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Scams aimed at parents, grandparents, and families — family-emergency cons and child-focused scams. (108 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.
A caller claims a family member has been seriously injured in an accident and that the victim must send money immediately to cover medical treatment or transport. The accident is invented.
Fraudsters posing as expectant mothers or as adoption agencies collect 'expenses' and fees from hopeful adoptive parents for a placement that was never going to happen.
Scammers use AI voice cloning to simulate a panicked loved one and demand ransom before the 'victim' can be reached.
A caller claims a family member has been arrested and needs bail money sent urgently before they can be released. The arrest is entirely fabricated.
Multi-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.
AI-generated voice clones and face-swapped video are used to defeat voice and facial recognition authentication, impersonate victims to banks and contacts, and authorize fraudulent transactions that sound and look convincingly like the real person.
A confidence scam in which victims are persuaded to exchange their own money or valuables for supposedly 'blessed' cash or objects that are later found to be worthless or stolen outright.
Scammers 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.
Rock-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.
Schemes where participants send money to names on a list, add their own name, and forward the message with the promise of receiving money from future participants — mathematically unsustainable and illegal in most jurisdictions.
Phishing messages impersonate the child benefit agency, claiming payments are paused unless parents 'update' their bank or personal details through a fake link.
Scams and manipulative practices targeting children into making real-money purchases in or around games without parental awareness.
A child's Social Security Number or national identifier is used to open credit accounts, take out loans, or commit tax fraud — sometimes going undetected for years until the child applies for a student loan or their first credit card as an adult.
Sellers on marketplaces and social media take payment for preorders of highly anticipated consoles or limited hardware bundles that are never delivered, exploiting scarcity around launch periods.
Fraudsters contact surviving family members claiming the deceased owed a debt that must be paid immediately, exploiting confusion about what obligations, if any, actually transfer after death.
Scammers exploit the window between a death and a financial institution being notified to gain unauthorized access to the deceased's real bank, investment, or trading accounts and drain them directly.
Fraudsters use the identity of a recently deceased person to open credit accounts, file tax returns, or claim benefits before the death is formally recorded in financial and government databases — a practice known as 'ghosting'.
Cloned voices of family members or executives used to authorise urgent payments or 'rescues'.
Scammers 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.
Sudden 'crisis' stories — accidents, arrests, stranded abroad — engineered to rush money out of you.
Multi-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.
One of the oldest work-from-home frauds — pay a fee, get instructions on how to run the same scam on others.
Direct-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.
Scammers claim a deceased person's bank or investment account is 'frozen' or 'locked' and demand a fee from the family to release funds — a step no genuine bank ever requires.
Appeals that solicit payment in exchange for a promised miraculous healing, targeting people or families facing serious illness with no medical outcome ever delivered.
Callers posing as child support enforcement agencies threatening arrest or licence suspension to force payment or data.
Scammers pose as administrators of a childcare subsidy or voucher scheme, telling parents a registration or release fee must be paid before approved funding can be paid out.
Fraudulent organisations that use images and stories of children in need to solicit donations that never reach any child welfare cause.
Fraudulent 'research' opportunities that extract fees, personal information, or expose participants to harm under the guise of medical studies.
Criminals recruit victims as 'package managers' or home-based couriers, using them to receive, repackage, and reship fraudulently purchased goods to conceal the crime trail.
Fraudulent campaigns on legitimate fundraising platforms that fabricate personal hardship stories to collect donations for non-existent causes.
Discount '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.
Scammers impersonate disaster relief agencies to steal personal data, advance fees, or direct genuine aid applicants to fraudulent portals that capture sensitive information.
Scammers offer DNA testing services claiming results will prove family relationships needed for an immigration or family reunification case, charging high fees for tests that are not accepted by the actual immigration authority or are never properly conducted.
Scammers claim students or parents qualify for a government education grant and charge a processing or 'release' fee to access money that does not exist or was never available through the impersonated agency.
A caller posing as a consular or embassy official contacts a family member claiming their relative is being detained abroad and requires urgent payment for fees or fines before they can be released.
