers into entry-fee schemes with no viable product.
PlatformRecruitment-Only Pyramid Schemes on X (Twitter)
X accounts posing as financial educators and community builders use threads and DMs to recruit followers into pyramid schemes disguised as 'investment groups' or 'money circles'.
PlatformRecruitment-Only Pyramid Schemes on Nextdoor
Nextdoor's local community trust is exploited by neighbours running pyramid recruitment schemes, using the platform's geographic familiarity to lower guard and drive in-person or local digital recruitment.
PlatformProduct-Based Pyramid MLM Scams on Facebook
Facebook Groups and personal profiles host MLM-style schemes that use product sales as legal cover but generate most participant income through recruitment and inventory loading — leaving most members at a net financial loss.
PlatformProduct-Based Pyramid MLM Scams on Instagram
MLM operators use Instagram's aspirational lifestyle imagery to recruit downlines into product-based schemes where most income derives from recruitment and starter kit sales rather than genuine retail activity.
PlatformProduct-Based Pyramid MLM Scams on Pinterest
Pinterest boards and promoted pins showcase MLM products in aspirational contexts, funnelling interested pinners into downline recruitment through 'work from home' and 'be your own boss' content.
PlatformProduct-Based Pyramid MLM Scams on Nextdoor
Nextdoor's local trust is exploited by MLM participants posting product sales and business opportunity content, using neighbourhood credibility to lower the scrutiny usually applied to income scheme pitches.
PlatformProduct-Based Pyramid MLM Scams on YouTube
YouTube channels dedicated to MLM 'success stories' and product demonstrations recruit viewers into downline structures by presenting income highlights while omitting the statistical reality revealed in income disclosure statements.
PlatformCrypto MLM and Matrix Schemes on X (Twitter)
X's crypto-friendly culture and influencer network enable crypto MLM and matrix schemes to spread rapidly, with recruitment threads and DMs promising passive income from blockchain referral networks that pay only through chain recruitment.
PlatformCrypto MLM and Matrix Schemes on LinkedIn
LinkedIn professionals are targeted by crypto income schemes dressed in business language — 'blockchain investment networks' and 'digital asset communities' that operate as matrix or MLM structures.
PlatformCrypto MLM and Matrix Schemes on YouTube
YouTube channels dedicated to 'passive crypto income' recruit viewers into matrix or MLM structures through detailed tutorials on how to earn by building referral networks — schemes that pay only while recruitment continues.
PlatformCrypto MLM and Matrix Schemes on TikTok
TikTok's viral loops spread crypto matrix and MLM scheme content rapidly, with short earnings-reveal videos and referral incentives driving young users toward deposit-based recruitment structures.
PlatformCrypto MLM and Matrix Schemes on Instagram
Instagram's lifestyle imagery and influencer referral culture make it a natural home for crypto MLM and matrix schemes that present recruitment income as financial independence.
PlatformFake Online Course Guru Schemes on YouTube
YouTube's creator economy provides the ideal stage for fake course gurus who use free tutorial content to establish credibility before selling expensive courses that deliver recycled, low-value information.
PlatformFake Online Course Guru Schemes on LinkedIn
LinkedIn's professional credibility signals are exploited by fake course gurus who present fabricated expertise and inflated credentials to sell overpriced digital courses to professionals seeking career advancement.
PlatformFake Online Course Guru Schemes on Instagram
Instagram's aspirational content format enables fake gurus to build course-buying audiences through lifestyle imagery and vague income demonstrations before selling high-ticket programs that deliver little real value.
PlatformFake Online Course Guru Schemes on TikTok
TikTok's viral discovery engine surfaces fake guru content to millions of viewers who may never have sought it out, driving course sales through algorithmic exposure and short-form income revelation videos.
PlatformFake Online Course Guru Schemes on Facebook
Facebook Groups and targeted ads funnel professionals and aspiring entrepreneurs into fake online courses sold through webinar funnels and high-pressure group coaching pitches.
PlatformSocial Media Hustle Recruitment Scams on Instagram
Instagram's hustle culture normalises job offers that are actually recruitment traps — fake remote income roles that require upfront payments, personal data, or recruiting others to earn any income at all.
PlatformSocial Media Hustle Recruitment Scams on TikTok
TikTok's side-hustle content ecosystem is saturated with fake income opportunities that collect upfront fees or personal data from users looking for flexible earning options.
PlatformSocial Media Hustle Recruitment Scams on Facebook
Facebook jobs listings and Groups host fake remote income opportunities that funnel applicants into upfront fee traps or pyramid recruitment structures under the guise of legitimate employment.
PlatformSocial Media Hustle Recruitment Scams on X (Twitter)
X's financial independence and side-hustle communities are targeted by recruitment scams that use trending hashtags and influencer-style accounts to lure users into fee traps and pyramid structures.
