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
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.
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.
Fake Escrow Scams: Protect High-Value Purchases
Scammers pose as escrow services to steal money during online sales of vehicles, equipment, and real estate.
Fake Marketplace Seller Scams: How to Spot & Avoid
Scammers create fraudulent storefronts on legitimate marketplaces to steal money and personal data from unsuspecting buyers.
Fake Online Store Scams: How to Spot & Avoid Them
Scammers create convincing fake online stores to steal payment info and money, leaving buyers with no products or recourse.
Gift Card Scams: How to Spot & Avoid Them
Scammers trick victims into buying gift cards and surrendering codes, with losses averaging $1,000 per incident.
Event Ticket Scams: How to Spot Fake Tickets
Scammers sell counterfeit or non-existent event tickets through fake websites and social media, leaving victims without entry and out hundreds of dollars.
Triangulation Fraud: The Hidden E-commerce Scam
Scammers use stolen payment cards to buy items from legitimate retailers, then resell them to unsuspecting customers at a discount, keeping the profit while victims face chargebacks.
Check Overpayment Scam: How to Spot & Avoid It
Scammers send legitimate-looking checks for more than agreed, then pressure you to wire back the difference before the check bounces.
Fake Job Posting Scams: How to Spot Fraudulent Offers
Scammers create convincing fake job postings to steal money, personal data, and identities from job seekers desperate for employment.
Fake Recruitment Agency Scams: How to Spot Fraudulent Job Offers
Scammers pose as legitimate recruiters to steal personal information and money from desperate job seekers, often targeting those in high-unemployment periods.
Invoice Fraud: Protect Your Business from Fake Bills
Scammers send forged invoices impersonating suppliers to trick businesses into paying for goods or services never ordered.
MLM & Pyramid Scheme Scams: Spotting the Illusion
Multi-level marketing schemes promise easy wealth through recruitment, but most participants lose money while only top recruiters profit.
Payroll Diversion Scams: How to Protect Your Paycheck
Scammers intercept payroll systems to redirect employee wages to fraudulent accounts. Learn how to spot and stop this fast-moving employment fraud.
Vendor Impersonation Scams: Protect Your Business
Scammers pose as trusted suppliers to trick businesses into sending payments for fake invoices or services.
Work-From-Home Job Scams: Identify Fake Offers
Scammers pose as legitimate employers offering remote jobs, stealing upfront fees and personal data before disappearing.
Customs & Border Scam: Impersonation Fraud Alert
Scammers impersonate customs or border agents, threatening arrest or deportation over fake package issues or visa violations to extort immediate payments.
Immigration Scams: Protect Your Future
Immigration scams exploit the hopes and fears of individuals seeking a new life, often impersonating government officials to steal money and compromise status.
IRS & Tax Authority Impersonation Scams
Scammers impersonate IRS agents demanding immediate payment for fake tax debts, using threats of arrest and legal action.