Scam Guides
Short, independent explainers for the most common consumer scams. Each guide covers the warning signs, what to do, and the safest next steps. New guides are added every week.
149 guides published. More on the way.
Foundational (5)
How to Check if a Website Is Legit
A simple, honest checklist for spotting a fake or scam website in 30 seconds before you share information or pay.
Fake Delivery Text Scams: What to Watch For
Fake USPS, FedEx, UPS, and DHL delivery texts are the single most common consumer scam. Here is exactly how to spot them.
PayPal Scam Emails: Common Warning Signs
Phishing emails pretending to be from PayPal are one of the oldest and most polished scams online. Here is how to spot a fake.
Facebook Marketplace Scam Warning Signs
Marketplace is convenient but has no built-in escrow. Here is the short list of patterns every buyer and seller should know.
Online Shopping Scam Warning Signs
Fake shops copy real brands, take your payment, and ship nothing, or counterfeits. Here is the 30-second checklist that catches most of them.
Brand impersonation (39)
Fake Bank of America Fraud Alert Text Scam
The fake BofA fraud alert text uses a two-stage script, SMS bait, then a 'fraud agent' phone call, to drain real accounts. Here is how to recognize each stage and what to do if you already engaged.
Fake Wells Fargo Fraud Alert Text Scam
Fake Wells Fargo fraud alert texts follow a predictable two-stage script that ends in wire transfers or Zelle drains. Here is how to spot the SMS, the call, and what to do if you already responded.
Fake Apple ID Locked Scam: Email, Text, and Pop-up Variants
Fake 'Apple ID locked' messages have three current variants, email, SMS, and Safari pop-up. Here is how each one works, the one place a real Apple ID issue would show up, and what to do if you already entered your password.
Fake PayPal Invoice Scam: How It Works
Fake PayPal invoices for products you never bought are designed to make you call a fraudulent support number. Here are the red flags.
Fake PayPal Payment Failed Email
A fake "PayPal payment failed" email tries to scare you into clicking a link to update billing. Here is how to spot it.
Fake PayPal Account Limited Email
A fake "your PayPal account has been limited" email pushes you to a phishing login page. Here is what to check.
Fake Amazon Account Locked Email or Text
Amazon "account locked" scams are everywhere. Here is how to spot the fake and protect your account.
Fake Amazon Order Confirmation Scam
Scam emails confirm a big Amazon order you never placed, then push you to call a fake support number. Here is the playbook.
Fake Amazon Prime Billing Scam
Fake Amazon Prime renewal or billing emails ask you to verify a charge. Here is what to do instead.
Amazon Gift Card Balance Scam
Scammers ask you to share Amazon gift card numbers to "verify your balance". Here is why never to do it.
Fake Apple ID Security Alert
A fake "your Apple ID was used to sign in" message pushes you to a phishing page. Here is how to confirm and respond.
Fake Apple Receipt Fraud Email
Fake App Store or iTunes receipts pretend you bought a big item, then push you to a "dispute" link. Here is how to tell.
Fake Microsoft 365 Suspension Email
Fake Microsoft 365 suspension emails push you to a phishing login page. Here is how to verify and avoid losing access.
Fake Microsoft Defender Renewal Invoice
Fake Microsoft Defender or Windows Defender renewal invoices include a scam phone number. Here is what is real and what is not.
Fake Microsoft Account Unusual Activity Email
Fake "unusual activity on your Microsoft account" emails harvest your password via a fake sign-in page. Here is how to verify.
Fake Gmail Security Alert
Fake Gmail security alerts impersonate Google and push you to a fake sign-in. Here is what to check.
Fake Google Drive Shared Document Scam
Scam Google Drive sharing notifications lead to a malicious doc and a phishing prompt. Here is how to spot them.
Fake Google Ads Billing Failed Email
Fake "Google Ads billing failed" emails impersonate Google to get your card details. Here is how to verify.
Fake Netflix Payment Failed Email
Fake Netflix payment emails push you to a fake login and billing page. Here is what to check.
