Romance scams
Scammers build trust over weeks, then introduce an emergency or investment.
- Never send money, gift cards or crypto to someone you haven't met
- Watch for sudden emergencies or 'opportunities'
- Be cautious of pressure to move to private apps
- Talk it through with someone you trust
Fake job offers
Fake recruiters ask for fees, equipment purchases, or personal documents early.
- Legitimate employers don't charge you to work
- Verify the role on the company's official website
- Be wary of check-cashing or 'reimbursement' requests
- Interviews over chat only are a warning sign
Phishing
Messages that impersonate brands to steal logins or payment details.
- Never share one-time codes
- Navigate to sites yourself instead of clicking links
- Check sender domains carefully
- Urgency is a tactic, not a reason
Impersonation
Copied profiles of friends, celebrities, or officials asking for help.
- Contact the real person through a known channel
- Report the copy to the platform
- Don't trust verification badges in screenshots
Account takeover
Someone gains access to your account, often via a stolen code.
- Change your password immediately
- Turn on multi-factor authentication
- Review recent logins and connected apps
- Warn contacts if messages were sent as you
Investment & crypto scams
Guaranteed returns, fake trading dashboards, and 'withdrawal fees'.
- No legitimate investment guarantees returns
- Fees to withdraw your own money are a red flag
- Check registration with financial regulators
AI voice & video deception
Cloned voices or altered video can imitate people you know.
- Agree a family code word
- Hang up and call back on a known number
- Using AI writing tools isn't itself a scam — focus on what's being asked
Reporting options
Where to report fraud in the US and on platforms.
- FTC: reportfraud.ftc.gov
- FBI IC3: ic3.gov
- Report inside the app or platform where it happened