Scam category
Investment scams
Investment scams often use controlled dashboards, fake gains, and pressure to increase deposits. Some are cold outreach campaigns, while others are wrapped inside a longer relationship scam.
Category activity
“investment scam”
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- Returns look guaranteed or unusually steady.
- The platform shows gains but blocks small withdrawals.
- The next deposit is framed as the final step to unlock funds.
Common searches
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Live reports from government agencies, cybersecurity researchers, and consumer watchdogs that match investment scams.
Crypto recovery agent scam
After a person loses money in crypto, a second scam appears claiming funds can be recovered for a fee or wallet access.
Assume unsolicited recovery outreach is fraudulent.
Previous fraud victims
Global
Romance-led investment scam
A relationship begins on social or dating platforms and gradually shifts toward a fake investing opportunity with fabricated gains and escalating deposits.
Never invest based on a romantic contact's recommendation.
Online daters
Global
AI celebrity livestream crypto giveaway scam
A livestream uses a celebrity deepfake to promote a limited-time crypto giveaway that promises to send back more than you transfer.
Assume send-to-receive crypto giveaways are fraudulent and report the channel.
Crypto traders
Global
Fake LinkedIn recruiter crypto role scam
A recruiter claims to fill an exclusive crypto role, then pushes the candidate into downloading a wallet, trading app, or identity kit.
Verify the recruiter from the company's actual careers page before engaging.
Tech workers
Global
Chargeback specialist fee scam
A consultant offers to dispute card charges or investment losses for a sizable upfront retainer and vague promises.
Ask your bank or card issuer directly about chargeback options before hiring anyone.
Small businesses
Global
Romance-to-forex bait scam
A romantic contact slowly shifts the conversation into a special forex or crypto opportunity that only trusted people can access.
Separate emotional relationships from financial decisions entirely.
Professionals
Global
WhatsApp stock tip group scam
A private chat group pushes coordinated stock buys while fake members post profits to create trust and urgency.
Never trade based on private group pressure or unverifiable gains.
Retail investors
Global
Copy trading mentor scam
A mentor offers copy trading access and asks the victim to fund an account or connect an API to mirror guaranteed profits.
Avoid trading services that rely on chat-only mentorship and guaranteed returns.
Crypto traders
Global
AI trading bot subscription scam
A polished dashboard claims an AI bot can trade autonomously if you buy a subscription and deposit capital first.
Demand independently verifiable performance and test withdrawal before trusting a platform.
Retail investors
Global
Gold mining club investment scam
An investment club says pooled money is being used in gold or commodity extraction projects with fast fixed returns.
Check licenses and filings before sending funds to private clubs.
Retirees
Global
Managed forex account scam
A forex mentor offers to manage your money directly, showing screenshots of wins while dodging audited history or regulatory details.
Avoid handing capital to unlicensed mentors from social media.
New traders
Global
Pre-IPO share allocation scam
A broker-like contact offers access to exclusive pre-IPO shares if you reserve quickly with a wire payment.
Only pursue pre-IPO investments through regulated, documented channels.
Professionals
Global
High-yield staking dashboard scam
A platform shows steady staking or liquidity returns, but withdrawals fail once the victim adds meaningful capital.
Try a small withdrawal early and stop at the first excuse.
Crypto holders
Global
Withdrawal fee wealth app scam
A fake wealth app shows profits but demands taxes, verification fees, or liquidity unlock payments before funds can be released.
Do not pay extra fees to release fake gains.
Retail investors
Global
Celebrity romance chat scam
A victim believes they are in private contact with a celebrity or creator who eventually asks for gift cards, crypto, or help escaping a contract.
Assume direct romantic or financial outreach from famous figures is fraudulent unless proven through official channels.
Fans
Global
AI trading bot dashboard scam
A platform promises AI-managed profits, shows a convincing dashboard, and keeps asking for larger deposits while withdrawals quietly fail.
Attempt a small withdrawal before trusting any AI or automated trading platform.
Retail investors
Global
Copy trading WhatsApp group scam
A private group promotes a mentor or analyst whose picks appear to win consistently, then funnels members into fake broker or wallet deposits.
