Scam index
Find the scam you are dealing with.
Search by keyword, filter by category or risk level, and open any scam to see the full breakdown — warning signs, what to do, and where to report it.
fake App Store purchase alert scam
A fraudulent email claims you made an expensive App Store purchase you did not authorize, urging you to click a cancellation link that leads to a credential-stealing site.
Check your actual purchase history in the App Store app or at reportaproblem.apple.com.
iPhone users
U.S.
storm chaser contractor scam
Unlicensed contractors travel to disaster-affected areas, demand large upfront payments for emergency repairs, then perform shoddy work or disappear without completing the job.
Verify any contractor's license, insurance, and references through your state's contractor licensing board before signing anything.
Homeowners
U.S.
remote job equipment purchase scam
New remote hires are told to purchase equipment from a specific vendor using a company check that later bounces, leaving the employee out of pocket for the full amount.
Legitimate employers provide equipment directly or reimburse after verified purchase — they never send checks to buy from unknown vendors.
Remote workers
U.S.
kids game in-app purchase trap
Children's mobile games use deceptive design patterns to trick children into making repeated in-app purchases, sometimes accumulating hundreds or thousands of dollars on parents' payment accounts.
Enable purchase authentication in your device settings so every in-app purchase requires a password or biometric confirmation.
Parents
U.S.
vehicle export scam
A buyer claims to purchase a vehicle for export, sends a fake payment, and arranges for a shipper to pick up the car before the fraud is detected.
Be suspicious of any buyer who agrees to the full asking price without seeing the vehicle.
Car buyers
U.S.
Craigslist car sale escrow scam
A car listed on Craigslist is offered at a great price with the seller suggesting a fake escrow service to handle the transaction, stealing the buyer's payment.
Never buy a vehicle sight-unseen, no matter how good the deal seems — insist on seeing it in person.
Car buyers
U.S.
storm chaser roofer scam
After a major storm, out-of-town contractors go door to door offering cheap roof repairs, collect deposits, and do shoddy work or disappear.
Verify the contractor's license, insurance, and local business registration before signing any contract.
Homeowners
U.S.
review-for-refund scheme scam
An Amazon seller contacts buyers after purchase and offers a full refund in exchange for a 5-star review, artificially inflating their product ratings.
Decline the offer and report the seller to Amazon for review manipulation.
Online shoppers
U.S.
Amazon order confirmation phishing scam
You receive an email or text confirming a large purchase you never made, with a link to 'cancel' the order that leads to a phishing site designed to steal your Amazon credentials and payment information.
Do not click any links — log into your Amazon account directly at amazon.com and check 'Your Orders' for the supposed purchase.
Online shoppers
U.S.
Venmo stolen credit card payment scam
A buyer pays for goods using Venmo funded by a stolen credit card. When the card owner disputes the charge, Venmo reverses the payment — the seller loses both the product and the money.
Venmo is designed for payments between people who know and trust each other — do not use it for transactions with strangers.
Marketplace sellers
U.S.
fake eBay invoice email scam
A phishing email mimics an eBay invoice for a purchase you never made, prompting you to click a link to dispute or cancel the charge, which leads to a credential-harvesting page.
Check your eBay purchase history by logging in directly at ebay.com — do not click email links.
eBay users
U.S.
eBay Motors vehicle scam
Fake vehicle listings on eBay Motors offer cars at below-market prices, with sellers insisting payment be made through a fake eBay vehicle purchase protection program before the buyer can inspect the car.
eBay does not offer a vehicle purchase protection escrow program — any reference to it is a scam.
Car buyers
U.S.
disaster insurance upsell scam
After a natural disaster, scammers approach homeowners with high-pressure sales for overpriced or unnecessary supplemental insurance coverage.
Contact your existing insurer before purchasing any supplemental disaster coverage.
Homeowners
U.S.
Zillow Offers impersonator scam
Scammers impersonate the discontinued Zillow Offers program, contacting homeowners with unsolicited purchase offers and requesting personal financial details or upfront fees to proceed.
Be aware that Zillow Offers was shut down in November 2021 — any offer claiming to be from this program is fraudulent.
Homeowners
U.S.
title washing auto scam
A salvage or flood-damaged vehicle's title is laundered through states with lax title laws to remove the salvage brand, then resold as clean.
Always run a vehicle history report through the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System at vehiclehistory.bja.ojp.gov.
Car buyers
U.S.
odometer rollback fraud
The odometer reading is tampered with to show fewer miles, making the vehicle appear less used and worth more than its actual value.
Compare the odometer reading against the vehicle history report, which records mileage at each title transfer and inspection.
Car buyers
U.S.
curbstoner unlicensed dealer scam
An unlicensed dealer poses as a private seller to flip vehicles without disclosing known defects, avoiding dealer regulations and consumer protections.
Verify the seller's name matches the name on the vehicle title.
Car buyers
U.S.
online car deposit scam
A seller lists an attractive vehicle at a below-market price and requests a deposit to hold it, then disappears after receiving payment.
Never send a deposit for a vehicle you have not seen and inspected in person.
Car buyers
U.S.
lemon laundering scam
A vehicle that was bought back by the manufacturer under a state lemon law is resold without disclosing its defect history.
Run a full vehicle history report and look specifically for manufacturer buyback or lemon law records.
Car buyers
U.S.
phantom vehicle listing scam
A completely fabricated vehicle listing uses stolen photos and descriptions to collect deposits from buyers for a car that does not exist.
Reverse-search listing photos before contacting the seller.
Car buyers
U.S.
VIN cloning fraud
A stolen vehicle is given the VIN plate from a legally registered vehicle of the same make and model to pass title checks.
Compare the VIN on the dashboard, door jamb, and engine block — all should match exactly.
Car buyers
U.S.
dealer add-on fraud
A dealership adds unwanted products or services — such as paint protection, fabric coating, or VIN etching — to the final purchase price without clear consent.
Read every line of the purchase agreement and refuse to sign until all charges are explained.
Car buyers
U.S.
car shipping deposit scam
A vehicle transport company collects a deposit to ship a car and then delays indefinitely, demands more money, or disappears entirely.
Verify the transport company's FMCSA operating authority and insurance at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov.
Car buyers
U.S.
Freelance style-guide payment scam
A client offers a freelance role, then says the contractor must purchase a mandatory style guide, briefing pack, or brand kit before work starts.
Do not buy starter materials or internal brand kits from a client to begin work.
Freelancers
Global