The A to Z Scams List of 2022
Author: Nichlaus O.
We have made a list of the most reported scams to help you identify them quickly. Additionally, you can click on the name of the scam for detailed information about it and how to protect yourself.
A
AliExpress Scams
AliExpress leads globally as the largest eCommerce retail shop but it is possible to get scammed on this platform if you are not careful.
Amazon Scams
The shopping and delivery systems at Amazon are exploited by scammers to con buyers and sellers alike.
C
Cartel Scam
Not every call from a drug cartel is a real threat to your life. Scammers pose as mafia hitmen to extort money in this scam.
CashApp Scams
Never follow an email link, a stranger's instructions, or customer care support via a call to transfer money through your phone. That’s how CashApp scams are executed.
Chargeback Scams
These scams are dangerous because they are a genuine charge for purchases made by someone else to your card. Beware of chargeback fraud.
Courier & Delivery Scams
Sellers also get scammed by their buyers who claim packages did not arrive or arrived with damage and refuse to pay.
Craigslist Scams
Listings and classifieds sites are great places to find what you want, quick and cheap. Do your due diligence in verifying before purchase to avoid craigslist scams.
Crypto Mining Scams
Before you pay for mining digital coins, here’s how to spot a crypto mining scam.
D
Dropshipping Scams
Dropshipping scams involve cheap products sold by middlemen with a huge markup and poor or no after-sales support.
E
eBay Scams
Watch out for these scams when buying or selling items on eBay.
Education Scams
Pursue your learning dreams in peace by being aware of education scams.
Email Scams
As one of the chief ways scams are initiated, scammer emails can cause serious money losses and loss of your personal details. Beware of compromised emails.
F
Facebook Scams
Beware of scams such as fake profiles, scammy ads and links to phishing sites on Facebook.
Fake Check Scam
Write, receive and cash your checks with care to avoid being a victim of fake check scams.
Fake ID Scams
Can you buy a fake ID online? You’ll lose both your money and identification details to scammers who claim they can make a fake driver’s license or passport.
Fake Job Scams
Jobs that need you to pay to work or have no clear description of your role as an employee are always scams.
Free Gift & Prize Scams
Don’t fall for free gifts and giveaways when shopping whenever you're asked to put in your personal and banking details, they are fronts for identity theft.
G
Gaming Scams
Never buy bootleg game copies online or follow links to download the latest game for free, they are a disguised way to deliver malware and gain access to your money.
Gift Card Scams
Only use your gift card in exchange for gifts at authorized stores. Never use gift cards as payment or a form of payment or share them with strangers; you will be scammed!
Google Voice Scam
Scammers after your phone number use Google Voice to trick you and take control of your Google Voice number. Here is what you can do if you fall for a phone verification scam.
H
High-Risk Financial Investment Scams
Investments that promise the greatest gains in the short term are the riskiest in stocks, precious gems and futures markets. Beware of scams in that area.
High Yield Investment Programs (HYIPs)
Unusually high rates in return on investment are the first tell-tale signs of HYIP scams.
I
ICO Scams
Approach purchasing of new and unknown cryptocurrencies with caution as you could fall for these ICO scams.
Inheritance Scams
Nobody is handing out loads of cash to strangers online. Don’t believe stories about a large unclaimed inheritance sitting in a bank waiting for your assistance to get it out.
Investment Scams
Placing your cash in any investment? Check for signs that it’s genuine first, it may be a scam.
L
Linkedin Scams
Fake profiles are used to pull scams on professionals on LinkedIn by claiming to be able to provide a service. Read about professional scammers here.
Lottery Scams
Gamble safely by learning to identify scam signs on lotto sites.
M
Malware Scams
Protect your devices and accounts online so that you don’t fall prey to fake tech support and malware scams.
Money Flipping Scams
Money flipping is a term used to entice get-rich-quick hopefuls to invest in a shady program that multiplies their investment up to ten times within a few hours.
Money Mule Scam
Cybercriminals may try to use you to move illegal money thus keeping themselves from being caught by the authorities.
Money Recovery Scams
If you lose money in a scam, be careful whom you contact to help you recover it. It could be a scammer waiting for scam victims. Some lost cryptos cannot be recovered.
Multi-level Marketing (MLM) Scams
Whenever your performance of a job and its pay depend on how many more people you recruit, you are in an MLM scam.
