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Widespread scams with meaningful but usually more limited losses. (243 scam types.)
Fraudsters solicit 'in lieu of flowers' donations to a named charity following a death, but the charity is fake, unrelated to the family's wishes, or the donation link is fraudulent.
Adult & Creator-Platform ScamsA platform's pay-per-message token system is used to keep users paying for engagement with scripted operators or bots who have no intention of ever meeting in person.
AI-Era ScamsFabricated 'news articles' promoting scams, often using deepfakes and trusted-outlet branding.
AI-Era ScamsSellers use AI text generators to mass-produce fake five-star reviews that sound personal and specific, manipulating shoppers into buying poor-quality or non-existent products.
Payment Card & ATM FraudA device fitted over a cash machine's dispenser traps your banknotes as they are paid out. You see no cash, assume the withdrawal failed, and leave — then the scammer returns to remove the trap and take the money, while your account is still debited.
Subscription & Billing ScamsServices charge a large annual renewal without adequate warning, catching subscribers unaware and making it difficult to obtain a refund for an unwanted renewal.
MLM, Pyramid & Hustle ScamsMulti-level marketing schemes selling skincare, makeup, or beauty products through 'independent consultants' who are pushed toward recruitment and inventory purchases over genuine retail sales, resulting in losses for the majority of participants.
Gambling & Betting ScamsPaid software and subscriptions claiming to automatically find risk-free 'surebet' arbitrage opportunities across bookmakers, often nonfunctional or designed to drain accounts the scammer controls.
Gambling & Betting ScamsPaid tipping services that promise guaranteed or near-guaranteed winning bets through a subscription fee, using cherry-picked results and vanishing accounts to hide a losing track record.
Tech ScamsPages that fake a 'locked' or 'frozen' computer to force a call to fake support.
Online Shopping ScamsReceiving a parcel you never ordered sounds harmless, but it signals that scammers have your personal data and may be fraudulently boosting product reviews in your name.
Extortion & Blackmail ScamsA criminal contacts a small business claiming they will flood the company's website with spammy backlinks, fake reviews, or search-engine penalties unless the owner pays a recurring 'protection' fee.
Adult & Creator-Platform ScamsA live-cam performer or bot account uses escalating tip goals and moved goalposts to extract repeated payments for a private show or request that never fully materializes.
Payment Card & ATM FraudFraudsters with lists of stolen card numbers run floods of tiny charges through online checkouts to find which cards still work, then sell or spend the live ones. Cardholders see small mystery charges; merchants absorb the flood.
Benefits & Welfare ScamsScammers offer to help carers apply for or unlock a carer's allowance in exchange for a fee, exploiting unfamiliarity with a free, complex benefit system.
Home Services & Contractor ScamsRock-bottom advertised carpet cleaning prices are used to get a technician into the home, who then upsells mandatory add-ons at the door, often followed by rushed or damaging work.
Gambling & Betting ScamsOnline casinos that use deliberately vague or impossible bonus terms to confiscate deposits and winnings after the fact, citing 'bonus abuse' regardless of how the player actually played.
Street & In-Person ScamsA quick-change artist overloads a cashier with rapid, overlapping cash swaps mid-transaction, walking away with more money than they handed over. Busy tills and new staff are the prime targets.
Online Shopping ScamsScams targeting sellers, where buyers exploit chargebacks to get goods for free after paying.
Subscription & Billing ScamsSome fundraisers, both for genuine and fraudulent causes, sign donors up for open-ended monthly giving with the ongoing, indefinite nature and cancellation process left unclear or actively glossed over.
Faith & Religious ScamsImpersonation scams where a fraudster poses by text or email as a pastor, priest, or other clergy member urgently needing gift cards purchased on their behalf.
Street & In-Person ScamsStreet collectors with clipboards pose as charity fundraisers for causes like deaf or disabled children, taking cash donations that fund no charity at all.
Job & Income ScamsFake employers advertise salaried positions but switch candidates to an unpaid commission-only model after hiring, often after the candidate has already resigned from a previous role.
Ticket & Event ScamsFake or cloned professional conference registration sites collect payment and personal data for events that don't exist or registrations that are never processed.
Faith & Religious ScamsFraud targeting a congregation's benevolence or emergency assistance fund, either by fabricating hardship claims to receive payouts or by diverting fund donations meant to help members in need.
Job & Income ScamsFake content agencies or clients post writing jobs, then charge applicants a registration, training, or 'style guide' fee before any work begins — after which they disappear or provide no actual assignments.
Online Shopping ScamsFake or knock-off products sold as genuine, often unsafe and with no real warranty or returns.
Mail & Courier FraudFraudsters sell fake postage stamps or postage labels online at discounted prices; items sent with counterfeit postage are returned to senders or attract surcharge fees.
Adult & Creator-Platform ScamsA buyer fraudulently disputes a legitimate purchase, then threatens further chargebacks or platform reports against the creator unless paid again, weaponizing chargeback penalties as leverage.
