Scam guideEvery fake you might meet
— how 39 common scams work today, what they look like, the red flags, and what to do. Plus 10 scenarios from 2036, when every wall is a screen.
Happening today
The “Hi Mum” scam
A message from an unknown number claims to be your child with a broken or lost phone, then asks you to pay an urgent bill.The “safe account” bank call
A caller posing as your bank’s fraud team says your account is under attack and talks you into moving your savings to a “secure” account.Parcel customs-fee text
A text says a parcel is held until you pay a small customs or redelivery fee through a link.Task scams (fake online jobs)
A “recruiter” offers easy money for liking videos or rating products.Romance investment scams (pig butchering)
Someone builds a warm relationship over weeks or months, then introduces a trading platform that shows fake profits.Deepfake celebrity investment ads
A paid ad shows a famous person recommending an investment platform.CEO fraud with a cloned voice
An urgent, confidential payment request appears to come from a senior executive, sometimes with a cloned voice note to make it convincing.Supplier bank-details change (invoice fraud)
An email from a supplier — often from their real, compromised mailbox — says their bank details have changed.Grandparent voice-clone calls
A caller sounds exactly like a grandchild in trouble and begs for money, asking you not to tell anyone.Tech-support pop-up scams
A full-screen warning claims your computer is infected and tells you to call a number.“Send me that code” account takeover
A friend asks you to forward a six-digit code “sent by mistake.” Their account has already been hijacked, and the code unlocks yours next..Fake giveaways on social media
An account impersonating a creator says you’ve won a prize — you just need to pay for shipping.Ticket resale scams
Tickets for a sold-out event are offered at face value, but only if you pay off-platform right away.Rental deposit scams
A flat is listed below market price by a landlord who is conveniently abroad.Free in-game currency scams
A game-chat message promises free coins or skins if you log in through a link.Fake tax refund texts
A text says you’re owed a tax refund and asks you to confirm your bank login.Deepfake doctor ads
A video of a well-known doctor promotes a miracle supplement.Fake Microsoft 365 sign-in pages
An email says your password expires today.Fake IT support on Teams
Your inbox suddenly fills with hundreds of emails.ClickFix: the fake “verify you’re human” check
A page asks you to prove you’re human by pressing a few keys and pasting something.The crypto “safe wallet” call
Someone from your crypto exchange calls about a hacker on your account and asks you to move everything to a new “secure” wallet.The pre-made recovery phrase email
An email tells you to move to a new wallet and helpfully includes a recovery phrase.Card-alert callback scams
A text warns that a payment was requested on your card and gives a number to call.Fake job interviews with a coding assignment
A recruiter on a real job platform runs you through friendly interviews, then asks you to download and run a test project.Fake police collecting valuables
A caller claiming to be the police says burglars are active nearby and sends an “officer” to collect your jewellery or bank cards for safekeeping.Payroll diversion phishing
An HR email asks you to confirm your salary details.Fake brokers and trading platforms
A friendly “account manager” calls about your trading account.The fake CEO on WhatsApp
Your CEO messages from a new number about a secret deal.Device-code phishing
A “shared document” email asks you to copy a code and enter it at microsoft.com/devicelogin.Fake compensation after an exchange breach
Right after a real security incident at a crypto exchange, posts and messages offer compensation or priority withdrawals — if you connect your wallet or pay a fee.Fake fines from real, hacked official mailboxes
A traffic-fine notice arrives from a genuine certified mailbox — because it was hacked.The bank call “confirmed” by a text
The “fraud team” knows your recent payments and address.AI bank calls and the “tap your card” app
A recorded AI voice warns of suspicious activity: press 1.The “unauthorised item in your basket” call
An automated call says an expensive phone was added to your shopping account.Fake CEO, fake lawyer
A cloned-voice CEO introduces an outside lawyer at a real law firm, who “confirms” a confidential deal.The “update your company documentation” email
A business-banking email asks you to update company documents for new regulations.Fake holiday rentals with a live chat
A look-alike booking site says your stay is “unconfirmed”.Fake support numbers in AI answers
You search for an airline’s or a brand’s support number, and the top answer gives one.“Your points expire tonight” texts
A text from your “mobile operator” or bank says your points expire at midnight. 2036 scenarios
Five habits that beat almost every scam
- Call back on a number you already know — never the one in the message.
- Agree a family code word that’s never posted online.
- Pause whenever urgency, secrecy and a payment request show up together.
- Never share one-time codes, PINs or passwords with anyone.
- Pay with protected methods, and report scams even when you didn’t lose money.
Play Painted Sky — free →