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Independent consumer protection publication Educational guidance — not legal or financial advice

Daily brief

Scam Watch Archive

Archive of our homepage daily brief lines — one editorial tip per day on active fraud patterns, with links to full alerts and guides.

  • QR codes on parking meters and mailers can hide phishing links — type the official site yourself. See guide →

    27 protection guides

  • Venmo and Cash App accidental-transfer messages are a common social-engineering setup — contact your bank first. See guide →

    2 verified alerts this week · 27 protection guides

  • Gift card payment demands from anyone claiming to be the IRS, police, or tech support are always fraud. See guide →

    2 verified alerts this week · 27 protection guides

  • Look up a sender email or phone in our alert database before you send money. Search now →

    2 verified alerts this week · 27 protection guides

  • IRS and Medicare robocalls spike around deadlines — government agencies do not threaten arrest by phone. See guide →

    2 verified alerts this week · 27 protection guides

  • FTC impersonators are texting fake employee badge photos to prior fraud victims and demanding upfront recovery fees. Read alert →

    2 verified alerts this week · 27 protection guides

  • “Package On Hold” Delivery Texts (USPS/Amazon/UPS Smishing) Read alert →

    2 verified alerts this week · 27 protection guides

  • Fake Azim Premji Foundation 1.5M Euro Lottery Email Read alert →

    7 verified alerts this week · 27 protection guides

  • QR Code Parking Meter Sticker Scam (Fake Payment Page) Read alert →

    5 verified alerts this week · 27 protection guides

  • Zelle “Refund Trick” Call/Text Wave (Bank Impersonation) Read alert →

    5 verified alerts this week · 27 protection guides

  • FTC Impersonator Texts Fake Agent Badge to Recover Lost Money Read alert →

    5 verified alerts this week · 27 protection guides

  • Recovery room scammers target people who already lost money once — no agency charges a fee to return funds. See guide →

    5 verified alerts this week · 27 protection guides

  • Venmo/Cash App “Accidental Transfer” Message (Refund Setup) Read alert →

    5 verified alerts this week · 27 protection guides

  • Zelle “refund trick” calls claim a transfer went through — hang up and call your bank from the number on your card. Read alert →

    9 verified alerts this week · 27 protection guides

  • The Zelle refund trick still tops bank fraud reports: hang up and call the number on your card, not the caller. See guide →

    4 verified alerts this week · 27 protection guides

  • Amazon and USPS delivery smishing texts use urgent links — check orders only inside the official app. See guide →

    4 verified alerts this week · 27 protection guides

  • Paste suspicious texts into our Scam Checker before you reply or tap a link. Try tool →

    4 verified alerts this week · 27 protection guides

  • QR codes on parking meters and mailers can hide phishing links — type the official site yourself. See guide →

    4 verified alerts this week · 27 protection guides

  • Fake EZ-Pass and toll-agency texts are spiking — small unpaid-balance links steal card details. Read alert →

    4 verified alerts this week · 27 protection guides

  • Mrs. Dorine Wood who has decided to donate what I have to a reliable individual Read alert →

    4 verified alerts this week · 27 protection guides

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