Finance ScamsCompanies charging upfront fees to 'fix' your credit file using methods that are illegal, ineffective, or things you can do yourself for free.
Street & In-Person ScamsStreet currency exchangers lure tourists with above-market rates, then shortchange them through sleight of hand — folded notes, palmed bills, a recount that removes money — often ending with a 'police are coming' rush that stops the victim checking.
Auto & Vehicle ScamsUnlicensed dealers posing as private sellers to flip problem vehicles without dealer regulations, warranties, or consumer protections.
Travel ScamsMoney changers and cash handlers use sleight of hand, folded notes, confusing rates, and hidden fees to hand tourists less money than they are owed.
Identity Theft & Data ScamsScammers pose as data-removal services or privacy companies, claiming they have found your personal data on broker sites and offering to remove it — for a fee. In reality, your data may not be removed, and the scammer collects payment and further personal information.
Job & Income ScamsClassic 'easy data entry from home' offers built around upfront fees or impossible accuracy clauses.
Subscription & Billing ScamsDating apps often advertise a discounted introductory price for premium features while the subscription actually renews at a much higher rate, with cancellation only possible through a separate app-store menu that sign-up never mentions.
Bereavement & Inheritance ScamsScammers pose as tech support, platform 'legacy contact' services, or account recovery agents offering to unlock a deceased person's email, social media, or cloud accounts for a fee.
Business ScamsBusinesses are tricked into signing what looks like a free or one-time directory listing form that is actually a multi-year paid subscription with steep cancellation penalties.
Benefits & Welfare ScamsFake websites and callers charge inflated 'processing' or 'printing' fees to issue a disability parking permit that the real issuing authority provides for free or a small regulated cost.
Business ScamsFake 'your domain is expiring' notices that trick you into paying a bogus registrar or transferring your domain.
Charity & Disaster ScamsBogus collectors who visit homes with fake ID badges and collection materials to solicit cash donations for non-existent charities.
Online Shopping ScamsStores that secretly source cheap goods from wholesale suppliers at enormous markups, misrepresenting the product's origin and true value.
Crypto & Web3 ScamsAttackers send tiny amounts of cryptocurrency to target wallets to link pseudonymous addresses to real identities, enabling targeted phishing, extortion, or further wallet attacks.
MLM, Pyramid & Hustle ScamsMulti-level marketing schemes built around reselling household energy or utility contracts in deregulated markets, where independent 'consultants' earn most of their income from recruiting other consultants rather than genuine long-term customer retention.
Job & Income ScamsOne of the oldest work-from-home frauds — pay a fee, get instructions on how to run the same scam on others.
MLM, Pyramid & Hustle ScamsDirect-selling schemes built around essential oils that combine home-party recruitment tactics with exaggerated therapeutic claims, leaving most 'wellness advocates' with unsold stock and little income after mandatory monthly orders.
AI-Era ScamsBogus 'AI advisor' services that give harmful advice or harvest sensitive financial data.
Travel ScamsUnofficial websites and callers that charge fees to process airline refunds or flight compensation claims that passengers could pursue free of charge directly with the airline.
Travel ScamsFraudulent websites and touts sell pre-booked airport fast-track security, immigration, or check-in services that either do not exist or are available free, charging for something the passenger never receives.
Travel ScamsUnofficial 'taxi' and transfer touts who overcharge, reroute, or take prepayment and vanish.
Charity & Disaster ScamsFraudulent organisations claiming to rescue, rehome, or protect animals that collect donations or rehoming fees without ever helping any animal.
Housing & Rental ScamsScammers charge prospective renters an upfront 'application' or 'tour scheduling' fee for a unit viewing that never happens, often using photos of a real property they do not control.
Business ScamsBogus business leads, directory listings and 'renewal' invoices that charge for nothing of value.
Government Impersonation ScamsBogus 'you qualify for a benefit/grant' messages that harvest data or charge access fees.
Gaming ScamsFraudulent offers of early or exclusive game access used to steal payment details or account credentials.
Gambling & Betting ScamsFraudulent betting 'affiliate' or 'agent' programs that promise commission for referring new bettors but require an upfront bond or deposit, and never pay out earned commission.
Social Media & Account TakeoverUnsolicited messages invite users to become a 'brand ambassador', requesting an upfront kit fee, personal identification, or bank details in exchange for free products and commission that never materialise.
Adult & Creator-Platform ScamsA fraudulent creator-brand marketplace charges an upfront membership or application fee to access sponsorship opportunities that are vague, unresponsive, or never actually lead to paid work.
Business ScamsFraudsters posing as directory or map service representatives charge businesses to update or correct their online listings on platforms that offer this at no cost.
Imposter & Emergency ScamsA visitor or caller claims to be conducting an official government census or population survey, using the pretext to gather sensitive personal, financial, or household details, or to demand a payment for participation.
Government Impersonation ScamsImposters posing as census officials who harvest identity data or charge fake 'participation fees'.
