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.
Unpaid toll text scam
Fake E-ZPass, FasTrak, and SunPass texts chasing a tiny unpaid toll.
Vishing (voice phishing)
Phone calls that impersonate your bank, Amazon, or a government agency.
One-time passcode (OTP) scam
Someone talks you into reading out the six-digit code you just received.
SIM swap fraud
Your phone number is ported to a scammer's SIM, and your codes go with it.
Sextortion email
A threatening email claiming to have webcam footage of you.
Grandparent / family emergency scam
A panicked call claiming a grandchild is in jail or hospital and needs cash now.
Zelle and bank transfer scam
You're told to send money to yourself to 'reverse' a fraudulent payment.
Crypto giveaway scam
'Send 0.1 BTC, get 0.2 back' — livestreamed with a cloned celebrity.
Fake subscription renewal / refund scam
A Geek Squad or Norton 'invoice' for a renewal you never bought.
Rental and apartment scam
A listing at a great price, from a landlord who is always abroad.
Task and 'liking' job scam
Paid to click likes or rate products — until you're asked to top up.
Google Voice verification code scam
A 'buyer' wants a code to prove you're a real seller.
Utility disconnection scam
Pay within the hour or your power goes off — a classic pressure play.
Puppy and pet scam
A perfect puppy, a deposit paid, and then a chain of surprise fees.
Concert and event ticket scam
Sold-out tickets from a stranger's account, paid for by friends-and-family.
Hacked friend / 'is this you?' scam
A message from a friend's real account, sent by someone else.