Do not fund broker or wallet accounts shared only inside a chat group.
Retail investors
Global
Token presale whitelist scam
A crypto project promises early access or whitelist allocation, but the sale page, wallet, or smart contract is controlled by attackers.
Verify token sales from official project channels and never trust a wallet address shared in DMs.
Crypto users
Global
Mining hosting return scam
A mining or yield-hosting company promises passive income from managed infrastructure, but the balance and payout reports are fabricated.
Treat mining-hosting platforms as unverified until you confirm the business, facility, and payout reality independently.
Crypto holders
Global
Tax warrant crypto payment scam
A caller says a tax warrant or filing violation will trigger arrest unless the victim pays immediately in crypto or gift cards.
End the call and contact the tax authority from its official website or mailed notice.
Households
U.S.
fake cryptocurrency exchange platform scam
Scammers build professional-looking crypto exchange websites that accept deposits but prevent withdrawals, stealing users' funds and personal data.
Only use exchanges registered with your national financial regulator — check FinCEN, FCA, or ASIC registries
Crypto investors
Global
rug pull token scam
Developers launch a new cryptocurrency token with heavy promotion, attract investor funds into the liquidity pool, then drain all liquidity and disappear with investors' money.
Check if liquidity is locked using tools like Team Finance or Unicrypt before investing in any new token
Crypto investors
Global
crypto wallet drainer scam
Malicious smart contracts or phishing sites trick users into signing a transaction that grants the attacker unlimited permission to transfer tokens from their wallet.
Always review transaction details carefully in your wallet before signing — revoke approvals regularly using tools like Revoke.cash
Crypto investors
Global
fake crypto airdrop scam
Scammers impersonate real crypto projects and announce fake airdrops on social media, directing users to malicious claim sites that steal wallet credentials or drain funds.
Verify any airdrop announcement through the project's official website and verified social media channels
Crypto investors
Global
crypto pump and dump group scam
Organized groups on Telegram or Discord coordinate mass purchases to inflate a low-cap token price, then sell their pre-purchased holdings at the peak, leaving latecomers with losses.
Recognize that pump and dump schemes are illegal market manipulation — participants can face legal consequences
Crypto investors
Global
crypto recovery service scam
Scammers target people who have already lost cryptocurrency to fraud, offering to recover the stolen funds for an upfront fee, then stealing more money from the victim.
Understand that stolen cryptocurrency is extremely difficult to recover — anyone guaranteeing recovery is likely a scammer
Crypto investors
Global
fake crypto mining pool scam
Scammers create fake cloud mining or mining pool platforms that accept investments for mining hashrate but never actually mine any cryptocurrency.
Verify any mining pool by checking public blockchain explorers for their pool address and hashrate contribution
Crypto investors
Global
SIM swap for crypto theft scam
Scammers convince your mobile carrier to transfer your phone number to their SIM card, then use it to bypass two-factor authentication and access your cryptocurrency exchange accounts.
Switch from SMS-based 2FA to hardware security keys or authenticator apps for all cryptocurrency exchange accounts
Crypto investors
U.S.
TikTok money flip scam
TikTok videos and DMs promote fake money flipping schemes that claim to multiply your cash through a secret investment method, but simply steal your initial payment.
Recognize that no legitimate investment can guarantee to multiply your money — any such promise is a scam
Young adults
U.S.
Twitter crypto promotion scam
Hacked or impersonator Twitter accounts post fake cryptocurrency promotions promising to double any crypto sent to a wallet address, stealing funds from followers.
Remember that no legitimate person or company will ever ask you to send crypto to receive more back
Social media users
Global
Reddit investment tip scam
Scammers infiltrate investment subreddits with fake success stories and coordinated posts promoting fraudulent trading platforms or pump-and-dump stocks.
Verify investment advice from Reddit through independent financial research and regulated sources
Social media users
U.S.
influencer promotion scam
Influencers promote fraudulent products, services, or investment schemes to their followers without disclosing they are being paid, or without verifying what they are promoting is legitimate.
