Charity:

Charity scams use deception to get money from individuals who believe they are making donations to legitimate charities. This is particularly common in the wake of a natural disaster or other tragedy. Read our charity scam prevention tips.

Counterfeit product:

Counterfeit goods mimic original merchandise, right down to the trademarked logo; however, they are typically of inferior quality. This can result in a life-threatening health or safety hazard when the counterfeit item is medication, a supplement, or an auto part. Read our counterfeit product scam prevention tips.

Credit card:

Scammers impersonate a bank or other credit card issuer, pretending to verify account details to get a target’s credit card or banking information. Read our credit card scam prevention tips.

Credit repair/credit relief:

Scammers posing as legitimate service providers collect payment in advance, with promises of debt relief and repaired credit, but provide little or nothing in return. Read our credit repair/debt relief scam prevention tips.

Cryptocurrency:

These scams involve the purchase, trade, or storage of digital assets known as cryptocurrencies. The situations often involve fraudulent Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs), a type of fundraising mechanism in which a company issues its own cryptocurrency to raise capital. investors pay money or trade their own digital assets even though the scammer has no intention of building a company. Cryptocurrency scams also involve scenarios in which investors store their cryptocurrencies with fraudulent exchanges. Read the BBB study on crypto scams.

Employment:

Job applicants are led to believe they are applying for or have just been hired for a promising new job when, instead, they have given personal information via a fake application or money to scammers for “training” or “equipment.” In another variation, the victim may be “overpaid” with a fake check and asked to wire back the difference. Read our employment scam prevention tips.

Fake check/money order:

The victim deposits a phony check and then returns a portion by wire transfer to the scammer. The stories vary, but the victim is often told they are refunding an “accidental” overpayment. Scammers count on the fact that banks make funds available within days of a deposit but can take weeks to detect a fake check. Read BBB’s Fake Check study.

Family/friend emergency:

This scheme involves the impersonation of a friend or family member experiencing a fabricated urgent or dire situation. The “loved one” invariably pleads for money to be sent immediately. Aided by personal details typically found on social media, imposters can offer very plausible stories to convince their targets. Read our family/friend emergency scam prevention tips.

Foreign money exchange:

The target receives an email from a scammer pretending to be a foreign government official, member of royalty, or a business owner offering a huge sum of money to help get funds out of the scammer’s country. The victim fronts costs for the transfer, believing they will be repaid. Read our foreign money exchange scam prevention tips.

Government Agency Imposter:

Scammers pretend to be representatives of a U.S. or Canadian government agency such as the IRS, the Canada Revenue Agency, the Social Security Administration, or a wide range of others. In 2023, scammers pretended to be from the U.S. Postal Service.

Government grant:

Individuals are enticed by promises of free, guaranteed government grants requiring an up-front “processing fee.” Other fees follow, but the promised grant never materializes. Read our government grant scam prevention tips.

Healthcare, Medicaid, and Medicare:

The scammer seeks to obtain the insured’s health insurance, Medicaid, or Medicare information to submit fraudulent medical charges or for purposes of identity theft. Read our healthcare scam prevention tips. (Canadian residents)

Home improvement:

Door-to-door solicitors offer quick, low-cost repairs and then either take payment without returning, do shoddy work, or “find” issues that dramatically raise the price. These types of schemes also often occur after a major storm or natural disaster. Read our home improvement scam prevention tips.

Identity theft:

Identity thieves use a victim’s personal information (e.g., Social Security number, bank account information, and credit card numbers) to pose as that individual for their own gain. Using the target’s identity, the thief may open a credit account, drain an existing account, file tax returns, or obtain medical coverage. Read our identity theft prevention tips.

