Scam Encyclopedia

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

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Scam Types

Visa & Passport Scams: Travel Document Fraud Exposed

Scammers pose as government agents or travel agencies to steal money and personal data while promising visa or passport services.

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.

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.

Fake Clinical Trial Scams: How Fraudsters Exploit Health-Seeking Victims

Scammers pose as legitimate clinical trial recruiters, charging upfront fees for participation in fake medical studies that never occur.

Fake Health Insurance Scams: Protect Your Coverage

Scammers sell fraudulent health insurance policies that don't actually exist, leaving victims without coverage and thousands in debt.

Fake Wellness Certification Scams

Scammers sell fraudulent health and wellness certifications online, promising quick credentials that are worthless and potentially illegal to use.

Medical Device Fraud: Spotting Fake Health Equipment Scams

Scammers sell counterfeit or non-existent medical devices online, targeting patients seeking affordable health solutions with promises of miraculous cures.

Miracle Cure Scams: False Health Claims Exposed

Fraudsters prey on desperate patients by selling fake treatments for serious diseases, causing financial and health harm.

Supplement and Superfood Scams: Fake Health Products

Scammers sell counterfeit or non-existent supplements claiming miraculous health benefits, exploiting consumers' desire for wellness.

Telemedicine Fraud: Protect Your Health and Money

Scammers exploit online healthcare services to steal personal data, insurance info, and money through fake telemedicine platforms and providers.

Weight Loss Scams: Fake Products & False Promises

Scammers sell ineffective weight loss products with fake testimonials, before/after photos, and misleading medical claims to desperate consumers.

Contractor Fraud: Home Improvement Scams

Unqualified contractors demand upfront payments for major renovations, then disappear with deposits or produce shoddy work.

Fake Debt Collection Scams: How to Spot Imposters

Scammers pose as debt collectors to intimidate you into paying debts you don't owe. Learn how to identify and stop them.

Fake Lawyer & Legal Service Scams

Fraudsters impersonate attorneys or create fake law firms to steal money through false legal representation and fabricated cases.

Fake Locksmith & Emergency Service Scams

Scammers posing as emergency locksmiths or service providers charge inflated fees for unnecessary work or counterfeit services.

Fake Tutoring & Online Education Service Scams

Scammers pose as tutors or educational platforms, collecting upfront fees for lessons that never materialize or are severely substandard.

Locksmith Scams: Fake Locksmiths Charging Inflated Fees

Scammers pose as licensed locksmiths, arriving quickly with inflated quotes and aggressive upselling tactics to extract hundreds from locked-out homeowners.

Moving Company Scams: Bait-and-Switch Tactics

Fraudulent movers quote low prices, then demand thousands more or vanish with your belongings, leaving victims stranded.

Pet Scam: Fake Puppy & Kitten Sales

Scammers pose as breeders or shelters to sell non-existent pets, stealing thousands through advance payments and shipping fees.

Rental Property Advance Fee Scams: Spotting Fake Listings

Scammers post fake rental listings and demand upfront deposits for properties they don't own, disappearing after payment.

Towing Scams: Fake Tow Operators & Hidden Fees

Scammers pose as tow operators or exploit disabled vehicles to demand excessive fees, fake services, or unauthorized tows.

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.

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.