Imposter & Emergency ScamsA person arrives at the door claiming to collect for a well-known or invented charity, often around disasters or seasonal appeals, and pressures the resident into an on-the-spot cash donation. No genuine charity funds ever reach the cause.
Ticket & Event ScamsScammers sell tickets to fabricated charity galas and fundraising dinners, or impersonate a genuine event's ticketing, keeping the money for themselves.
Charity & Disaster ScamsFraudulent lottery or prize draw schemes that falsely claim a charitable purpose, collecting ticket payments that are not applied to any genuine cause and often never running a legitimate prize draw.
Lottery & Prize ScamsFraudulent charity raffles and prize draws that collect ticket payments without running a real draw, donating to charity, or awarding prizes.
Online Shopping ScamsProducts sold with a promise to donate a portion of proceeds to a named cause, where no meaningful donation is made and the charitable claim is used purely to justify the purchase.
Legal & Immigration ScamsServices that charge for citizenship test preparation claiming to be official or to improve pass rates through back channels, but provide nothing beyond free public materials.
Legal & Immigration ScamsFraudulent websites or operators who collect a fee to file a class action claim on your behalf, when no genuine class action exists or no service is provided.
Tech Scams'Your storage is full' or 'shared file' messages that phish your cloud or email login.
Lottery & Prize ScamsFraudulent competitions designed to harvest personal data, charge entry fees, or deliver worthless prizes instead of the advertised ones.
Online Shopping ScamsFraudulent sites selling official band or artist merchandise collect payments and either deliver counterfeits or nothing at all, trading on fan loyalty and event excitement.
Social Media & Account TakeoverFraudulent offers to enrol creators in monetisation programmes, ad revenue sharing, or brand fund access — all requiring upfront fees or credential submission.
Extortion & Blackmail ScamsScammers send false copyright infringement notices threatening to have a website, social media account, or content removed unless a licensing fee or settlement is paid, often to a fraudulent entity.
Imposter & Emergency ScamsSomeone poses as a local council or municipal official conducting a required inspection, survey, or benefit review, using official-sounding language and paperwork to gain entry to a home or extract personal and financial details.
Mail & Courier FraudFraudsters pose as a courier's insurance or claims department after a real or claimed lost/damaged shipment, harvesting bank details and ID or charging a fake processing fee for a payout that never arrives.
Legal & Immigration ScamsFraudulent training and certification programs charge aspiring court interpreters for credentials that are not recognized by any court system, leaving them unable to work in the role they paid to qualify for.
Adult & Creator-Platform ScamsCloned or invented subscription pages sell access to a creator's paid content that does not exist or is never delivered, often at a suspiciously discounted price.
AI-Era ScamsAI chatbots posing as brand support to extract logins, payments or remote access.
Tech ScamsFraudulent services charge recurring fees to remove personal information from data broker sites but perform no work or provide a service anyone can do for free.
Mail & Courier FraudFraudulent texts claiming to be from a delivery driver ask recipients to send a small 'tip' through a payment link, which is actually used to capture payment details or account credentials.
Insurance ScamsDiscount 'dental and vision plans' sold as insurance that turn out to be unregulated discount cards or non-existent cover, leaving members to pay full price at the point of treatment.
Online Shopping ScamsBogus voucher and coupon offers used to harvest data or lure shoppers to fake checkout pages.
Telecom & Account ScamsScammers call or message claiming to represent the official Do Not Call registry, saying a fee, personal details, or 'verification' is needed to keep or add a number on the list — a service that is actually free and requires no such payment.
Subscription & Billing ScamsUnofficial companies send invoice-style notices mimicking a domain registrar, warning that a domain or hosting plan is about to expire, to trick owners into paying inflated fees to the wrong company or handing over control of the domain.
MLM, Pyramid & Hustle ScamsPaid dropshipping courses and mentorship programs that showcase inflated revenue claims and pay a referral commission for recruiting new students, generating most of the mentor's real income from course sales rather than genuine e-commerce success.
Government Impersonation ScamsFraudsters send official-looking messages claiming voter registration has lapsed and directing recipients to fake sites that harvest identity data or charge unnecessary fees.
Pet & Animal ScamsWebsites sell worthless ESA registration certificates, ID cards, and vests that have no legal standing, misleading buyers into believing their pet has official status.
Job & Income ScamsOfficial-looking contracts and offer letters used to legitimise fees, data theft, or mule activity.
Travel ScamsFraudulent eSIM activation sites and fake roaming packages that charge for data connectivity that never works.
Legal & Immigration ScamsFraudulent websites mimic official electronic travel authorization or eVisa application portals, charging travelers inflated or entirely fake fees for a document that is either never delivered or freely available at low cost from the real government site.
Utility & Energy ScamsScammers offer a government-sounding grant or subsidy for installing an electric vehicle home charger, using it to collect upfront fees or sell overpriced installations that never fully materialize.
Online Shopping ScamsUnsolicited calls or messages claiming your product warranty is expiring and pressuring you to buy a worthless extended plan.
