Understanding common scam types is your first line of defense. Below are the schemes Americans report most often, with warning signs and links to in-depth guides.
Advance-Fee & 419 Fraud
Strangers offer partnerships, inheritances, or government refunds — but require upfront fees to release funds.
Warning signs: Unsolicited offers, secrecy requests, free webmail senders, upfront processing fees.
Romance Scams
Perpetrators build emotional relationships online, then invent emergencies requiring money transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency.
Warning signs: Refusal to meet in person, rapid declarations of love, requests for travel, medical, or customs fees.
Investment & Crypto Fraud
Scammers promise guaranteed returns through fake trading platforms, Ponzi schemes, or cryptocurrency wallets.
Warning signs: Guaranteed high returns, unlicensed brokers, crypto wallet transfers, inability to withdraw funds.
Zelle & Payment App Fraud
Scammers impersonate banks and claim you must Zelle money to reverse fraud. Real banks never ask for peer-to-peer transfers to fix unauthorized payments.
Warning signs: Spoofed caller ID, urgency, instructions to Zelle yourself, requests for OTP codes.
Phishing & Smishing
Deceptive emails, texts, or calls impersonate banks, delivery services, or government agencies to steal credentials.
Warning signs: Urgent language, suspicious links, mismatched sender addresses, password or code requests.
Authority Impersonation
Scammers pose as IRS agents, police, Medicare representatives, or tech support to intimidate victims into immediate payment.
Warning signs: Threats of arrest, gift card or wire demands, caller ID spoofing, pressure to act immediately.
Gift Card Payment Fraud
Legitimate agencies never accept iTunes, Amazon, or Visa gift cards as payment. Scammers coach victims to read card numbers over the phone.
Warning signs: Gift card payment requests, secrecy at checkout, IRS or utility bill paid by card, photographed PINs.
Elder & Family Emergency Fraud
Grandparent scams claim a relative is in jail or injured. AI voice cloning now mimics family members in fake emergency calls.
Warning signs: Urgent wire or gift card demands, secrecy from other relatives, refusal to verify by callback.
Employment Fraud
Fake job postings require upfront payments for training, equipment, or background checks. Some involve money-mule schemes.
Warning signs: Offers without interviews, payment before starting, vague descriptions, unsolicited email offers.
Business Email Compromise (BEC)
Attackers impersonate executives or vendors to trick employees into wiring money or changing payment details.
Warning signs: Urgent wire requests, spoofed domains, last-minute invoice changes, secrecy pressure.
Loan Scams
Fraudsters pose as lenders offering guaranteed approval, then demand upfront fees. Legitimate lenders never require payment to release funds.
Warning signs: Upfront fees, guaranteed approval regardless of credit, gift card or crypto payment demands.
Tech Support Pop-Up Scams
Fake virus warnings in your browser push you to call a fraudulent support line and grant remote access.
Warning signs: Full-screen alerts, toll-free numbers in pop-ups, gift card payment requests.
Lottery & Prize Scams
Victims are told they won a prize but must pay fees or taxes upfront to claim it.
Warning signs: Prizes you never entered, processing fees, secrecy requests, official impersonation.
Think you've been targeted? Document what happened and use our recovery resources.