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
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Updated Daily
Fake Printer & Driver Support Scams
Beware of fraudsters posing as printer or driver support, using deceptive tactics to gain remote access, install malware, and steal your money.
Fake Software Update Scams: A Digital Deception Guide
Fake software update scams trick users into installing malware or granting remote access, leading to significant financial losses and data theft.
Scareware Scams: Fake Alerts, Real Danger
Scareware tricks you into believing your computer is infected, pressuring you to buy fake software or call fraudulent tech support.
Tech Support Refund Scam: The 'Accidental Overpayment' Trap
Scammers pose as tech support, claim an accidental overpayment, and trick victims into sending their own money via irreversible methods.
Tech Support Scams: Identifying and Protecting Yourself
Tech support scams trick victims into believing their computer has a severe problem, leading to fraudulent payments, remote access, and potential identity theft.
Account Takeover (ATO) Scams: Protect Your Digital Life
Account Takeover (ATO) scams involve criminals seizing control of your online accounts to steal money, personal data, or commit further fraud.
Biometric Data Theft: Protecting Your Unique Identity
Biometric data theft involves criminals stealing your unique biological identifiers like fingerprints or facial scans to impersonate you, leading to severe financial and identity fraud.
Child Identity Theft: Protecting Your Child's Future
Child identity theft occurs when a criminal uses a minor's personal information to open accounts, obtain loans, or commit crimes, often going undetected for years.
Criminal Identity Theft: Clear Your Name
Criminal identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information during an arrest or criminal investigation, creating a false criminal record in your name.
Medical Identity Theft: Protect Your Health & Finances
Medical identity theft occurs when criminals use your personal information to obtain medical services or drugs, leading to financial ruin and compromised health records.
Synthetic Identity Theft: How Scammers Create Fake Identities
Criminals blend real and fabricated personal information to create entirely fictional identities for fraud. This sophisticated scam costs victims and institutions billions annually.
Credit Repair Scams: False Promises, Real Losses
Credit repair scams exploit individuals struggling with poor credit, promising quick fixes for a fee but often leaving victims with lost money and unchanged credit scores.
Dark Web Data Sales: Your Identity for Sale
Criminals buy and sell your personal information on the dark web, leading to severe identity theft, financial fraud, and account takeovers.
Doxing: Protecting Your Personal Information Online
Doxing is the malicious act of publicly exposing an individual's private identifying information online, leading to harassment, identity theft, and significant financial loss.
Fake Background Check Scams: Identity Theft & Fraud
Scammers pose as landlords or employers, demanding upfront fees and sensitive personal data for fake background checks, leading to identity theft and financial loss.
Mail Theft & Address Fraud: Protect Your Identity
Mail theft and address fraud involve criminals stealing your physical mail or redirecting it to exploit your personal information for financial gain and identity theft.
Tax Identity Theft: How Criminals File Your Returns
Scammers use stolen personal information to file fraudulent tax returns and claim refunds in your name before you do.
Fake Ambassador VIP Scam: How Scammers Impersonate Officials
Scammers pose as lottery officials or VIP program ambassadors to convince victims they've won prizes, then demand fees to claim them.
Fake App Store Prize Notifications Scam
Fraudsters send fake notifications claiming you've won an iPhone or prize through the App Store, directing you to malicious links to steal personal and financial data.
Fake Contest & Sweepstakes Scams
Scammers pose as legitimate contests or lotteries, tricking you into paying fees to claim non-existent prizes.
Fake Prize Notification Scams
Scammers trick victims into paying fees or personal details by falsely claiming they've won a lottery, sweepstakes, or prize they never entered.
Foreign Lottery Scam: How Fake Winnings Drain Your Bank
Scammers pose as international lottery operators to trick victims into paying fake 'taxes' and 'fees' for prizes they never won.
Inheritance Scam: How to Identify Fake Claims
Scammers falsely claim you've inherited money from unknown relatives or unclaimed estates, then demand upfront fees to release funds.
Lottery Scam: How Fake Prize Claims Work
Scammers claim you've won a lottery you never entered, then demand upfront fees or personal information to claim your fake prize.