Bank impersonation
Caller ID shows your bank. They ask you to "verify" by moving money to a "safe account." Real banks never ask this. Hang up, call the number on your card.
Every scam is a variation on a handful of tricks.
Use this to name what happened to you. Each entry links back to the first-hour checklist or the reporting directory for what to actually do next.
Impersonation
Government / tax impersonation
"Unpaid tax," "warrant issued," pay now in gift cards or crypto. Real tax offices never demand this. They contact by post first.
Police impersonation
"You're under investigation," asked to move money to a "protected" account for a fake case. Police never ask you to transfer money to prove innocence.
Parcel / delivery scam
Fake "missed delivery" text with a small fee or a link. Go to the courier's official app or site directly, never the link.
Tech support scam
Pop-up says your PC is infected, gives a number to call. Real Microsoft/Apple never do this. Close the browser, don't call.
Business email compromise / CEO fraud
An email that looks like it's from your boss or a supplier, asking for an urgent payment or bank-detail change. Verify by phone, on a number you already have, before paying.
Money and investment
Investment / crypto scam
Guaranteed high returns, pressure to act fast. Check the firm on your financial regulator's register before sending anything.
Pig butchering
A long-building relationship (often romance) that shifts into "helping you invest" on a fake trading app. The app shows fake profits to keep you paying in.
Pension scam
Unsolicited offer to "release" or transfer your pension for a bonus. Legitimate pension advice is regulated; check the adviser is authorised first.
Loan / advance-fee scam
Guaranteed loan approval if you pay a fee upfront. Real lenders take fees from the loan itself, never before approval.
Invoice scam
A fake invoice, or a real one with the bank details quietly changed. Call the supplier on a known number before paying any change of details.
Lottery / prize scam
"You won" a lottery you never entered, pay a fee or tax to collect. You never pay to receive a genuine prize.
Insurance scam
Fake policies, staged claims, or "discount" offers that ask for payment outside official channels. Buy and pay only through the insurer's verified site.
Romance and trust
Romance scam
Fast intimacy online, then a crisis or investment opportunity. Someone you haven't met in person shouldn't receive money.
Charity scam
Fake or cloned charities, especially after disasters. Donate directly through the charity's own verified site, not a link in a message.
Sextortion / blackmail
A threat to release explicit images or messages unless you pay. Do not pay; most are bluffs. Preserve the messages and report to police and the platform. Specialist helplines exist for this specifically.
Shopping and employment
Fake online shop
A convincing store that takes payment and never ships, or ships a fake. Pay by card where possible for chargeback protection.
Marketplace scam
Fake buyers or sellers on classifieds and marketplace apps. Keep the transaction and payment inside the platform's own protection.
Employment scam
A job that asks you to buy your own equipment, cash a cheque, or pay for training upfront. Real employers don't ask new hires to pay them.
Rental / property scam
A listing that's too good, with a landlord always "unavailable" to view in person and asking for a deposit by wire. Never pay a deposit before viewing.
Refund / overpayment scam
A "refund" arrives that's too much, and you're asked to send back the difference. The original payment usually reverses later, leaving you out of pocket.
Identity and account access
Identity theft
Your details used to open credit or accounts in your name. Use your national identity-theft service and a credit freeze or alert.
Account takeover
Someone gets into an existing account of yours. Change the password immediately, from a device you trust, and check for forwarding rules or new recovery details.
SIM swap
Your phone number is ported to another SIM without you, often to intercept codes. If your phone suddenly loses signal for no reason, contact your carrier immediately.
Remote-access scam
You're talked into installing software that gives someone control of your device, often under the guise of a "refund" or "fix." Disconnect from the internet and get the device checked.
Phishing / smishing / vishing / QR codes
Fake login pages, texts, calls, or QR codes designed to harvest credentials. Type addresses yourself rather than tapping links or scanning codes from strangers.
Data-breach exploitation
Old leaked data used to make a new scam sound convincing, "we already have your details." Check your exposure on the free tools page.
AI and deepfake
Covered in depth on how scams work.
Voice cloning / deepfake calls
A cloned voice or a live deepfake face on a call or video. Verify on a separate channel you already control.
Recovery scams
Recovery scam
Someone contacts you after a loss, offering to get your money back for a fee. Almost never real. See the dedicated warning page.
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