PlatformSocial Media Hustle Recruitment Scams on Snapchat
Snapchat's young user base and direct messaging format make it a vector for peer-to-peer hustle recruitment scams where peers enroll friends into fee-based income schemes.
PlatformFake Passive Income System Scams on YouTube
YouTube is the primary distribution channel for fake passive income system promoters, who use tutorial and lifestyle content to sell courses and tools that promise automated earnings but deliver minimal real returns.
PlatformFake Passive Income System Scams on Instagram
Instagram's financial independence aesthetic makes it the primary social surface for passive income system sellers who use lifestyle imagery and income milestone posts to sell courses and systems that generate results only for the sellers.
PlatformFake Passive Income System Scams on Facebook
Facebook Groups and targeted ads promote passive income systems and automated business packages that promise hands-off earnings but deliver low-value content and require ongoing costs that exceed realistic returns.
PlatformFake Passive Income System Scams on Pinterest
Pinterest's planning and aspirational browsing context makes it effective for passive income course funnels that route pinners through a discovery journey before landing on high-ticket course checkouts.
PlatformFake Passive Income System Scams on X (Twitter)
X's finance and FIRE communities are targeted by passive income system sellers who use threads and engagement farming to build audiences before selling courses and newsletters that claim to teach automated wealth building.
PlatformPuppy Deposit Scams on Facebook
Facebook Marketplace and Groups host a high volume of fraudulent puppy listings where buyers are asked to pay deposits for puppies that do not exist, then face escalating fee demands before the puppy 'arrives'.
PlatformPuppy Deposit Scams on Nextdoor
Nextdoor's local verified community is exploited by puppy deposit scammers who use neighbourhood trust to make fraudulent listings appear credible, collecting deposits from neighbours for puppies that do not exist.
PlatformPuppy Deposit Scams on Instagram
Instagram's visual format and follow-based trust enable fake 'breeder' accounts to collect deposits from buyers for puppies that do not exist, using professionally photographed dogs stolen from real breeders.
PlatformPuppy Deposit Scams on Pinterest
Pinterest pins promoting puppy breeders route buyers to external sites or contact information where fraudulent breeders collect deposits for puppies that are never delivered.
PlatformFake Pet Breeder Scams on Facebook
Fake pet breeder accounts on Facebook Marketplace and Groups collect payments for non-existent animals using stolen photos, false breeding credentials, and emotionally compelling backstories.
PlatformFake Pet Breeder Scams on Instagram
Instagram accounts impersonating legitimate breeders collect purchase payments and deposits using stolen photos, fabricated litter announcements, and follow-up fee escalation tactics.
PlatformFake Pet Breeder Scams on Nextdoor
Nextdoor's local trust is exploited by pet breeder scammers who post neighbourhood-targeted listings using the platform's verification to lower buyer defences before collecting remote payments for animals that do not exist.
PlatformFake Pet Breeder Scams on Pinterest
Pinterest pins linking to fraudulent breeder websites collect payments from pet buyers who discover the listings through breed-specific searches and assume the polished presentation indicates legitimacy.
PlatformFake Pet Adoption Scams on Facebook
Facebook rescue Groups and Marketplace listings host fraudulent pet adoption posts that charge fees for animals that do not exist, exploiting the goodwill of people seeking to adopt rather than buy.
PlatformFake Pet Adoption Scams on Instagram
Instagram accounts impersonating animal rescue organisations collect rehoming fees and transport donations for non-existent animals using sympathetic content and urgent appeal language.
PlatformFake Pet Adoption Scams on Nextdoor
Nextdoor's neighbourhood trust context makes fake pet adoption posts especially convincing, with scammers using local framing to collect rehoming fees for animals that are never delivered.
PlatformFake Redelivery Card Scams on Nextdoor
Scammers use Nextdoor posts and messages to warn neighbours about fake parcel redelivery card schemes circulating in the area, sometimes as a pretext to distribute phishing links or as warnings that inadvertently increase the reach of the original scam.
PlatformFake Redelivery Card Scams on Facebook
Facebook posts and Messenger messages warning about parcel redelivery card scams are weaponised to distribute phishing links, while Facebook Groups about local deliveries are targeted by fake carrier messages.
PlatformFake Redelivery Card Scams on X (Twitter)
Scam accounts on X impersonate courier companies and send fake redelivery notifications via mentions and DMs, directing users to phishing sites that collect card details under the guise of a small redelivery fee.
PlatformParcel Locker Phishing on Nextdoor
Scammers post fake parcel locker access and fee notifications in neighbourhood Nextdoor Groups, routing users through phishing sites that harvest payment card details under the guise of small parcel release fees.