Investment/Cryptocurrency:

Investment scams take many forms, but all prey on the desire to make money without much risk or initial funding. “Investors” are lured with false information and promises of large returns with little or no risk. Read our investment scam prevention tips. Cryptocurrency scams involve the purchase, trade, or storage of digital assets known as cryptocurrencies. The situations often involve fraudulent Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs), a type of fundraising mechanism in which a company issues its own cryptocurrency to raise capital. Investors are scammed into paying money or trading their own digital assets even though the scammer has no intention of building a company. Cryptocurrency scams also involve scenarios in which investors store their cryptocurrencies with fraudulent exchanges. Read the BBB study on crypto scams.

Online Purchase:

These scams typically involve the purchase of products and/or services where the transaction occurs via a website or other online means. Scammers use technology to offer attractive deals, but once the payment is made, no product or service is delivered. In some cases, fraudsters send low-quality or counterfeit products. Read our online purchase scam prevention tips.

Phishing/social engineering:

In these schemes, scammers impersonating a trustworthy entity, such as a bank or mortgage company, employ communications to mislead recipients into providing personal information that the scammer will use to gain access to bank accounts or steal a recipient’s identity. This type of scheme can also happen within the workplace as an email coming from the CEO, accounting department, or other member of management seeking personal information. Read our phishing scam prevention tips.

Rental:

Phony ads are placed for rental properties that ask for up-front payments. Victims later discover the property doesn’t exist or is owned by someone else. Read our rental scam prevention tips.

Romance/Friendship:

An individual believing he/she is in a romantic or friendly relationship agrees to send money, personal and financial information, or items of value to the perpetrator. Read our romance scam prevention tips.

Scholarship:

Victims, often students struggling with tuition costs, are promised government scholarship money, but the up-front “fees” never produce those much-needed funds. Sometimes a fake check does arrive, and the student is asked to wire back a portion for taxes or other charges. Read our scholarship scam prevention tips.

Sweepstakes, lottery, and prizes:

Victims are tricked into thinking they have won a prize or lottery jackpot but must pay up-front fees to receive the winnings, which never materialize. Sometimes this con involves a fake check and a request to return a portion of the funds to cover fees. Read our sweepstakes/lottery/prize scam prevention tips.

Tax collection:

Imposters pose as Internal Revenue Service representatives in the United States or Canada Revenue Agency representatives in Canada to coerce the target into either paying back taxes or sharing personal information. Read our tax collection scam prevention tips.

Tech support:

Tech support scams start with a call or pop-up warning that alerts the target of a computer bug or other problem. Scammers posing as tech support employees from well-known tech companies hassle victims into paying for “support.” If the victim allows remote access to their device, malware may be installed. Read our tech support scam prevention tips.

Travel/vacation/timeshare:

Con artists post listings for properties that are not for rent, do not exist, or are significantly different from what’s pictured. In another variation, scammers claim to specialize in timeshare resales and promise they have buyers ready to purchase. Read our travel scam prevention tips.

Utility:

Imposters act as water, electric, and gas company representatives to take money or personal information. They frequently threaten residents and business owners with deactivation of service unless they pay immediately. In another form, a “representative” may come to the door to perform “repairs” or an “energy audit” with the intent of stealing valuables. Read our utility scam prevention tips.

Business-related scams

Bank/credit card company imposter:

This scam typically involves impersonation of a bank or other credit card issuer. Under the guise of verifying account information, they persuade their targets to share credit card or banking information.

Business email compromise:

A scammer impersonates a senior executive via email or another communication vehicle to persuade an employee to wire payment for goods to another bank account. Read our business email compromise tips.

Worthless problem-solving service:

Sometimes scammers claim to be able to provide low-cost solutions to problems they know many businesses have. For example, they might claim they can repair the business’s online reputation or provide quick relief if it’s struggling with debt or back taxes—for an up-front free, of course.

Yellow pages/directories:

Scammers convince a business to pay for non-existing advertising or a listing in a non-existent directory or “Yellow Pages.” In some cases, the directory will technically exist, but will not be widely distributed, and a listing will be of little or no value.