Research any product or investment independently before purchasing, regardless of who promotes it
Social media users
U.S.
webcam blackmail email scam
A mass-sent email claims the sender hacked your webcam and recorded you during intimate activity, demanding cryptocurrency payment to prevent release of the footage.
Do not reply or send any payment — these are mass-sent with no actual footage.
Adults
U.S.
fake crypto wallet app scam
Counterfeit cryptocurrency wallet apps impersonate popular wallets like MetaMask or Trust Wallet to steal private keys and drain user crypto holdings.
Download crypto wallet apps only from links on the wallet official website and verify the developer name in the app store
Crypto users
U.S.
crypto Ponzi scheme
Fraudulent cryptocurrency investment platforms promise guaranteed high returns but pay early investors with new investor funds, eventually collapsing and leaving most participants with total losses.
Be extremely skeptical of any investment promising guaranteed returns, as all legitimate investments carry risk
Investors
U.S.
real estate investment club scam
Fraudulent real estate investment clubs collect member funds for supposed property deals that never materialize, using new member contributions to pay returns to earlier members.
Verify any real estate investment through independent title searches and property records
Investors
U.S.
high-yield investment program (HYIP) scam
HYIPs are fraudulent online investment platforms that promise extraordinarily high returns, sometimes 1-10 percent daily, funded entirely by new investor deposits in a classic Ponzi structure.
Understand that returns of 1 percent per day would be 3,678 percent annually, which is impossible for any legitimate investment
Investors
U.S.
crowdfunding Ponzi scheme
Scammers use crowdfunding platforms or create their own to collect funds for fictional projects, using new contributions to pay fake returns to early backers before disappearing.
Research the project team independently and verify their identities and past work before backing a campaign
Investors
U.S.
wallet connect phishing airdrop scam
Scammers create fake airdrop claim sites that prompt users to connect their crypto wallet, then use malicious smart contract approvals to drain all tokens from the wallet.
Never connect your wallet to unknown websites and verify any airdrop through the project official channels
Crypto users
U.S.
social media airdrop link scam
Fake airdrop announcements on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok use engagement bait to drive clicks to phishing sites that steal wallet credentials or personal data.
Verify any airdrop by checking the project official website and verified social media accounts
Crypto users
U.S.
Discord airdrop bot scam
Malicious bots in crypto Discord servers send automated DMs about fake airdrops, directing users to phishing sites that steal wallet credentials or drain connected wallets.
Disable DMs from server members in your Discord privacy settings for crypto-related servers
Crypto users
U.S.
airdrop verification phishing scam
Fake airdrops require identity verification that collects personal documents and selfies, enabling identity theft or KYC bypass on crypto exchanges using the victim credentials.
Never upload identity documents to claim a free airdrop, as legitimate airdrops rarely require KYC
Crypto users
U.S.
social media then DM scam
Scammers build credibility through public social media interactions before moving to private DMs where they execute phishing attacks, romance scams, or investment fraud.
Be cautious of new contacts who engage publicly before quickly moving to private messages.
Online users
U.S.
PayPal invoice scam
Scammers send real PayPal invoices for products or services you never ordered — such as cryptocurrency purchases or tech support — hoping you will call the embedded phone number and hand over personal information or remote access.
If you receive an invoice for something you did not buy, do not call the phone number — log into PayPal directly and decline the invoice.
PayPal users
U.S.
Cash App money flip scam
Scammers promise to multiply your money through a Cash App 'flip' — send them a small amount and they will return a much larger sum. The money is never returned.
There is no legitimate way to multiply money by sending it to a stranger — this is always a scam.
Young adults
U.S.
Bitcoin investment via Cash App scam
Scammers recruit victims through social media to invest in Bitcoin through Cash App, promising guaranteed returns — victims either send Bitcoin directly to the scammer or lose control of their Cash App account.
No one can guarantee returns on cryptocurrency — guaranteed profit claims are always a scam.
Young adults
U.S.
crypto promotion by fake influencer on TikTok
Fake or compromised TikTok accounts impersonate popular influencers to promote fraudulent cryptocurrency investments, leading followers to lose money on worthless tokens.