Scammers charge students and parents a fee to 'complete' or 'fast-track' the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), a form that is genuinely free to file directly with the government.
Phone, 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.
Impostors posing as a game publisher's refund or billing support team contact players about a supposed accidental charge, then use the 'refund' process to extract payment or remote access instead.
A caller claims to be hospital staff informing the victim that a relative has been admitted after an accident or sudden illness, and requests urgent payment for treatment, transport, or paperwork before the family member can be seen or discharged.
Scammers contact families of detained immigrants claiming a bond payment must be sent immediately through an unofficial channel to secure release, exploiting the urgency and fear surrounding detention.
Individuals posing as qualified immigration attorneys who take fees, provide incompetent or fraudulent services, and disappear before clients realise the harm done.
Strangers claim you are entitled to a large unclaimed inheritance but demand fees, taxes, and legal costs before the windfall can be released.
An unsolicited email or letter claims the recipient is heir to a large, unclaimed estate from a distant or unknown relative, then demands fees to 'release' funds that do not exist.
Scammers pose as attorneys or estate administrators contacting people about a supposed inheritance from a distant or unknown relative, requesting fees to release funds that do not actually exist.
A caller posing as a lawyer contacts a family member claiming to represent a relative who has been arrested, and requests an urgent fee for legal representation or bail assistance. No arrest has occurred.
Invented illnesses or accidents used to extract money for treatment that doesn't exist.
Counterfeit, substandard, or never-delivered medical devices sold online — from PPE to oxygen concentrators and diagnostic devices.
Fraudulent parental monitoring apps charge subscription fees, harvest children's data, or install malware while providing no genuine monitoring capability.
Scammers create or misuse a power of attorney document to gain control over someone's finances, property, or legal decisions, often targeting elderly or vulnerable individuals who are pressured or deceived into signing.
Fraudulent '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.
Fraudulent 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.
Fake scholarship programmes that charge an application or processing fee to students for awards that do not exist or were never available to applicants.
A person claiming to be a social worker or child welfare officer contacts a parent or guardian, alleging a concern about their child that requires an urgent home visit, payment, or disclosure of personal details, exploiting fear over losing custody or facing an investigation.
Fraudsters 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.
Online 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.
Fraudsters send fake or spoofed acceptance letters demanding an urgent enrollment deposit to secure a place, targeting students and parents excited about a college offer.
Scammers impersonate immigration authorities by phone, email, or text, claiming a pending application has a problem that requires an urgent 'processing fee,' 'reactivation fee,' or 'correction fee' paid outside official channels.
Bogus organisations claiming to support military veterans or their families that pocket donated funds rather than delivering any services.
Fraudulent organisations using military or veterans' imagery to collect donations that never reach serving personnel, veterans, or their families.
Scammers sell fabricated VIP packages promising backstage access or meet-and-greets with performers that were never authorized or arranged.
Fraudulent companies and individuals who charge fees to prepare visa or green card applications but provide worthless or non-existent services.
Callers claiming your tap water is contaminated and selling unnecessary or useless filtration equipment.
Fraudulent diet and weight loss programs that charge recurring subscription fees for coaching, meal plans, or supplements that are never delivered or have no meaningful effect.
A scammer poses as the executor or estate lawyer for a deceased person's will and asks a supposed beneficiary to pay fees or taxes before an inheritance can be distributed.
Fraudulent organisations claiming to train guide dogs, assistance animals, or working dogs that collect donations without funding any genuine animal welfare or training programme.
A fraudster contacts a victim claiming a family member is in immediate danger or financial crisis and needs urgent funds transferred right away. Unlike the grandparent scam, this variant targets people of all ages.
Websites and social media posts claiming to generate free Robux, V-Bucks, or similar platform currencies that steal credentials, install malware, or run survey fraud.
Scammers 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.
Fraudulent genealogy researchers claim to have uncovered a valuable family connection or unclaimed inheritance through ancestry research, charging fees for fabricated or worthless findings.
Fraudulent 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.
A caller pretends to be a grandchild or other close relative in serious trouble, begging for urgent cash before the family finds out. The urgency and shame angle stop victims from pausing to verify.