Fake Netflix Account Suspended Email
Fake "Netflix account suspended" emails are phishing. Here is how to confirm your account is fine.
Fake Spotify Premium Canceled Email
Fake "your Spotify Premium was canceled" emails push you to a fake login. Here is what to do instead.
Fake Chase Fraud Alert Text
Fake Chase fraud alerts ask you to reply YES or NO, then route you to a fake "agent" who drains your account. Here is the pattern.
Fake Citibank Fraud Alert Text or Call
Fake Citibank fraud alerts follow the same script as other bank-impersonation scams. Here is the pattern.
Fake Capital One Fraud Alert
Fake Capital One fraud alerts mimic the real text format closely. Here is how to verify before you reply.
Fake American Express Fraud Alert
Fake Amex fraud alerts use real-looking branding. Here is how to confirm an alert is genuine.
Fake Discover Fraud Alert
Discover Card fraud alert scams follow the same script as other banks. Here is how to verify.
Fake USAA Fraud Alert
USAA members are heavily targeted by impersonation scams, especially during deployments. Here is how to verify.
Venmo Payment Request From a Stranger
Small Venmo requests from familiar-sounding names are a setup. Here is how to recognize the trick.
Cash App $500 Giveaway Scam
Cash App "cashback giveaway" or "flip" scams ask for an upfront payment that never comes back. Here is the pattern.
Zelle Imposter Bank Scam
The most damaging Zelle scam impersonates your bank's fraud line and walks you into wiring funds 'to yourself'. Here is the script.
Fake Instagram Copyright Violation DM
"Your account has a copyright violation" DMs on Instagram are phishing. Here is how to recognize and report.
Instagram Blue Check Impersonator DM
Fake "Meta Verified" or blue-check approval DMs push to a phishing page. Here is the pattern.
Fake LinkedIn Recruiter DM
Fake recruiter DMs on LinkedIn lead to malware or wire-fraud job scams. Here is how to verify a recruiter is real.
Fake LinkedIn Job Offer DM
Too-good remote job offers on LinkedIn are often the start of a check-deposit or reshipping scam. Here are the patterns.
Fake DocuSign Contract Signing Email
Fake DocuSign requests deliver malware or a phishing page. Here is how to verify a real DocuSign envelope.
Fake DocuSign Invoice Attached
Fake invoices delivered via DocuSign get past spam filters. Here is the pattern.
Coinbase Fake Support Call Scam
Fake Coinbase support calls walk you into draining your own wallet. Here is the pattern.
Fake Binance Withdrawal Hold Scam
Fake Binance withdrawal-hold messages route you to a scam support number. Here is how to verify.
MetaMask Seed Phrase Scam
Real MetaMask never asks for your seed phrase. Anyone who does is a scammer. Here is the pattern.
Delivery scams (15)
FedEx Tracking Text Scam: Warning Signs
Fake FedEx tracking texts about a missed delivery are designed to take your card. Here is the pattern.
FedEx Redelivery Fee Scam
Real FedEx never charges to re-deliver a domestic package. Here is what to do with the text instead.
FedEx Customs Payment Scam
Fake FedEx customs payment texts are common for international shipments. Here is how to verify.
UPS Tracking Text Scam
Fake UPS tracking texts are extremely common. Here is how to recognize the fake from the real.
UPS Customs Payment Scam
Fake UPS customs scams target international shipments. Here is the playbook.
USPS Missed Delivery Scam
USPS "missed delivery" texts are the #1 SMS scam in the US. Here is how to spot them in seconds.
USPS Customs Fee Scam
Fake USPS customs-fee texts target international packages. Here is the truth about USPS customs charges.
USPS Package Redelivery Scam
USPS does not text you to schedule redelivery. Here is what the real process looks like.
DHL Tracking Text Scam
Fake DHL tracking texts ask for address verification or customs payment. Here is the pattern.
DHL Customs Payment Scam
Fake DHL customs payment texts arrive after a real international purchase. Here is how to tell.
