Scam Types & How They Work

In-depth guides on different types of investment scams, how they operate, and how to protect yourself.

Affinity Fraud: How Scammers Exploit Community Trust to Steal Millions

Learn how affinity fraud targets religious, ethnic, and professional communities. Understand the tactics, see real cases, and protect your community.

Crypto Recovery Scams: How Fake Services Target Victims Twice

Crypto recovery scams prey on people who already lost money. Learn how these advance fee frauds work, what the FBI warns about, and how to stay safe.

What Is a Crypto Rug Pull? How They Work and Warning Signs

Learn how crypto rug pulls work, see real examples like LIBRA and SafeMoon, and discover the red flags that can help you avoid losing everything.

Fake Job Scams: How to Spot Fraudulent Job Postings in 2026

Job scam losses tripled since 2020, hitting $750M+ annually. Learn how fake job postings work, which platforms are affected, and how to verify real offers.

Gift Card Scams: Why Scammers Want Gift Cards as Payment

Learn why scammers demand gift cards, the most common gift card scam tactics, and why stolen funds are nearly impossible to recover.

Google Voice Scams: How the Verification Code Trick Works

Google Voice scams are the #1 scam reported to the ITRC, making up 60% of all reports. Learn how the verification code trick works and how to recover.

IRS Scam Calls, Texts & Emails: How to Spot Fake IRS Contact

Learn how to identify IRS impersonation scams by phone, text, and email. Know what the IRS will never do and how to report tax scam calls.

Pig Butchering Scams Explained: The $12 Billion Fraud Epidemic

Learn how pig butchering scams (sha zhu pan) work, why victims lose billions, and how to protect yourself from this devastating romance-investment fraud.

Ponzi Scheme vs Pyramid Scheme: How to Tell the Difference

Understand the key differences between Ponzi and pyramid schemes, with real examples like Madoff and BitConnect. Learn the warning signs of each.

Pyramid Scheme Companies: Known Cases & Warning Signs

List of known pyramid scheme companies, FTC enforcement actions, and warning signs. Learn to identify pyramid schemes before losing money.

QR Code Scams (Quishing): How Fake QR Codes Steal Your Data

Learn how QR code scams work at parking meters, restaurants, and in emails. Understand the quishing trend and how to verify QR codes safely.

Romance Scams: How Online Dating Fraud Works and How to Stay Safe

Understand how romance scams work, the manipulation tactics scammers use, platforms where they operate, and how to protect yourself from online dating fraud.

Student Loan Forgiveness Scams: How to Spot Fake Programs

Learn how student loan scams exploit borrower confusion with fake forgiveness programs, illegal fees, and Department of Education impersonation.