Messages that appear to come from a trusted contact whose account has been compromised, used to request money, gift cards, or personal information.
Attackers use a compromised account to message the victim's contacts, exploiting established trust to request money, personal details, or account access.
Multi-level marketing operations selling vitamins, weight-loss products, or wellness supplements where most participants lose money on mandatory monthly stock purchases while unproven health claims are used to recruit both customers and sellers.
Scammers contact beneficiaries claiming a life insurance payout is ready but 'stuck' pending a fee, tax, or administrative charge that no genuine insurer ever requires.
Criminals use your identity to obtain medical treatment, prescriptions, or insurance benefits — leaving you with fraudulent records and unexpected bills.
Fraudsters 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.
Products falsely claiming to cure, prevent, or treat serious medical conditions — exploiting people seeking hope or alternatives to conventional treatment.
Multi-level marketing pitches that generate income primarily from recruiting fees rather than selling real products.
Bogus talent agencies that charge upfront fees for portfolios, headshots, or training with no genuine industry access.
Fake mystery-shopping jobs that send bogus cheques and instruct you to buy gift cards or wire funds — a classic fake-cheque variant.
Unqualified 'notarios' and immigration consultants who charge for legal advice they are not permitted to give, often harming clients' cases.
Scammers 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.
Fraudulent 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.
Investment frauds that pay 'returns' to early investors using new investors' money until they collapse.
Fraudulent or poorly regulated prepaid funeral plans take upfront payments for future funeral services that are never delivered, underfunded, or impossible to redeem when needed.
Fraudsters claim access to secret 'prime bank' instruments — standby letters of credit, bank guarantees, or medium-term notes — supposedly traded by the world's top banks, promising huge risk-free profits.
Fraudulent appeals that promise donors financial breakthroughs or miracles in direct proportion to a 'seed' payment sent first, with no return ever materialising.
Fraudulent sellers take a non-refundable deposit for a puppy that does not exist, then disappear or invent reasons to demand more money before the animal is never delivered.
Schemes where participants earn money solely by recruiting new members, with no real product or service — mathematically guaranteed to collapse, leaving the vast majority of participants at a loss.
Fraudulent 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.
Threats to expose a relationship, real or fabricated, unless payment is made to keep it secret.
Fake awards that charge application or processing fees for scholarships or grants that either do not exist or were never open to the target.
Scammers target fans desperate for tickets to a sold-out event by inventing tickets, memberships, or 'guaranteed access' offers that don't exist.
A recurring-payment scam in which a self-described spiritual practitioner convinces a target they are cursed and that only ongoing, escalating payments can remove or hold off the affliction.
A message or call claims a family member travelling overseas has been robbed, lost their documents, or is otherwise stranded and needs emergency funds wired immediately. The situation is fabricated.
Fake surrogacy agencies, brokers, and 'surrogates' collect huge upfront fees, fake escrow deposits, and expense payments for journeys that never happen — often across borders.
Criminals combine real and AI-generated identity details to create new credit profiles that are used to take out loans, cards, and credit in a name that is partly or wholly fictitious.
Fraudsters combine real and fabricated personal data to create a new 'synthetic' identity, then build credit before vanishing with borrowed funds. Victims often do not realise until a debt collector calls years later.
Game-like 'task' or 'commission' jobs that pay small amounts early, then demand escalating deposits.
A fraudster files a tax return using your Social Security Number or national identifier before you do, claiming your refund. You only discover the fraud when your legitimate return is rejected as a duplicate — and reclaiming the refund can take months.
Scammers impersonate 'heir hunter' investigators claiming to have located an unclaimed estate belonging to the target's family, charging fees or taking a cut of a payout that never materializes.
A caller claims to have kidnapped a family member and demands an immediate ransom, but no one has actually been taken. The scam relies entirely on fear and the brief window before the victim can verify their relative is safe.
Door-to-door sales agents conduct a dramatic water quality demonstration, exaggerate health risks, and pressure homeowners into expensive water filtration systems they do not need.
Mass-spam emails falsely claim the sender hacked your webcam and recorded you watching adult content, then demand payment to suppress the footage. The footage does not exist.
Fake 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.