Scam Encyclopedia
Comprehensive guides covering 200+ scam types across 15 categories. Learn to recognize, avoid, and report every type of fraud.
201
Scam Types
15
Categories
12
Languages
24/7
Updated Daily
Complete Category Guides
Long-form pillar pages that walk through every variant in a category — start here for the big picture before drilling into specific scam types.
Phishing & Credential Theft
Deceptive emails, messages, and websites designed to steal login credentials and sensitive information
Investment & Financial Fraud
Fraudulent investment schemes promising unrealistic returns to steal money from victims
Cryptocurrency & Web3 Fraud
Scams exploiting blockchain technology, DeFi, NFTs, and cryptocurrency markets
Romance & Social Engineering
Emotional manipulation through fake relationships and social engineering tactics
Shopping & E-commerce Fraud
Fake online stores, counterfeit goods, and deceptive shopping practices
Employment & Business Fraud
Fake job postings, work-from-home scams, and business email compromise
Government & Authority Impersonation
Scammers posing as government officials, tax authorities, or law enforcement
Tech Support & Digital Threats
Fake tech support calls, ransomware, scareware, and digital extortion
Identity Theft & Personal Data
Stealing and misusing personal information for financial gain or fraud
Sextortion Scams: Online Blackmail & Extortion
Scammers claim to have intimate videos of you and demand payment to prevent public exposure. Most claims are false, but the psychological pressure is intense.
Romance Scam: How Fake Love Leads to Financial Loss
Scammers create fake dating profiles to build emotional bonds and manipulate victims into sending money, gifts, or personal information.
Sextortion Scams: How Criminals Exploit Intimate Images
Scammers threaten to expose intimate images to demand immediate payment, exploiting shame and fear to extort money from victims.
Virtual Kidnapping Scams: Extortion Through False Abduction
Scammers falsely claim your loved one has been kidnapped and demand immediate ransom payment before you can contact them.
Authority Figure Impersonation Scams
Scammers pose as police, judges, or government officials to frighten victims into sending money immediately.
Catfishing Scams: How Fake Identities Target Your Heart
Scammers create fake online personas to build romantic relationships and manipulate victims into sending money or personal information.
Dating App Verification Scam: How to Spot Fake Profiles
Scammers create fake dating profiles and trick users into sending money for fake 'verification' or 'unlocking' accounts. Average loss is $500.
Friend-in-Need Scam: Spot and Avoid Emergency Fraud
Scammers impersonate trusted friends or family in urgent situations to manipulate you into sending money quickly before you can verify their identity.
Grandparent Scam: How to Protect Elderly Relatives
Scammers impersonate grandchildren in crisis, urgently requesting wire transfers. Victims lose an average of $5,000 within 24-72 hours.
Honey Trap Scams: Romance Lures and Sextortion
Scammers pose as romantic interests to extract intimate images, then blackmail victims for money or face exposure to family and friends.
Love Bombing Scam: Recognize the Romance Fraud Trap
Scammers create fake romantic relationships to build trust, then exploit victims for money through fabricated emergencies and investment schemes.
Military Romance Scams: Spotting Fake Soldier Fraudsters
Scammers impersonate soldiers to build romantic relationships and extract money through emotional manipulation and false emergencies.
Social Engineering Pretexting Scams
Scammers create false identities and build trust to manipulate victims into revealing personal information or sending money.
Sugar Daddy Scams: Recognizing Fake Romance Schemes
Scammers pose as wealthy sugar daddies to build romantic trust, then request money for emergencies, travel, or gifts before disappearing.