Auto & Vehicle ScamsUnsolicited calls or mailers pushing worthless 'vehicle protection' policies that cover almost nothing and are nearly impossible to claim on.
Online Shopping ScamsArtificial urgency tactics — countdown timers and fake limited stock warnings — used to pressure buyers into fast decisions on fraudulent or overpriced offers.
Travel ScamsFraudulent emails and texts pose as airline upgrade offers, harvesting card details or account credentials from passengers willing to pay a fee to move to business or premium class.
Social Media & Account TakeoverServices selling artificial followers, likes, or comments that deliver bot accounts, steal credentials, or enable ongoing billing fraud.
Imposter & Emergency ScamsA message arrives claiming to be from a known contact who has a new phone number, quickly followed by a request for money or personal information. The sender is a scammer, not the friend.
Insurance ScamsPhone, laptop, and electronics protection plans sold at checkout or online that collect monthly premiums but deny or ignore claims when a device is lost, stolen, or damaged.
Gaming ScamsFraudulent or grey-market game key sellers delivering invalid, region-locked, or already-used activation keys.
Gaming ScamsFraudulent 'paid game tester' job offers ask applicants to pay for equipment, software, or registration fees, or to complete tasks that harvest personal and financial information, with no real job behind the offer.
Government Impersonation ScamsPromises of free government grant money that require fees or bank details to 'release'.
Extortion & Blackmail ScamsA caller, texter, or social media contact claims your device's camera has been compromised by malware and demands payment to stop them releasing footage that was never captured.
Job & Income ScamsFraudulent brand partnership offers that require social media creators to pay upfront fees, buy products, or share personal bank details before receiving payment.
Education & Student ScamsFraudulent agencies and 'placement companies' charge students an upfront fee to guarantee an internship with a well-known employer, delivering little or nothing in return.
Job & Income ScamsBogus interviews via chat used to collect personal data or push equipment/onboarding fees.
Business ScamsBogus legal demands — copyright, debt, or lawsuits — pressuring businesses to pay or click.
Travel ScamsBogus claims handlers and imposter airline services that charge processing fees to access compensation that either doesn't exist or is freely available through official channels.
Pet & Animal ScamsFraudulent 'professional pet recovery' operators charge upfront fees for specialist tracking services, provide vague updates on fabricated leads, and conduct little or no genuine search effort.
Online Shopping ScamsFraudsters send fake alerts claiming your retail or shopping loyalty points are about to expire, directing you to phishing pages that harvest account credentials or card details.
Subscription & Billing ScamsFraudulent texts and emails claim a loyalty or rewards programme is expiring and demand a small renewal fee, using the threat of losing accumulated points to harvest card details and set up recurring charges.
Auto & Vehicle ScamsDishonest repair shops and mobile mechanics who invent faults, perform unnecessary work, or massively overcharge for simple repairs on vehicles brought in for service.
Utility & Energy ScamsCallers or doorstep visitors using a bogus meter reading pretext to gain home access, steal personal data, or charge for unnecessary services.
Business ScamsFraudsters send invoices for office supplies or services never ordered, hoping that busy accounts payable departments will pay without verifying the underlying transaction.
Education & Student ScamsNon-existent or vastly misrepresented online courses that take payment and deliver little or no educational content.
Faith & Religious ScamsBot and impersonation accounts that flood a church's live-streamed sermon chat with fake 'official' donation links, skimming giving away from the real broadcast in real time.
Extortion & Blackmail ScamsA scammer claims to have compiled a detailed 'open-source intelligence' dossier on the victim — home address, workplace, family members, daily routine — and threatens to publish it unless paid, when in reality the information is ordinary public data dressed up to sound alarming.
Social Media & Account TakeoverScammers exploit the existence of genuine paid verification subscriptions by offering to sell badges through unofficial channels or fake discounted bundles, collecting payment or credentials without ever delivering real verification.
Business ScamsBogus business partnerships or distribution deals used to extract fees, stock, or sensitive data.
Education & Student ScamsFraud built on the machinery of scholarly credit: forged peer reviews written through fake reviewer identities, paid citation rings that inflate metrics, and bogus editorial-board or reviewer invitations that harvest fees and lend stolen credibility to sham venues.
Pet & Animal ScamsFraudulent online stores advertise heavily discounted premium pet food, treats, or supplements, take payment, and either ship nothing, ship counterfeit or expired product, or disappear entirely.
Insurance ScamsFraudulent or near-worthless pet insurance policies that collect premiums but deny almost every vet claim through hidden exclusions or outright non-existence.
Pet & Animal ScamsUnregistered pages and organisations solicit ongoing donations for animal shelters or disaster relief using distressing imagery, but provide no verifiable accounting or evidence funds reach any real animals.
Street & In-Person ScamsStrangers ask you to sign a petition for a sympathetic cause, then demand a donation — and the clipboard often doubles as cover for pickpocketing.
Mail & Courier FraudFraudsters advertise non-existent PO boxes or mail-handling addresses, collect rental fees, and never provide any postal service — leaving victims without mail access.