PlatformParcel Locker Phishing on Facebook
Facebook Groups and Messenger messages distribute fake parcel locker notifications that direct users to phishing sites collecting card details to pay fabricated locker access or customs fees.
PlatformParcel Locker Phishing on X (Twitter)
X is used to distribute fake parcel locker notifications and impersonate carrier support accounts, directing users who post about delivery problems toward phishing sites that collect payment card details.
PlatformFake Visa and Green Card Services on Facebook
Facebook ads and Pages promote fraudulent immigration assistance services that collect large fees for visa applications or green card processing they have no authority or ability to complete.
PlatformFake Visa and Green Card Services on YouTube
YouTube channels providing immigration guidance build audiences of people navigating visa and residency processes, then monetise with links to fraudulent paid services that overcharge or deliver nothing.
PlatformFake Visa and Green Card Services on LinkedIn
LinkedIn professionals seeking work visas or skilled migrant pathways are targeted by fraudulent immigration consultants who use the platform's professional credibility to charge large fees for services they cannot legally provide.
PlatformVisa Lottery Fee Scams on YouTube
YouTube channels targeting potential visa lottery participants collect application fees or processing charges for programmes that are either entirely free to enter or do not exist, exploiting viewers unfamiliar with official processes.
PlatformVisa Lottery Fee Scams on Facebook
Facebook ads and Pages targeting diaspora communities promote paid services for visa lottery programmes that are officially free, collecting fees and personal data from applicants who believe they are using an authorised agent.
PlatformVisa Lottery Fee Scams on LinkedIn
LinkedIn professionals are targeted by services claiming to offer advantaged or assisted visa lottery entries, collecting fees for official processes that require no third-party intermediary.
PaymentSeed Phrase Phishing Targeting Ethereum & Stablecoin Wallets
Scammers impersonate wallet support teams or DeFi protocols to trick holders of ETH and stablecoins into revealing their 12- or 24-word seed phrase, granting complete wallet access.
PaymentFake Airdrop Scams Using Ethereum & Stablecoins
Fraudsters advertise fake ETH or stablecoin airdrops to lure victims into connecting wallets and signing malicious approvals, resulting in asset theft rather than any payout.
PaymentCrypto Giveaway Scams via Bitcoin
Scammers impersonate celebrities or exchanges to promise doubled Bitcoin returns, collecting BTC sent by victims while delivering nothing in return.
PaymentFake Exchange Support Scams Targeting Bitcoin Users
Criminals pose as customer support agents for major Bitcoin exchanges to steal login credentials, 2FA codes, and direct Bitcoin transfers from victims seeking help.
PaymentRug Pull Scams via Ethereum & Stablecoins
Project founders drain liquidity pools funded by investors' ETH and stablecoins after a coordinated hype campaign, leaving token holders with worthless assets.
PaymentFake Staking Yield Scams via Ethereum & Stablecoins
Fraudulent staking platforms promise high annual yields on ETH or stablecoins but either steal deposited funds outright or operate Ponzi structures that collapse when withdrawals exceed new deposits.
PaymentFake Online Pharmacy Scams via Wire Transfer
Fraudulent online pharmacies request wire transfers for prescription medication orders, then deliver counterfeit or no products at all while keeping the funds.
PaymentCounterfeit Medicine Supply Scams via Wire Transfer
Fraudulent wholesale suppliers solicit wire transfers from businesses or individuals for bulk pharmaceutical orders, then deliver counterfeits or nothing at all.
PaymentFake Puppy & Pet Seller Scams via PayPal
Scammers list non-existent puppies or pets online, collect PayPal payments, and then demand additional payments for fake shipping, insurance, or vet fees before vanishing.
PaymentPuppy Deposit Scams via PayPal
Fraudulent breeders collect non-refundable PayPal deposits to 'hold' puppies that do not exist, then disappear or manufacture excuses to avoid delivery.
PaymentFake Charity Scams via Gift Cards
Fraudsters impersonate well-known charities or create convincing fake ones and pressure donors to contribute via gift cards — a payment method that is untraceable and non-refundable.
PaymentDisaster Relief Scams via Gift Cards
Fraudsters exploit public generosity after natural disasters or humanitarian crises by soliciting gift card donations for fake relief funds that pocket all proceeds.
PaymentForeign Lottery Scams via Wire Transfer
Victims receive unsolicited notifications that they have won a foreign lottery and must wire transfer fees and taxes to claim a prize that does not exist.
PaymentPrize Notification Scams via Gift Cards
Scammers tell victims they have won a car, holiday, or cash prize and must pay taxes or release fees via gift cards before the prize can be delivered.
PaymentFake Tax Office Scams via Gift Cards
Criminals impersonate tax authorities and threaten arrest or penalties unless the victim immediately pays an alleged outstanding tax debt using gift cards.