ScamLens

Scam Encyclopedia

Comprehensive guides covering 200+ scam types across 15 categories. Learn to recognize, avoid, and report every type of fraud.

201

Scam Types

15

Categories

12

Languages

24/7

Updated Daily

52 Scam Types
Cryptocurrency & Web3 Fraud Critical

Honeypot Token Scams: How Scammers Lock Your Crypto

Honeypot tokens appear to be legitimate cryptocurrency investments but contain hidden code that prevents you from selling or withdraws your funds when you try to exit.

$5,000 Avg. Loss
1-3 days
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Cryptocurrency & Web3 Fraud Critical

Rug Pull Scams: How Crypto Exit Fraud Works

Rug pulls are cryptocurrency scams where developers abandon projects and steal investor funds, often within days of launch.

$50,000 Avg. Loss
1-7 days
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Cryptocurrency & Web3 Fraud Critical

Seed Phrase Phishing: Crypto Wallet Security Guide

Scammers trick cryptocurrency users into revealing their seed phrases, gaining complete control of digital wallets and stealing all assets.

$50,000 Avg. Loss
1-3 days
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Cryptocurrency & Web3 Fraud Critical

Token Approval Exploit: How Scammers Drain Web3 Wallets

Attackers trick users into approving unlimited token transfers, then silently drain wallets without additional signatures.

$20,000 Avg. Loss
1-3 days
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Romance & Social Engineering Critical

Sextortion Scams: Online Blackmail & Extortion

Scammers claim to have intimate videos of you and demand payment to prevent public exposure. Most claims are false, but the psychological pressure is intense.

$10,000 Avg. Loss
1-30 days
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Romance & Social Engineering Critical

Romance Scam: How Fake Love Leads to Financial Loss

Scammers create fake dating profiles to build emotional bonds and manipulate victims into sending money, gifts, or personal information.

$25,000 Avg. Loss
3-12 months
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Romance & Social Engineering Critical

Sextortion Scams: How Criminals Exploit Intimate Images

Scammers threaten to expose intimate images to demand immediate payment, exploiting shame and fear to extort money from victims.

$5,000 Avg. Loss
1-7 days
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Romance & Social Engineering Critical

Virtual Kidnapping Scams: Extortion Through False Abduction

Scammers falsely claim your loved one has been kidnapped and demand immediate ransom payment before you can contact them.

$10,000 Avg. Loss
1-3 days
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Employment & Business Fraud Critical

Business Email Compromise (BEC) Scams

Sophisticated criminals impersonate executives to trick employees into transferring large sums of money or sensitive data.

$50,000 Avg. Loss
1-30 days
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Employment & Business Fraud Critical

CEO Fraud: How Scammers Impersonate Executives

CEO fraud tricks employees into sending money by impersonating company leaders. Average losses exceed $50,000 per incident.

$50,000 Avg. Loss
1-7 days
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Employment & Business Fraud Critical

Reshipping & Money Mule Scams: Avoid Fraud Employment

Scammers pose as employers to recruit you as a 'money mule' or reshipping agent, making you complicit in money laundering and theft.

$5,000 Avg. Loss
1-3 months
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Tech Support & Digital Threats Critical

Ransomware Attacks: Protect Your Data from Digital Extortion

Ransomware encrypts your digital files, demanding payment to restore access, leading to significant financial loss and data disruption.

$10,000 Avg. Loss
1-7 days
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Tech Support & Digital Threats Critical

Remote Access Trojan (RAT) Scams

Remote Access Trojans (RATs) allow scammers to take full control of your computer, stealing data, installing malware, and causing significant financial and privacy damage.

$5,000 Avg. Loss
1-30 days
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Identity Theft & Personal Data Critical

Account Takeover (ATO) Scams: Protect Your Digital Life

Account Takeover (ATO) scams involve criminals seizing control of your online accounts to steal money, personal data, or commit further fraud.

$10,000 Avg. Loss
1-30 days
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Identity Theft & Personal Data Critical

Biometric Data Theft: Protecting Your Unique Identity

Biometric data theft involves criminals stealing your unique biological identifiers like fingerprints or facial scans to impersonate you, leading to severe financial and identity fraud.

$15,000 Avg. Loss
years
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Identity Theft & Personal Data Critical

Child Identity Theft: Protecting Your Child's Future

Child identity theft occurs when a criminal uses a minor's personal information to open accounts, obtain loans, or commit crimes, often going undetected for years.

$10,000 Avg. Loss
years
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Identity Theft & Personal Data Critical

Criminal Identity Theft: Clear Your Name

Criminal identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information during an arrest or criminal investigation, creating a false criminal record in your name.

$20,000 Avg. Loss
months-years
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Identity Theft & Personal Data Critical

Medical Identity Theft: Protect Your Health & Finances

Medical identity theft occurs when criminals use your personal information to obtain medical services or drugs, leading to financial ruin and compromised health records.

$20,000 Avg. Loss
months-years
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Identity Theft & Personal Data Critical

Synthetic Identity Theft: How Scammers Create Fake Identities

Criminals blend real and fabricated personal information to create entirely fictional identities for fraud. This sophisticated scam costs victims and institutions billions annually.

$15,000 Avg. Loss
3-24 months
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Health & Wellness Fraud Critical

Fake Pharmacy Scams: Counterfeit Drugs Online

Scammers pose as legitimate pharmacies to sell counterfeit, expired, or dangerous medications online, putting your health and wallet at risk.

$1,000 Avg. Loss
1-4 weeks
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Health & Wellness Fraud Critical

Stem Cell Therapy Fraud: Identifying Illegal Treatments

Scammers pose as legitimate clinics offering unproven stem cell treatments for incurable diseases, charging thousands while causing serious harm.

$10,000 Avg. Loss
1-6 months
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Emerging & AI-Powered Scams Critical

AI-Powered Phishing: How Scammers Use AI to Target You

Scammers deploy artificial intelligence to create highly personalized phishing attacks with deepfake videos, customized emails, and voice impersonation that fool even cautious users.

$5,000 Avg. Loss
1-7 days
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Emerging & AI-Powered Scams Critical

Deepfake Video Impersonation Scams

Criminals use AI-generated deepfake videos to impersonate executives, celebrities, and trusted figures to deceive victims into sending money or revealing sensitive information.

$50,000 Avg. Loss
1-7 days
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Emerging & AI-Powered Scams Critical

Deepfake Voice Cloning Scams: AI Impersonation Fraud

Scammers use AI to clone your loved one's voice and demand urgent money, creating convincing emergency scenarios in minutes.

$10,000 Avg. Loss
1-7 days
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