Job & Income ScamsFraudulent 'product testing' schemes promise free products and payment to consumers but charge upfront fees, harvest personal data, or deliver counterfeit goods while collecting real payment details.
Education & Student ScamsScammers impersonate certification or licensing bodies, warning that a professional credential is about to lapse and demanding an urgent renewal fee, often through a fake portal that also harvests personal data.
Job & Income ScamsFraudulent proofreading employers recruit applicants and charge them for a certification course or training material as a condition of employment — no actual proofreading work ever follows.
Pet & Animal ScamsSellers provide counterfeit pedigree or breed-registration documents to make a mixed-breed or unregistered animal appear to be a verifiable purebred, inflating the price and misleading the buyer.
Mail & Courier FraudCriminals place counterfeit 'we missed you' delivery cards through letterboxes, directing victims to phishing sites or premium-rate phone lines to 'rebook' a delivery.
Charity & Disaster ScamsFraudulent door-to-door or street collections that use religious imagery and charitable language to solicit cash donations that reach no genuine faith organisation or cause.
Insurance ScamsFraudulent or non-existent renters insurance policies sold to tenants — often bundled into the leasing process — that pay nothing when belongings are stolen, damaged, or destroyed.
Extortion & Blackmail ScamsCriminals post false negative reviews on a business listing and then offer to remove them for a fee, or threaten to flood the listing with further fake reviews unless money is paid.
Online Shopping ScamsManipulated or entirely fabricated product reviews used to steer shoppers toward low-quality, counterfeit, or non-existent products.
Pet & Animal ScamsFraudulent operators sell official-looking service dog certificates, ID cards, and vests with little or no genuine training, exploiting the lack of a universal legal certification requirement.
Mail & Courier FraudFraudsters offer heavily discounted or 'buyer-paid' shipping labels generated through fake or stolen-account platforms that later get voided, leaving sellers out of pocket or their parcels undelivered.
Job & Income ScamsScammers impersonate legitimate search and social media quality evaluation programmes, charging fake application or certification fees or collecting identity documents without ever providing paid work.
Tech ScamsBogus 'update required' prompts that install malware instead of genuine updates.
Government Impersonation ScamsMessages claiming a government stimulus payment is waiting but requires fees or banking details to release.
Pet & Animal ScamsFraudsters advertise pedigree stud dogs or cats with fabricated credentials, collecting stud fees or deposits for services never rendered.
Health & Medical ScamsHeavily marketed health supplements sold through deceptive free-trial offers that hide recurring high-cost subscription charges in difficult-to-cancel billing arrangements.
Education & Student ScamsFraudulent textbook rental sites and marketplace listings take payment for course materials that are never shipped, are counterfeit, or are never returned at the promised refund.
Travel ScamsUnlicensed guides and bogus tour operators who take payment for tours that don't happen as promised.
Online Shopping ScamsSellers provide bogus or recycled tracking numbers to delay disputes until protection windows close.
Business ScamsOfficial-looking invoices for trademark 'registration', 'renewal' or 'publication' from bogus bodies.
Government Impersonation ScamsFraudsters send convincing fake traffic-fine notices claiming a speed camera or red-light camera captured the victim's vehicle, then direct victims to fraudulent payment portals that steal money and card details.
Job & Income ScamsFraudulent transcription employers advertise easy home-based audio transcription work, then charge applicants for training or certification before providing any work — after which they disappear.
Street & In-Person ScamsAn impostor in a uniform or with a flashed badge boards a bus, tram, or metro, declares your ticket invalid, and demands an on-the-spot cash "fine" — often inflated, cash-only, and with no valid ID or official receipt. Tourists are the prime targets.
Job & Income ScamsFraudulent translation agencies recruit linguists with attractive per-word rates, then charge upfront fees for software, certification, or testing before vanishing or providing no actual work.
Travel ScamsBogus policies that take premiums for cover that doesn't exist or won't pay valid claims.
Travel ScamsFraudsters posing as loyalty scheme support or third-party brokers steal frequent flyer and hotel points by requesting account credentials or directing victims to fake transfer sites.
Travel ScamsFraudsters threaten to post fabricated negative reviews about a traveller's business or personal travel unless a fee is paid, or demand payments from hospitality businesses in exchange for removing damaging fake reviews.
Utility & Energy ScamsRogue traders demanding upfront payment for tree removal or garden work they never complete, or using utility-risk framing to pressure quick decisions.
Education & Student ScamsOnline tutoring platforms and 'homework help' services lock students and parents into recurring subscriptions that are hard to cancel, deliver little or no real tutoring, or use unqualified tutors while billing premium rates.
Business ScamsInvoices for goods or services never ordered, or duplicate 'overdue' demands, hoping you'll just pay.
Subscription & Billing ScamsClicking an 'unsubscribe' link in a spam or scam email confirms your address is active, leading to more spam, credential phishing, or malware download rather than stopping messages.
