Types of scams.
Know them. Report them. Stop them.
Americans lost over $10 billion to fraud in 2023 — a 14% increase over the prior year. This page covers every major scam category, how each one works, the red flags to watch for, and how to file a report. Click any scam type to read the full guide and submit a report.
$10B+
Total U.S. fraud losses (2023)
2.6M
Fraud reports filed with FTC
34
Scam types covered on this site
14%
Year-over-year increase in losses
All scam types
Click any card to read the full guide, learn the red flags, and submit a report.
Financial & Investment Fraud
Investment Scams
Ponzi schemes, forex fraud, fake platforms
Fake trading platforms, unregistered securities, Ponzi schemes, and algorithmic trading scams that promise guaranteed returns. The #1 costliest scam category.
Cryptocurrency Scams
Bitcoin fraud, rug pulls, fake exchanges
Fake crypto exchanges, rug pulls, pump-and-dump schemes, and fraudulent mining platforms. 86.7% of investment fraud involves crypto.
Pig Butchering Scams
Sha Zhu Pan, crypto romance scams
A long-con where scammers groom victims through dating apps into 'investing' on fake crypto platforms. The most expensive single scam type globally.
Credit Card & Check Fraud
Card skimming, fake checks, account takeover
Card skimming at ATMs, unauthorized online purchases, fake check schemes, check washing, and account takeover fraud.
Zelle, Cash App & Venmo Scams
P2P fraud, overpayment scams
Marketplace fraud, overpayment scams, and phishing attacks on Zelle, Cash App, and Venmo. Transfers are nearly instant and almost impossible to reverse.
Advance Fee / 419 Scams
Nigerian prince, inheritance scam
Someone promises you a large sum — inheritance, business deal, locked funds — but you need to pay fees first. Each payment leads to another fee. The money never comes.
Gift Card Scams
iTunes scam, Target card scam
Scammers demand payment via gift cards — the untraceable cash of the digital age. Often combined with government impersonation or tech support scams.
Identity & Impersonation Fraud
Romance Scams
Catfishing, love scams, dating fraud
Fake romantic relationships on dating apps and social media. Scammers build trust over weeks, then ask for money for emergencies, travel, or medical bills.
Impersonation Scams
Amazon, Apple, bank impersonation
The #1 most reported fraud. Scammers pose as companies (Amazon, Apple, banks), celebrities, or even family members. 39% now use AI deepfakes.
Government Impersonation
IRS scams, SSA scams, fake FBI
Fake IRS, Social Security, or law enforcement calls threatening arrest unless you pay immediately. No government agency ever demands gift card payments.
Military Romance Scams
Fake soldiers, deployment fraud
Stolen photos of real service members used to build fake relationships. 'Deployment' is the excuse for never meeting. Real soldiers never need your money.
Phishing Scams
Smishing, vishing, credential theft
Fake emails, texts, and websites impersonating banks, USPS, Netflix to steal login credentials and personal data. The most common cybercrime by volume.
Identity Theft
SSN theft, data breach, credit fraud
Criminals use stolen personal info to open accounts, file fake tax returns, or commit crimes in your name. 1.4M reports filed in 2023.
AI Deepfake Scams
Voice cloning, fake videos, AI fraud
AI-generated fake videos, cloned voices, and deepfake celebrity endorsements used for fraud. The fastest-growing scam technology.
Consumer & Marketplace Fraud
Online Shopping Scams
Fake stores, non-delivery, dropship fraud
Fake online stores with too-good prices on Instagram and Facebook ads. Products never arrive, are cheap knockoffs, or the site steals card data.
Facebook Marketplace Scams
Fake listings, no-show sellers
Fake product listings, no-show sellers, counterfeit goods, and fake rental/vehicle listings. Zelle payments nearly impossible to recover.
Tech Support Scams
Fake Microsoft/Apple calls
Fake virus warnings and calls from 'Microsoft' or 'Apple' trick victims into granting remote access, then charge for fake repairs or drain accounts.
Employment Scams
Fake jobs, task scams, check fraud
Fake job postings, work-from-home scams, and task scams requiring deposits. Job scam losses tripled from $90M (2020) to $501M (2024).