DHL Redelivery Fee Scam
Fake DHL redelivery fees do not exist for normal shipments. Here is the scam pattern.
Fake Amazon Package Delivered Scam
Fake "Amazon package delivered to wrong address" texts route you to a scam callback line. Here is how it works.
UPS Redelivery Fee Scam
UPS does not charge a redelivery fee by text. Here is the scam pattern to recognize.
FedEx Address Update Text Scam
Fake FedEx address-update texts are a common entry point to a phishing page. Here is what to do.
USPS Tracking Update Scam
Fake USPS tracking-update notifications drive traffic to phishing pages. Here is what is real.
Government impersonation (15)
Fake IRS Tax Refund Text
The IRS does not text taxpayers about refunds. Here is how the scam works and what to do.
Fake IRS Tax Owed Phone Call
The IRS never threatens arrest by phone. Here is the script and what to do.
Fake IRS Audit Letter
Fake IRS audit letters list a phone number that is not the IRS. Here is how to verify a real notice.
Fake IRS Stimulus Check Text
Old stimulus check scams resurface every season. Here is the pattern.
Fake IRS W-2 Phishing Email
Fake IRS W-2 collection emails target HR and payroll. Here is the pattern.
Fake Social Security Suspension Call
The SSA does not suspend Social Security numbers. Here is the robocall scam pattern.
Fake Social Security Benefits Suspended Text
Fake "your Social Security benefits will be suspended" texts impersonate the SSA. Here is what is real.
Fake SSN Compromised Call
Scammers claim your SSN was used in a crime and demand immediate action. Here is how to verify.
Medicare Card Replacement Scam
Fake Medicare card replacement calls and texts harvest Medicare numbers. Here is the pattern.
Jury Duty Warrant Scam Call
Fake "jury duty warrant" calls demand payment in gift cards. Here is the pattern and what to do.
USCIS Immigration Letter Scam
Fake USCIS letters and calls target applicants for fees and personal data. Here is what is real.
Fake DMV License Renewal Text
Fake DMV renewal texts impersonate state DMVs. Here is how to spot the fake.
Fake FTC Refund Call
Fake FTC "refund" calls target previous scam victims for a second round. Here is the pattern.
Utility Shut-Off Scam Call
Fake calls from your power or water company demand immediate payment to avoid shutoff. Here is what is real.
Fake Police Warrant Call Scam
Fake police calls claiming a warrant is out for your arrest pressure you to pay immediately. Here is the pattern.
Marketplace and platform (20)
Craigslist Scam Warning Signs
Craigslist scams keep evolving but share core patterns, rentals, items, jobs. Here is the short list.
eBay Off-Platform Payment Scam
Sellers or buyers who push you off eBay to Zelle or wire are scammers. Here is why.
Fake Etsy Shop Scam
Fake "handmade" Etsy shops dropship from AliExpress with branded markup. Here is how to spot them.
Etsy Buyer Overpayment Scam
Fake Etsy buyers "accidentally" overpay and ask for a refund of the difference. Here is the pattern.
Instagram Shop DM Scam
Fake Instagram "shop" DMs push to a fake brand site. Here is how to verify before clicking.
TikTok Shop Knockoff Scam
TikTok Shop is a magnet for knockoff sellers. Here is how to spot the difference.
Mercari Shipping Scam
Mercari shipping scams target buyers and sellers. Here is the core pattern.
OfferUp Shipping Scam
OfferUp scammers push the deal off-platform or send fake shipping labels. Here is what to know.
Depop Scam Warning Signs
Depop scams target young buyers and sellers on a fast-moving platform. Here is the playbook.
AliExpress Counterfeit Scam
AliExpress is full of counterfeit listings of brand-name items. Here is how to verify.
Temu Knockoff Listing Scam
Temu has legitimate sellers and a long tail of knockoffs. Here is how to tell.
Fake Shein Influencer DM Scam
Fake Shein influencer-collaboration DMs target young users for personal data. Here is the pattern.
