Scams that happen everywhere.

Hinge → WhatsApp → "uncle's signals" → fake exchange. Plus the "wrong number" SMS variant, LinkedIn mentor pivot, withdrawal-tax trap, and the recovery-scam follow-on that targets victims twice.

AI-cloned bail calls, CFO impersonation for MFA reset, AARP's #1 emerging fraud category. Targets parents, grandparents, and IT support desks.

Closing-attorney email compromise, last-minute wire-instruction swap, vendor invoice fraud. Six-figure individual losses common.

Fake fraud-department calls, 'transfer to a safe account' scripts, reverse-payment Zelle traps. The highest-volume scam category in Reddit.

Microsoft / Apple / Geek Squad pop-up traps that talk victims into installing ConnectWise or AnyDesk for full remote access. Bank drain follows.

'New plastic Medicare card' calls, DME (catheter) billing fraud, fake jury-duty warrant calls, utility shutoff scares. Adult Protective Services is the intervention path.

The parasite scam targeting victims of every other scam. Fake 'fund recovery specialists,' 'blockchain forensic experts,' upfront 'investigation fees.' Block all DMs without exception.

'Your USPS package can't be delivered' phishing, fake redelivery fees, FedEx + Amazon variants. Sender almost always +63 (Philippines).

Equipment-deposit fraud, fake interview phishing, salary-advance check scams. Reddit archives the canonical examples.

Buyer-side too-good-to-be-true Zelle deposits, seller-side 6-digit-code 2FA bypass, 'send my nephew to pick up' setups. Cash + in-person solves 99%.

Boss-impersonation 'urgent gift' scripts, retail-cashier card-swap, sticker-overlay redemption fraud. Universal advice: gift cards are never used for legitimate payments.

Fake screenshot proof, transfer scams, 'I have extras' Reddit DMs. Verified resale (Ticketmaster Verified Resale, AXS Marketplace) is the only safe path.

If it's happening right now: do not pay, stop replying, save the messages, report to NCMEC (under 18) or FBI IC3 (adults). FBI + NCMEC + DOJ verified.

Storm-chaser roofers finding hail damage you don't have, 'assignment of benefits' insurance fraud, solar door-to-door pressure sales. Real adjusters work for your insurance, not strangers.

'SSN suspended' robocalls, fake IRS tax-debt threats, fake CPA refund-hijack schemes. Real SSA + IRS contact starts with mail, never phone.

'Pre-approved $50K loan' robocalls, fake 'National Student Loan Forgiveness Center' calls, PSLF impersonators, advance-fee personal-loan traps. Real loans never require upfront fees.

'Free trial' that requires credit card → impossible to cancel auto-renew, fake ChatGPT subscription sites, gym-membership trap variants. Use privacy.com burner cards with $1 limit.

Too-good-to-be-true Zillow/Craigslist listings, 'landlord traveling' Zelle deposits, fake application sites that harvest SSN + credit. Never wire before in-person tour.

Sticker overlays on restaurant tables, fake parking-meter QRs, phishing email QRs, mystery-package QR traps. Always preview the URL before tapping.

6-digit 2FA-code harvest via 'verify your listing,' compromised-friend-DMs-money scripts, X blue-check impersonation. Multi-factor auth via authenticator app (not SMS) is the floor.

Refund-promise-not-paid by Amazon support, fake Chinese drop-shippers, phishing 'Amazon refund notification' texts, brushing-scam mystery packages. Mostly recoverable through Amazon.

'Mystery shopper' jobs, 'remote PA' overpayment, FB Marketplace overpayment, fake company refund checks. ChexSystems blackballs you when the check bounces 5 days later.

Stolen-title pivots, fake-Carfax-on-phone, distract-while-tampering during test drives, Spanish-translator buyer scripts. Always run independent VIN check.

Fake veteran charities, GoFundMe disaster scams, street Venmo solicitations, fake-charity credit-card test fraud against legitimate nonprofits. Verify via CharityNavigator before giving.

Pump-and-dump groups (founders pre-buy then signal), 'investment session' fee escalation, MetaMask drainer dApps, fake Reddit Web3 dev recruit scams. Never sign unlimited token approval.

Fake 'Elon Musk crypto casino' giveaways, hacked friend's IG sending you the link, Mr. Beast / Paul brothers / Trump-themed variants. Billionaires don't give money to strangers.

'You won the Powerball' fee-extraction calls, Publishers Clearing House impersonation, Twitter 'lottery winner giving away money' bait-and-switch. Real prizes never require upfront tax.

Fake breeder websites, escalating shipping/cage/insurance fees, stolen breeder photos on social-media ads, fake online adoption rescues, FB Marketplace/Craigslist puppy listings. ~31% Cameroon + 30% South Africa origin. Single rule: see the pet in person before paying.

Fake exit-attorney upfront fees ($5K-$15K), fake mass-tort class-action solicitation, fake resale-buyer with closing-cost fees, fake rental-management upfront fees, recovery-on-recovery scams. Real exit options are $0-$2K through your resort directly or via Tug2.net free community.