Rental Scams
Fake apartments, landlord fraud
Fake rental listings with stolen photos, below-market prices, and landlords who are 'out of town.' Deposits collected from multiple victims simultaneously.
Car & Vehicle Scams
Odometer fraud, phantom listings
Fake car listings, odometer rollbacks, title washing, and VIN cloning. One of the highest-dollar consumer frauds with $3K-$10K average loss.
Puppy & Pet Scams
Fake breeders, puppy deposit fraud
Adorable photos stolen from real breeders, attractive prices, deposits via cash apps — then escalating 'shipping fees' for a puppy that never arrives.
Lottery & Sweepstakes Scams
Fake prizes, Publishers Clearing House scam
Fake prize notifications by phone, email, or mail. You can't win a contest you never entered, and legitimate prizes never require upfront payment.
Charity Scams
Fake donations, GoFundMe fraud
Fake charities exploit disasters and tragedies. Names similar to real organizations, high-pressure phone calls, and fraudulent crowdfunding campaigns.
Real Estate & Mortgage Scams
Wire fraud, deed theft, foreclosure scams
Closing wire fraud that diverts down payments, deed theft targeting vacant properties, and foreclosure rescue scams. Average loss: $70K per incident.
Targeted Scams & Cyber Threats
Sextortion
Online blackmail, nude blackmail
Blackmail involving intimate images — real or AI-generated. Surging among teens and young adults. 20+ teen suicides linked since 2022.
Elder Fraud
Senior scams, financial exploitation
Americans over 60 lose the most money of any age group. Tech support, romance, grandparent scams, and sweepstakes fraud target seniors relentlessly.
Grandparent Scams
Emergency scam, fake bail call
'Grandma, I've been in an accident!' AI voice cloning makes these calls sound exactly like your grandchild. A family code word is the best defense.
Sugar Daddy / Sugar Mama Scams
Instagram sugar scam, Cash App sugar
Fake sugar daddy/mama accounts on Instagram and Snapchat offering thousands per week. Requires a 'registration fee' or bank login to 'deposit' funds.
Business Email Compromise (BEC)
CEO fraud, invoice scams
Scammers impersonate executives or vendors to trick employees into wiring money. #2 costliest cybercrime. FBI can freeze wires if reported in 24-72 hours.
Ransomware
Computer locked, files encrypted
Malware encrypts your files and demands cryptocurrency payment. Check nomoreransom.org for free decryption tools before paying anything.
Social Media Scams
Instagram, TikTok, Facebook fraud
Social media is the #1 contact method for scams. Fake giveaways, hacked accounts, fraudulent ads, and DM recruitment scams across every platform.
Report a Specific Entity
Report a Crypto Wallet
Suspicious wallet address
Report a specific cryptocurrency wallet address involved in a scam. Helps blockchain analysis firms trace and flag criminal wallets.
Report a Fake Social Media Profile
Catfish accounts, impersonators
Report a fake or impersonation profile on any social media platform. Helps platforms remove fraudulent accounts faster.
Report a Fraudulent Website
Scam sites, fake stores
Report a scam website — fake stores, phishing pages, fraudulent businesses. Helps browsers and search engines warn other visitors.
How to protect yourself from any scam
Verify before you trust
Search names, phone numbers, emails, and websites on ScamComplaints before sending money. Check company registration on SEC.gov or BBB.
Resist urgency
Every scam creates artificial time pressure — "act now or lose your account / go to jail / miss the deal." Legitimate organizations give you time to think.
Payment method = red flag
Gift cards, wire transfers, crypto, and cash apps are scam payment methods. Use credit cards for purchase protection and chargeback rights.
Guard your personal info
Never share your SSN, bank login, or copies of ID with anyone who contacts you first. Legitimate employers and agencies don't ask via text.
Verify identity independently
If someone claims to be from your bank, the IRS, or a company — hang up and call the official number from their website. Never use a number they provide.
Report everything
Even if you didn't lose money, report scam attempts. Every report builds the database that protects others.
Been scammed? Report it now.
Your report is added to a public, searchable database. It takes under 2 minutes and helps protect others from the same scam.