O
OfferUp Scams
Some mobile merchant apps are legitimate but have the downside that they have been manipulated by scammers to rip buyers off. OfferUp is one such platform.
P
Pay To Click (PTC) Scams
Jobs that pay you next to nothing for simply clicking on certain ads online are not real jobs but scams.
PayPal Scams
Some sellers and buyers exploit PayPal systems to rip off ignorant users. Be watchful to avoid PayPal scams.
Pet Scams
Never pay for a pet because you saw an ad with pretty puppies or a cute cat. Pet scams work precisely because of that.
Phone Scams
A call or text is one common way scams are initiated. Verify the information you get before acting to protect yourself from phone scams.
S
Social Media Scams
Fake ads and profiles are at the center of social media scams.
Sugar Baby Scam
Looking for love on dating sites can put you in the crosshairs of a romantic scammer.
T
Tech Support Scams
One very effective way scammers use to get computer users to buy antivirus software is by claiming that they are contacting them from Tech Support about a problem with their computer. Such are tech support scams.
Telegram Scams
Telegram groups are used to spread false information to scam unsuspecting victims.
Trading & Investment Scams
Trading in the forex market needs you to understand how it works to be able to spot the scam.
Travel & Holiday Scams
Be careful when you plan a holiday getaway to book and travel with genuine travel agencies. Here’s how to spot fake travel agencies.
U
Unexpected Money & Winning Scams
When you receive unexpected money winnings, it may be a ploy to get your banking details or get you on the hook for an investment scam.
Utility Scams
Utility company impostors can claim you have unpaid bills to clear immediately or risk disconnection.
V
Venmo Scams
Send money only to friends and family whom you trust to avoid Venmo scams. Never do refunds from strangers who claim to have accidentally sent money to you.
W
WhatsApp Scams
Don’t fall for the “new features or free data offers” sent to you on WhatsApp with links to phishing sites for a subscription. It is likely to be a WhatsApp scam.
Work From Home Job Scams
Not every opportunity to work from home is highly lucrative. It may be a scammer going after your money and personal details.
Report a Scam!
Have you fallen for a hoax, bought a fake product? Report the site and warn others!
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Popular Stories
As the influence of the internet rises, so does the prevalence of online scams. There are fraudsters making all kinds of claims to trap victims online - from fake investment opportunities to online stores - and the internet allows them to operate from any part of the world with anonymity. The ability to spot online scams is an important skill to have as the virtual world is increasingly becoming a part of every facet of our lives. The below tips will help you identify the signs which can indicate that a website could be a scam. Common Sense: Too Good To Be True When looking for goods online, a great deal can be very enticing. A Gucci bag or a new iPhone for half the price? Who wouldn’t want to grab such a deal? Scammers know this too and try to take advantage of the fact. If an online deal looks too good to be true, think twice and double-check things. The easiest way to do this is to simply check out the same product at competing websites (that you trust). If the difference in prices is huge, it might be better to double-check the rest of the website. Check Out the Social Media Links Social media is a core part of ecommerce businesses these days and consumers often expect online shops to have a social media presence. Scammers know this and often insert logos of social media sites on their websites. Scratching beneath the surface often reveals this fu
So the worst has come to pass - you realise you parted with your money too fast, and the site you used was a scam - what now? Well first of all, don’t despair!! If you think you have been scammed, the first port of call when having an issue is to simply ask for a refund. This is the first and easiest step to determine whether you are dealing with a genuine company or scammers. Sadly, getting your money back from a scammer is not as simple as just asking. If you are indeed dealing with scammers, the procedure (and chance) of getting your money back varies depending on the payment method you used. PayPal Debit card/Credit card Bank transfer Wire transfer Google Pay Bitcoin PayPal If you used PayPal, you have a strong chance of getting your money back if you were scammed. On their website, you can file a dispute within 180 calendar days of your purchase. Conditions to file a dispute: The simplest situation is that you ordered from an online store and it has not arrived. In this case this is what PayPal states: "If your order never shows up and the seller can't provide proof of shipment or delivery, you'll get a full refund. It's that simple." The scammer has sent you a completely different item. For example, you ordered a PlayStation 4, but instead received only a Playstation controller. The condition of the item was misrepresented on the product page. This could be the