Section
One scam pattern at a time, reconstructed from the first message to the payment that cannot be reversed.
5 articles
Messaging Scams8 min read
Government impersonation is the fastest-growing category of scam report, and the toll message is its most successful form. The reason it works has nothing to do with tolls.
Phishing8 min read
A convincing clone of a familiar voice now takes seconds of public audio. The defence is not detecting the fake — it is refusing to act on any call you did not place.
Messaging Scams9 min read
Easy remote work, a small payment that actually arrives, and then a deposit you must make to unlock the rest. The early payment is the whole mechanism.
Social Media Scams9 min read
Nearly a third of people who lose money say it started on social media, and a growing share of the rest started with a search. The result you clicked was bought, not earned.
Online Scams10 min read
Buying and selling second-hand has a small number of scams that recur everywhere, because they exploit how the platforms work rather than what is being sold.