Amazon Third-Party Seller Scam
Fake Amazon third-party sellers push you to email or call them off-platform. Here is what is safe.
Fake TikTok Livestream Shop Scam
Fake TikTok livestream shops use real influencer faces with AI to push counterfeits. Here is the pattern.
Facebook Marketplace Shipping Scam
Marketplace listings that insist on shipping (for local items) are almost always a scam. Here is the rule.
Facebook Marketplace Verification Code Trick
Buyers or sellers who ask you to share a 6-digit code are running an account-takeover. Here is why.
Facebook Marketplace Off-Platform Payment Scam
Off-platform payment is the single biggest Marketplace scam vector. Here is the rule.
Fake eBay Refund Call Scam
Fake eBay support calls about a refund target sellers. Here is the playbook.
Fake Instagram Influencer Collaboration Scam
Fake influencer collab DMs are entry points to phishing and check fraud. Here is the script.
Amazon Account Takeover via Fake Listing
Scam Amazon listings drive buyers to phishing pages outside Amazon. Here is what to watch.
Money scams (15)
Gift Card Scam: Warning Signs
Any request to pay with gift cards is a scam, full stop. Here is what to know.
Wire Transfer Scam: Warning Signs
Wire transfers cannot be reversed. Here is when you should never wire money.
Crypto Investment Scam Warning Signs
Promised crypto returns that are too good to be true are. Here is the playbook.
Romance Scam: Warning Signs
Online relationships that pivot to money requests follow a predictable script. Here is what to watch.
Tech Support Scam: Warning Signs
Fake "your computer is infected" calls and pop-ups follow predictable scripts. Here is what to do.
Job Offer Scam Warning Signs
Fake remote-job offers requiring upfront purchases or check deposits are scams. Here is the pattern.
Rental Scam: Warning Signs
Fake apartment and vacation rental listings vanish after deposit. Here is how to verify.
CEO Fraud / BEC Scam
Fake-executive wire requests to finance teams are a multi-billion dollar scam. Here is the playbook.
Vendor Invoice Fraud Scam
Scammers impersonate real vendors and redirect payment to their accounts. Here is the protection.
Fake Debt Collector Scam
Fake debt collectors threaten arrest and demand immediate payment. Here is the law on what they can do.
Check Overpayment Scam
Checks that overpay and ask you to wire the difference are fake. Here is the timing.
Venmo Money Request From Stranger Scam
Small Venmo requests from strangers with familiar names are designed to be accidentally accepted. Here is what to do.
Charity Impersonation Scam
Fake charity calls and websites spike after disasters. Here is how to give safely.
Grandparent Scam Call
AI-cloned voices of grandchildren make this old scam dangerous again. Here is the verification rule.
Fake Utility Bill Scam
Fake utility bills demand immediate payment or shutoff. Here is what is real.
Crypto scams (15)
Fake MetaMask Airdrop Scam
Fake "airdrop claim" pages drain your wallet by approving a malicious contract. Here is what to know.
WalletConnect Drain Scam
Malicious sites use WalletConnect to drain your wallet with a single signature. Here is the protection.
Fake Binance Customer Support Scam
Fake Binance support agents on Telegram and Twitter drain wallets. Here is the verification path.
Fake Coinbase Withdrawal Hold Scam
Fake withdrawal-hold messages route you to a scam support number. Here is the pattern.
Fake Kraken Support Call Scam
Fake Kraken support calls target customers right after a login attempt. Here is the script.
Pig Butchering Romance Investment Scam
Long-form romance scams that pivot to a fake crypto investment platform, one of the most damaging scams of the decade.
Fake Celebrity Crypto Giveaway Scam
Fake Elon Musk, Vitalik Buterin, and other celebrity crypto giveaways are perennial. Here is the pattern.
Fake NFT Mint Scam
Scam NFT mint pages drain wallets through hidden contract calls. Here is how to verify.
Rug Pull Shitcoin Scam
Pump-and-dump tokens with team withdrawal capability are the bread and butter of rug pulls. Here are the red flags.
