Scam Database
61 documented scams, organized by category. Also see the A–Z index or use live search.
AI Voice Clone Scam
Using just a few seconds of audio from social media, scammers clone a loved one's voice with AI and call you claiming to…
Virtual Kidnapping Scam
A caller claims to be holding a family member hostage and demands an immediate ransom payment, sometimes using an AI-clo…
Deepfake Celebrity Endorsement Scam
AI-generated video or audio shows a celebrity or public figure appearing to endorse an investment platform, giveaway, or…
AI Chatbot Romance Scam
An AI-powered chatbot, sometimes on a dating app, carries on a convincingly personal conversation for weeks or months be…
Video Call Deepfake Extortion Scam
A stranger video calls you out of nowhere (FaceTime, WhatsApp, or similar), keeps you on briefly while secretly capturin…
Deepfake Job Candidate / Fake AI Employee Scam
Scammers, many linked to North Korean state-sponsored operations, use AI deepfake video/audio, stolen identities, and Ch…
Fake Job Offer Scam
A recruiter offers a remote job with little to no interview, then asks the "new hire" to pay for training materials, equ…
Mystery Shopper Check Scam
A fake mystery shopping job sends the victim a check to deposit, instructing them to keep a "payment" and wire the rest …
Task-Based "Gamified" Job Scam
Scammers lure job seekers with texts or WhatsApp messages offering easy remote "tasks" like liking videos or rating prod…
Virtual Casting Call Text Scam
Scammers send unsolicited texts posing as talent scouts offering movie or TV auditions, then pressure victims into payin…
Fake IRS Tax Refund Scam
Calls, texts, or emails claiming you owe back taxes and will be arrested, or that you are owed a refund that requires yo…
Medicare / Health Insurance Scam
Callers pretend to be from Medicare or a health insurance company offering free equipment or coverage updates, then stea…
Jury Duty Scam
A caller claims to be a sheriff or court officer saying you missed jury duty and now face arrest unless you immediately …
Social Security Number Suspended Scam
An automated call or voicemail claims your Social Security number has been "suspended" due to suspicious activity and in…
Unemployment Benefits Identity Theft Scam
Criminals use stolen personal information to file fraudulent unemployment claims in a victim's name, often surfacing onl…
Student Loan Forgiveness Scam
Companies advertise guaranteed student loan forgiveness or dramatically reduced payments for an upfront fee, then either…
USCIS / Immigration Scam
Scammers posing as immigration officials contact applicants claiming a fee must be paid immediately by phone to avoid de…
FTC Official Impersonation Bitcoin ATM Scam
Scammers are cold-calling consumers claiming to be real, named FTC leaders like Chief Privacy Officer John Krebs or Chai…
IC3/FBI Recovery Impersonation Scam
Scammers impersonate FBI and Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) personnel — now using AI deepfake videos and spoofed …
Fake "Relief Check" Phishing Scam
Scammers are calling, texting, and emailing people claiming they have an unclaimed "relief check" worth thousands of dol…
Gold Bar & Bulk Cash Courier Scam
Scammers impersonating grandchildren, government agents, or tech support convince mostly elderly victims to withdraw cas…
Spoofed IC3/FBI Fraud-Reporting Website Scam
Criminals are building near-exact clones of the FBI's official Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3.gov) website to stea…
Fake Toll Road Text Scam
Scammers send text messages impersonating toll agencies like E-ZPass, SunPass, FasTrak, and TxTag, claiming the recipien…
FTC Impersonator Fake Employee ID Refund Recovery Scam
Scammers text or WhatsApp victims claiming to be FTC "agents" who can help recover money lost in a previous scam, sendin…
Refund and Recovery "Sucker List" Scam
Scammers buy and sell lists of people who were previously defrauded, then pose as government agencies, law firms, or con…
Health Insurer + Chinese Law Enforcement Impersonation Extortion Scam
The FBI warns that criminals are targeting Chinese-speaking residents of the U.S. by impersonating health insurance clai…
Crypto Investment Scam
Promises of guaranteed high returns on cryptocurrency or forex investments, often introduced through social media, fake …
Ponzi Scheme
An investment scheme pays early investors with money from new investors rather than actual profit, creating the illusion…
Pump and Dump Scam
