08/29/2026
Popular Scams
Common and popular scams include imposter fraud, phishing texts, and high-loss investment schemes.
Most Common Scams
Imposter Scams: Fraudsters pretend to be representatives from the IRS, your bank, utility companies, or major retailers like Amazon and Target to claim you owe money or face immediate account closure.
Phishing & Smishing: Deceptive emails (phishing) and text messages (smishing) fake security alerts about missed deliveries, unpaid tolls, or unusual bank activity to steal login credentials.
Investment & Crypto Fraud: Fraudulent schemes promising guaranteed high returns carry the highest median financial losses for victims.
AI Voice Cloning / Emergency Scams: Scammers use artificial intelligence and short audio clips from social media to mimic a loved one in a fake crisis, demanding urgent money transfers.
Online Marketplace & Fake Check Scams: Buyers or sellers on peer-to-peer platforms overpay with a counterfeit check and ask you to wire the excess cash back.
How to Protect YourselfVerify independently: Never use phone numbers or links provided in suspicious texts or emails; contact companies directly through official channels.
Refuse unusual payments: Guard your funds against requests to pay via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.
Report suspicious activity: If you encounter fraud, you can submit a report directly to the Federal Trade Commission Report Fraud Site, FBI, Local Law Inforsment,