Fake Telegram Airdrop Bot Scam
Fake airdrop verification bots on Telegram ask for your seed phrase. Here is the rule.
Discord Fake Mod DM Phishing Scam
Fake Discord moderators DM you with an urgent verification link. Here is what to do.
Fake Crypto Staking Platform Scam
Fake staking platforms promise high returns and lock funds. Here is the playbook.
Fake Crypto Pump Group Scam
Pump-group invites are recipes for losing money. Here is why.
Fake Crypto Recovery Service Scam
After a crypto scam, fake "recovery services" target victims for a second round. Here is the pattern.
Fake TradingView Signal Scam
Fake "private signals" Telegram channels charge for losing tips. Here is the warning sign.
Tech support scams (10)
Fake Microsoft Tech Support Pop-Up
Browser pop-ups claiming your computer is infected and to call Microsoft are scams. Here is how to dismiss safely.
Fake Apple Tech Support Pop-Up
Fake Apple support pop-ups target Safari users with fake virus warnings. Here is what to know.
Fake Norton Antivirus Renewal Invoice
Fake Norton or McAfee renewal invoices include a scam customer-service number. Here is what is real.
Fake McAfee Renewal Invoice
Fake McAfee renewal emails follow the same playbook as Norton. Here is the pattern.
Fake Google Chrome Virus Pop-Up
Chrome pop-ups claiming a virus or that Chrome needs updating from a third-party site are scams. Here is how to recognize.
Fake ISP Tech Support Call Scam
Fake calls from your internet provider's "tech department" target home routers. Here is what to do.
Fake Router Vulnerability Call Scam
Calls claiming a router vulnerability and offering remote fix are scams. Here is the pattern.
Fake Microsoft Defender Renewal Call
Fake Microsoft Defender renewal calls extract payment info under a refund pretext. Here is how to verify.
Fake iPhone Storage Full Pop-Up
Pop-ups in Safari claiming your iPhone storage is full and offering a cleaner app are scams. Here is what to do.
Fake Google Chrome Extension Install Scam
Pop-ups pressuring you to install a Chrome extension are usually malware. Here is the rule.
Job and employment scams (10)
Fake Remote Data Entry Job Scam
Unsolicited remote job offers with check-deposit gimmicks are scams. Here is the playbook.
Fake Mystery Shopper Scam
Mystery shopper job postings that ship you a check first are scams. Here is the pattern.
Fake Reshipping Job Scam
"Reshipping coordinator" jobs are stolen-goods laundering operations. Here is the legal risk.
Fake Payroll Diversion Email Scam
Fake "update my direct deposit" emails to HR are a multi-billion dollar scam. Here is the warning.
Fake Job Equipment Purchase Scam
Remote jobs that require you to pay for equipment upfront with a promise of reimbursement are scams. Here is the pattern.
Fake Indeed Job Posting Scam
Fake job postings on Indeed slip through moderation. Here is what to verify before applying.
Fake W-2 Collection Phishing Scam
HR-targeted W-2 phishing harvests employee data for tax fraud. Here is what to know.
Fake Government Job Scam
Fake government job postings demand upfront fees. Here is what the real process looks like.
Fake Online Tutor Job Scam
Tutor job ads with fake check overpayment are common. Here is the pattern.
Fake Personal Assistant Job Scam
Remote personal assistant gigs with errand-running for a busy executive are usually check-fraud scams.
Travel scams (5)
Fake Booking.com Cancellation Scam
Fake Booking.com cancellation emails harvest cards under a refund pretext. Here is what to verify.
Fake Airbnb Host Off-Platform Scam
Airbnb hosts who push payment off-platform forfeit your guest protection. Here is the rule.
Fake Flight Cancellation Refund Scam
Fake airline calls and texts about refunds after cancellations are common during disruptions. Here is how to verify.
Fake Passport Renewal Text Scam
Fake State Department passport renewal texts harvest personal data. Here is what is real.
Fake VRBO Host Scam
Fake VRBO hosts push to off-platform messaging and payment. Here is what to refuse.