Imposter & Emergency ScamsA caller claiming to be from a utility company says there is an urgent problem with the victim's account or service — an overdue bill, a technical fault, or an emergency situation — and demands immediate payment or personal details.
Utility & Energy ScamsBogus notifications claiming you are owed a refund or rebate from your energy or water provider.
Government Impersonation ScamsUnofficial websites or texts charging inflated fees for vehicle registration, road tax renewal, or MOT reminders that duplicate official free services.
Pet & Animal ScamsIndividuals create false crowdfunding campaigns claiming a pet needs urgent, expensive veterinary treatment, collecting donations that are used for personal gain rather than any animal's care.
Online Shopping ScamsFraudulent warranty registration sites that harvest personal and payment data under the guise of activating a product guarantee.
Utility & Energy ScamsCallers claiming your tap water is contaminated and selling unnecessary or useless filtration equipment.
Health & Medical ScamsProducts claiming to cause significant weight loss without diet or exercise changes — often sold via aggressive subscription traps.
Charity & Disaster ScamsFraudulent organisations claiming to train guide dogs, assistance animals, or working dogs that collect donations without funding any genuine animal welfare or training programme.
Gambling & Betting ScamsFake or unlicensed daily fantasy sports platforms that collect real-money entry fees for contests but never pay out advertised prizes.
Gambling & Betting ScamsUnlicensed gaming venues and tampered in-shop betting terminals that manipulate machine outcomes or invoke fake 'malfunction' clauses to deny players large wins.
Payment Card & ATM FraudPay-at-pump terminals place holds far larger than the fuel bought, sometimes freezing hundreds against a card for days — and some stations pair opaque holds with rigged pumps, unreset meters, or attendant sleight-of-card to overcharge drivers outright.
Bereavement & Inheritance ScamsGrieving families are pressured into overpriced funeral packages, hidden fees, or unnecessary add-ons at the moment they are least likely to compare prices or push back.
Bereavement & Inheritance ScamsScammers post fake "watch the funeral live here" links under genuine obituary and memorial posts, then demand card "verification" or a subscription to view — exploiting grieving relatives and distant friends who cannot attend in person.
Street & In-Person ScamsA friendly tuk-tuk driver, taxi driver, or "helpful local" reroutes tourists to a gem, tailor, or handicraft shop — often with a story that the attraction is closed — where wildly overpriced or fake goods are sold and the guide collects a commission.
Bereavement & Inheritance ScamsFraudulent genealogy researchers claim to have uncovered a valuable family connection or unclaimed inheritance through ancestry research, charging fees for fabricated or worthless findings.
Job & Income ScamsFraudulent apps and websites promise earnings for clicking ads or completing simple digital tasks, but never pay out — they harvest personal data, generate ad revenue for the operator, or require fees that exceed any payout.
Finance ScamsInfluencers and online marketers sell expensive courses, mentorship programmes, or masterclasses promising rapid wealth through trading, dropshipping, or passive income strategies, delivering little of practical value.
Online Shopping ScamsTampered or compromised gift cards sold online or in shops where the balance has already been secretly emptied by the fraudster.
Social Media & Account TakeoverFake prize notifications sent by DM that lead to credential-phishing pages or trick winners into authorising malicious apps.
Subscription & Billing ScamsRecurring charges that were technically authorised but never consciously intended — from forgotten trials, confusing sign-ups, or buried renewal terms — drain accounts over months or years.
Bereavement & Inheritance ScamsSelf-described psychics or mediums exploit bereaved people's desire to reconnect with a deceased loved one, using cold-reading techniques to justify escalating, often ongoing payments.
Online Shopping ScamsFraudulent group-buy deals promise steep discounts when enough buyers join, but the required threshold is never reached honestly, no goods are delivered, and the organiser vanishes with all deposits.
Home Services & Contractor ScamsDoor-to-door solicitors offer cheap gutter cleaning, collect a cash payment, spend minutes on the roof doing little or no work, and leave before the homeowner can verify the result.
Subscription & Billing ScamsSome gyms and fitness chains design cancellation processes to be so slow, restrictive, or unreliable that members continue paying for memberships they no longer use.
Finance ScamsA fraudulent or absconding informal money-transfer agent takes cash to send abroad — promising a better rate, no paperwork, and faster delivery than a bank — and the money never reaches the family waiting for it.
Education & Student ScamsFraudsters build a counterfeit website for a real, respected academic journal — copying its exact title, ISSN, and branding — then collect submission and publication fees from authors who believe they are dealing with the genuine journal.
Faith & Religious ScamsThe sale of fabricated or misrepresented religious relics, artefacts, or blessed items — often at inflated prices — to collectors and devout buyers seeking spiritual or historical significance.
Gambling & Betting ScamsPaid 'syndicate' services claiming insider connections to jockeys, trainers, or stable staff for guaranteed winning horse racing tips, charging subscription or profit-share fees for advice that performs no better than chance.
Gambling & Betting ScamsAutomated bots and software sold as capable of placing profitable live, in-play sports bets faster than a human, often nonfunctional and sometimes used to gain direct access to a victim's bookmaker account.
