Dictionary
The Scam Dictionary
A growing reference of scam types — how each one works, the red flags to watch for, and the right way to respond.
Email phishing
Fake emails impersonating brands to steal credentials.
SMS phishing (smishing)
Scam links delivered by text message — usually about packages or banking.
Fake package delivery
Pretends to be a delivery service to harvest payment info.
IRS / tax authority impersonation
Threatens arrest unless you pay 'back taxes' immediately.
Gift card payment scam
Any request to pay a stranger in gift cards is a scam.
Tech support scam
Fake virus warnings and 'Microsoft' calls demanding remote access.
Romance scam
Fake online relationships that eventually ask for money.
Pig butchering (crypto romance)
Long-con romance turned into a fake crypto investment.
Investment / get-rich-quick
Guaranteed returns and celebrity endorsements that don't exist.
Fake job offer
Easy remote jobs that turn out to launder money or steal your data.
Marketplace overpayment
Buyer 'accidentally' overpays and asks you to refund the difference.
Lookalike domain
URLs that look like a brand you trust, with one or two characters off.
AI voice cloning
Cloned voice of a loved one calling in distress.
Deepfake CEO fraud
Fake video calls from your boss authorizing wire transfers.
Fake charity
Fake donation campaigns after disasters or in honor of celebrities.
QR code scam (quishing)
Malicious QR codes on parking meters, restaurants, and emails.