Promoters hype a low-value stock or cryptocurrency through social media and unsolicited messages to inflate its price, t…
Fake Trading App Scam
Victims are convinced to download a fraudulent investment or trading app that shows fabricated, ever-increasing account …
Pig Butchering Scam
Named for the practice of fattening livestock before slaughter, scammers build a long-term relationship — often starting…
Advance Fee Loan Scam
A "guaranteed approval" loan offer, often targeting people with poor credit, requires an upfront fee for insurance, proc…
Grandparent Emergency Scam
Scammers call pretending to be your grandchild in trouble — arrested, in an accident, or at the hospital — and urgently …
Lottery / Prize Notification Scam
You receive a letter, call, or email claiming you've won a lottery or sweepstakes you never entered. To claim the prize …
Wangiri / One-Ring Callback Scam
A call rings once from an unfamiliar international number and hangs up before you can answer, banking on curiosity makin…
"Can You Hear Me?" Robocall Scam
A robocall or live scammer opens with a simple yes-or-no question like "can you hear me?" hoping to record you saying "y…
Fake Bank Fraud Alert Scam
A text or call appears to come from your bank warning of suspicious activity and asks you to "verify" your account by pr…
Fake Loan Approval/Follow-Up Text Scam
Scammers send unsolicited texts claiming to "follow up" on a large loan application (often $10,000) that the recipient n…
SEO Poisoning Bank Account Takeover Scam
Criminals buy fake search-engine ads or build lookalike phishing sites that outrank real bank, payroll, and health savin…
Financial Institution Support Impersonation Account Takeover Scam
The FBI warns that criminals are impersonating banks, payroll providers, and health savings account (HSA) administrators…
Romance / Military Scam
Fake online dating profiles — often claiming to be deployed military, offshore oil workers, or traveling doctors — build…
Catfishing Scam
Someone creates a fake online identity, often using stolen photos of an attractive stranger, to build a relationship for…
Sextortion Scam
A scammer coerces or tricks a victim into sharing intimate photos or video, then threatens to release them to friends, f…
Fake Online Store Scam
A convincing but fraudulent online store, often advertised through social media, offers heavily discounted name-brand pr…
Online Marketplace Buyer Scam
A "buyer" on a marketplace app sends a fake payment confirmation screenshot or overpays with a bad check, then asks the …
AI-Cloned Fake Vehicle Dealership Scam
Scammers use AI tools to clone real dealership websites or build entirely fake auto/RV dealership sites and Facebook ad …
"Ghost Tapping" Contactless Payment Scam
Scammers exploit NFC "tap-to-pay" technology to charge victims' cards or phones without authorization, often by posing a…
Fake Heavy Equipment & Vehicle Dealer Website Scam
Scammers clone or impersonate real heavy equipment, farm machinery, and vehicle dealerships with convincing fake website…
Tech Support Pop-Up Scam
A scary browser pop-up claims your computer is infected with viruses and displays a 'Microsoft' or 'Apple' phone number.…
Phishing Email Scam
A fraudulent email impersonates a trusted company or contact, urging the recipient to click a link and log in on a fake …
Smishing Text Message Scam
Phishing conducted over SMS text message, often impersonating a delivery service, bank, or government agency with a link…
QR Code Scam
A malicious QR code — placed over a legitimate one on a parking meter, menu, or poster, or sent digitally — redirects vi…
Fake Antivirus / Scareware Scam
A pop-up or fake scan result falsely claims your device is riddled with viruses and pressures you to buy bogus security …
Social Media Account Takeover Scam
A hacked or cloned social media account messages the victim's friends and family asking for money, gift cards, or a "fav…
SIM Swap Scam
A scammer convinces your mobile carrier to transfer your phone number to a SIM card they control, letting them intercept…
Fake CAPTCHA "ClickFix" Malware Scam
Scammers plant fake "I'm not a robot" CAPTCHA verification screens on compromised or malicious websites that trick visit…
Fake VPN App Malware Scam
Cybercriminals are distributing malicious apps and browser extensions disguised as popular VPN services to secretly inst…
SpyLoan Predatory Loan App Scam
Malicious "instant loan" apps on Google Play and the Apple App Store lure people with promises of quick cash, then harve…