Social Media & Account TakeoverCounterfeit brand partnership offers that harvest credentials, extract fees, or obtain personal data under the guise of a paid sponsorship deal.
Tech ScamsTampered public USB charging ports that steal data or install malware while your device charges.
Pet & Animal ScamsScammers contact owners of genuinely missing pets, claim to have found the animal, and demand a reward or 'recovery fee' before a pet that was never in their possession is handed over.
Tech ScamsAggressive popups and fake alerts that push malware downloads or fake support numbers.
Finance ScamsScammers charge for matched betting software or arbitrage alerts that do not work as advertised, steal account credentials, or expose victims to money-laundering risks.
Gambling & Betting ScamsPaid courses and software claiming to teach a 'risk-free' method of profiting from bookmaker bonuses, charging high upfront fees for outdated, ineffective, or misrepresented techniques.
Subscription & Billing ScamsMeal-kit delivery services often default every future box to 'active and billing' unless the customer manually skips or pauses it before an early cutoff, leading to unwanted boxes and charges that are hard to reverse.
Bereavement & Inheritance ScamsFraudsters set up fake fundraising pages 'in memory of' a deceased person, sometimes using a real death from local news, to collect donations that never reach the family.
Job & Income ScamsBogus talent agencies that charge upfront fees for portfolios, headshots, or training with no genuine industry access.
Imposter & Emergency ScamsA scammer calls using a phone number with the same area code or prefix as the victim's own number, making the call appear to come from a nearby or familiar source. The familiar number makes the victim more likely to answer and comply.
Telecom & Account ScamsScammers spoof caller ID to display a phone number with the same area code and first few digits as the person being called, exploiting the assumption that a 'neighbor' number is a local, trustworthy caller.
Bereavement & Inheritance ScamsScammers scan published obituaries and death notices to identify grieving families, then target them with tailored phishing calls, emails, or fake delivery and debt scams built around known details of the deceased.
Telecom & Account ScamsYour phone rings once from an unfamiliar international number and disconnects, enticing you to call back — connecting you to a premium-rate line that charges by the minute.
Faith & Religious ScamsRecurring-billing scams tied to online religious content, courses, or community memberships that are misrepresented, never delivered, or difficult or impossible to cancel.
Job & Income ScamsFraudulent survey and market-research panel sites promise significant pay-per-survey income but pocket sign-up fees, sell personal data, or keep earnings locked behind impossible cashout thresholds.
Education & Student ScamsCommercial "paper mills" sell ghostwritten essays, theses, fabricated research papers, and even authorship slots on manuscripts. Buyers risk plagiarised or recycled work, academic ruin if caught — and blackmail, because the mill keeps the receipts and knows exactly who paid.
Finance ScamsA seller or buyer insists on paying by PayPal Friends & Family "to avoid fees" — which strips away PayPal's Purchase Protection, so there is no dispute path when the item never arrives, is fake, or the payment is falsely reversed.
Pet & Animal ScamsFraudulent or unreliable pet sitters and boarding providers collect full prepayment, often steered outside a platform's protected payment system, then fail to appear or provide the promised care.
Telecom & Account ScamsThird-party 'unlocking services' advertised online charge upfront fees to remove a carrier lock from a phone, then deliver nothing, an invalid code, or a service that bricks or blacklists the device.
Telecom & Account ScamsFake carrier upgrade offers or impersonators trick you into handing over personal details, paying fees, or giving up your device in exchange for a promised upgrade that never arrives.
Education & Student ScamsFake or sham open-access journals flatter researchers with solicitation emails, accept almost any manuscript, and charge article-processing fees while providing no genuine peer review — leaving authors out of pocket and their work stranded in a venue that damages their reputation.
Adult & Creator-Platform ScamsPaid direct-message features are staffed by uncredited chat operators or bots impersonating the creator, extending paid conversation without the subscriber's knowledge.
Ticket & Event ScamsScammers phish for artist or event presale access codes, then use or resell them before genuine fans can access early ticket sales.
Health & Medical ScamsFake or misleading pharmacy discount cards that charge membership fees for minimal savings, harvest personal health data, or misrepresent themselves as insurance.
Home Services & Contractor ScamsWorkers offer on-the-spot pressure washing at a low price, collect payment upfront, and use insufficient equipment or technique that leaves surfaces dirty or causes damage.
Social Media & Account TakeoverDuplicate profiles built using your public photos and name to scam your contacts or tarnish your reputation.
AI-Era ScamsAttackers hide instructions inside web pages, emails, documents, images, or reviews that your AI assistant reads and obeys — quietly leaking your data, approving a payment, or acting against you while you trust the machine.
Lottery & Prize ScamsFraudulent raffles that collect ticket sales without conducting a fair draw, delivering no prize to any genuine participant.
Social Media & Account TakeoverFake 'monetization team' messages target short-form video creators with promises of instant Reels or Shorts bonus payouts, using look-alike dashboards or upfront 'activation fees' to steal credentials and money.