Never invest based solely on social media influencer recommendations — always do independent research.
Young adults
U.S.
fake Coinbase Wallet app scam
Counterfeit Coinbase Wallet apps published on unofficial app stores or promoted through ads steal seed phrases and drain cryptocurrency holdings.
Only download Coinbase Wallet from the official Apple App Store or Google Play Store — verify the developer is Coinbase Inc.
Cryptocurrency investors
U.S.
Coinbase customer support impersonator scam
Scammers pose as Coinbase support agents via phone calls, social media, or fake support websites to trick users into sharing login credentials or granting remote access to their devices.
Coinbase support will never call you first, ask for your password, or request remote access to your device.
Cryptocurrency investors
U.S.
Coinbase Earn impersonator scam
Fake websites and social media posts imitate the Coinbase Earn program, promising free cryptocurrency for completing tasks, but steal credentials or require an upfront deposit that is never returned.
Access Coinbase Earn only through the official Coinbase app or website — the real program never requires a deposit.
New crypto users
U.S.
Coinbase withdrawal verification phishing scam
Fake emails alert users to a large withdrawal from their Coinbase account and prompt them to 'cancel' the transaction through a phishing link that captures their credentials.
Check your account directly at coinbase.com — if there is no pending withdrawal, the email is fake.
Cryptocurrency investors
U.S.
fake Coinbase Pro upgrade scam
Scammers promote a fraudulent 'Coinbase Pro upgrade' through emails or ads, tricking users into transferring cryptocurrency to a fake platform where funds are stolen.
Coinbase merged Coinbase Pro into its main platform as Advanced Trade — there is no separate upgrade process requiring fund transfers.
Active traders
U.S.
Coinbase seed phrase harvest scam
Scammers pose as Coinbase staff and convince users to reveal their wallet seed phrases through fake security procedures, gaining full access to all cryptocurrency in the wallet.
No legitimate company, including Coinbase, will ever ask for your seed phrase — this is the single most important rule in crypto security.
New crypto users
U.S.
Coinbase card skimming scam
Fake Coinbase Card management portals capture debit card details, enabling unauthorized transactions and ATM withdrawals linked to victims' crypto balances.
Manage your Coinbase Card only through the official Coinbase app — never through links in emails or messages.
Coinbase Card users
U.S.
Coinbase fake listing alert scam
Scammers announce fake cryptocurrency listings on Coinbase to pump worthless tokens, then dump them after victims buy in based on the false news.
Check official Coinbase channels — blog.coinbase.com and the official Coinbase Twitter/X account — for legitimate listing announcements.
Cryptocurrency investors
U.S.
Coinbase Commerce invoice scam
Fraudulent invoices sent via Coinbase Commerce or mimicking its interface trick businesses and individuals into paying for goods or services they never ordered.
Never pay an invoice you did not expect — verify with the supposed sender through a separate communication channel.
Small business owners
U.S.
Robinhood account restricted phishing scam
A phishing email or text claims your Robinhood account has been restricted due to suspicious activity, directing you to a fake login page that captures your credentials and enables account takeover.
Check account status by opening the official Robinhood app — never through links in messages.
Retail investors
U.S.
Robinhood options trading alert phishing scam
A phishing message claims unusual options activity has been detected on your Robinhood account and asks you to verify via a link, leading to a credential-harvesting page.
Verify account activity only through the official Robinhood app.
Options traders
U.S.
Robinhood crypto wallet phishing scam
A phishing campaign targets Robinhood crypto wallet users with fake wallet verification or transfer confirmation emails, capturing login credentials and wallet keys.
Robinhood will never ask for your wallet seed phrase or private keys — this is always a scam.
Crypto investors
U.S.
Robinhood tax document phishing scam
A phishing email claims your Robinhood tax document (1099) is ready for download, directing you to a fake site that captures your login credentials and Social Security number.
Access tax documents only through the official Robinhood app under Account > Statements & History > Tax Documents.
Robinhood users
U.S.