Business ScamsBuyers — and paid "refunder" services sold on messaging apps — abuse merchants' refund, return, and chargeback processes to get their money back while keeping the goods, using false "not received" claims, empty-box returns, wardrobing, and chargeback abuse.
Faith & Religious ScamsFraudulent appraisal services that charge an upfront fee to authenticate a religious item the victim already owns, then deliver a fabricated verdict or fail to return the item at all.
Charity & Disaster ScamsFraudulent appeals exploiting religious faith and community trust to solicit donations for fake missions, churches, or humanitarian work.
Faith & Religious ScamsFraudulent scholarship or seminary funding offers tied to a faith community that require upfront 'processing' or 'registration' fees before any award is released.
Charity & Disaster ScamsFundraising committees and fake campaign appeals raise political donations that never reach any candidate or cause — the money cycles into the operators' own fundraising vendors and pockets.
Ticket & Event ScamsFraudulent transfers of season ticket memberships or single-game seats from season ticket holders leave buyers without valid access after payment.
Lottery & Prize ScamsFraudulent second-chance draw promotions that collect non-winning ticket numbers and personal details to charge fees or commit identity fraud.
Lottery & Prize ScamsFake giveaways promoted on social platforms to collect personal information, extract fees, or push victims to phishing sites.
Finance ScamsFraudsters sell supposedly expert sports betting tips or access to insider information, collecting subscription fees while providing picks that perform no better than chance.
Mail & Courier FraudOpportunistic thieves monitor delivery drivers and steal unattended parcels from doorsteps, porches, and communal entrance areas shortly after delivery.
Subscription & Billing ScamsBundled subscription deals advertise one simple price but often consist of multiple independent subscriptions with separate renewal dates, price increases, and cancellation processes that are not clearly disclosed at sign-up.
Extortion & Blackmail ScamsA scammer claims to have obtained a victim's private subscription or purchase history on an embarrassing or sensitive platform and threatens to expose the list to contacts, family, or employers unless paid.
Travel ScamsDrivers refuse the meter, rig it, or quote inflated flat fares to overcharge tourists, sometimes adding detours to commission-paying shops along the way.
Telecom & Account ScamsUnauthorised third-party charges are added to your phone bill without your consent, often disguised as service subscriptions or premium content fees you never signed up for.
Ticket & Event ScamsFake or non-existent tickets for popular theatre and stage shows are sold through unofficial resale channels, often targeting tourists and gift buyers.
Ticket & Event ScamsDeeply discounted theme park tickets sold through unofficial resellers turn out to be fake, already used, or restricted in ways buyers weren't told about.
Street & In-Person ScamsA rigged street betting game where a dealer invites you to track a card or hidden ball. Planted winners draw you in, sleight of hand guarantees you lose, and pickpockets often work the crowd.
MLM, Pyramid & Hustle ScamsPaid membership programs promising exclusive ticket pre-sale access and bulk-buying software for reselling profit, which pay a referral commission for recruiting new members and generate most revenue from membership fees rather than genuine ticket arbitrage.
Adult & Creator-Platform ScamsA buyer 'accidentally' overpays for tipped content or a custom request, then asks the creator to refund the difference to a different account, before reversing the original payment entirely.
Bereavement & Inheritance ScamsFraudulent or fly-by-night memorial masonry sellers take a deposit for a custom headstone or grave marker, then deliver nothing, deliver a substandard product, or disappear entirely.
Travel ScamsFraudsters posing as courier companies or embassy agents demand payment for 'customs fees' or 'release charges' on supposed travel documents being delivered, then collect the fee and deliver nothing.
Tech ScamsPlanted USB drives loaded with malware that exploit curiosity to compromise devices.
Job & Income ScamsFake literary agents charge reading and representation fees, and predatory 'hybrid publishers' sell thousands of dollars of packages — inverting the rule that in publishing, money flows to the author.
Auto & Vehicle ScamsUnsolicited robocalls claiming your vehicle warranty is expiring and pressuring you to purchase a worthless extended service contract from an unregulated third party.
Finance ScamsA stranger sends you money "by mistake," then urgently asks you to send it back to a different account. When the original charge is reversed as fraud, you are left out the money you forwarded.
Telecom & Account ScamsFraudsters promise — or impersonate the process of obtaining — official social media or platform verification badges, charging fees or stealing credentials in the process.
Charity & Disaster ScamsFraudulent overseas volunteering organisations that charge placement or programme fees for positions that do not exist or for experiences grossly misrepresented from reality.
Insurance ScamsUnsolicited calls and letters claiming your warranty or insurance is about to expire — pressuring you into paying for a renewal or product you do not need.
Ticket & Event ScamsFake or vanishing photographers, venues, planners, and entertainers collect wedding deposits — or full payments — and then disappear, cancel at the last minute, or never existed at all.
Ticket & Event ScamsScammers sell fake festival or event wristband upgrades promising better access, viewing areas, or amenities that the upgrade never actually provides.