Robinhood IPO access scam
Scammers promise guaranteed access to hot IPOs through Robinhood in exchange for an upfront fee or deposit, exploiting the hype around initial public offerings.
Robinhood IPO Access is free — never pay anyone for IPO access through any platform.
Retail investors
U.S.
Robinhood margin call phishing scam
A phishing email claims you have a margin call on your Robinhood account and must deposit funds immediately through a provided link, leading to a credential-harvesting or payment-capture page.
Check for margin calls only through the official Robinhood app — real margin calls generate in-app notifications.
Margin traders
U.S.
retirement account advisor impersonation scam
Scammers impersonate financial advisors or representatives from brokerage firms and convince seniors to transfer retirement savings into fraudulent investment accounts.
Never transfer retirement funds based on an unsolicited call — hang up and call your brokerage directly using the number on your account statement.
Seniors
U.S.
time tracking malware scam targeting remote workers
Employers or scammers require remote workers to install time tracking software that secretly contains spyware, keyloggers, or cryptocurrency miners.
Only install time tracking software from verified developers — check reviews and the developer's reputation before installing.
Remote workers
U.S.
celebrity crypto endorsement deepfake
AI-generated deepfake videos show celebrities apparently endorsing cryptocurrency investment platforms, luring victims into depositing money on fraudulent exchanges that steal their funds.
Verify any celebrity endorsement by checking the person's official social media accounts and website.
Crypto investors
U.S.
AI-generated news anchor scam
Scammers create fake news broadcasts using AI-generated anchors who report fabricated stories designed to promote fraudulent products, investments, or political disinformation.
Cross-reference any news clip with the official website of the network it claims to represent.
Seniors
U.S.
wrong number text pig butchering scam
A seemingly accidental text message from a stranger initiates a friendly conversation that gradually builds into a romantic or financial relationship, ultimately steering the victim toward a fake investment platform.
Do not engage with wrong number texts from strangers — block the number immediately.
Lonely individuals
U.S.
LinkedIn professional connection pig butchering scam
Scammers create polished LinkedIn profiles impersonating professionals and connect with targets, using business credibility to build trust before steering them into fraudulent investment schemes.
Verify LinkedIn connections by checking their employment history with the actual companies listed.
Professionals
U.S.
Instagram lifestyle pig butchering scam
Scammers curate glamorous Instagram profiles showcasing luxury lifestyles funded by alleged investments, then DM targets to build relationships and funnel them into fake crypto or forex platforms.
Be suspicious of strangers on Instagram who DM you about investment opportunities, regardless of how glamorous their profile appears.
Young adults
U.S.
WhatsApp group investment pig butchering scam
Victims are added to WhatsApp groups posing as exclusive investment communities where fake members share fabricated profit screenshots, pressuring newcomers to invest in fraudulent platforms.
Leave immediately if you are added to a WhatsApp investment group without your consent.
Aspiring investors
U.S.
crypto trading mentorship pig butchering scam
Scammers pose as successful crypto traders offering mentorship, guiding victims through increasingly larger trades on a fake exchange until their funds are locked and unrecoverable.
Verify any crypto exchange on CoinMarketCap, CoinGecko, or check if it is registered with FinCEN.
Crypto beginners
U.S.
gold trading platform pig butchering scam
Scammers lure victims into investing in gold through fraudulent online trading platforms, using fake market data and fabricated profits to extract increasingly large deposits before disappearing.
Invest in gold only through established and regulated dealers listed on the CFTC or your country's financial regulator.
Retirees
U.S.
online gaming marketplace pig butchering scam
Scammers target gamers through fake in-game item marketplaces or gaming investment platforms, building relationships through shared gaming interests before redirecting them to fraudulent financial platforms.
Keep gaming friendships and financial decisions completely separate.
Gamers
U.S.
Crypto MLM token recruitment scheme
A cryptocurrency project uses MLM-style recruitment to attract investors who earn commissions by recruiting others, with the token having little real utility or market value.
Verify the token is listed on major exchanges and has real trading volume independent of the recruitment program.
Crypto traders
U.S.
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