Scam Detective

Scam Awareness Blog

Practical guides to help you recognize, avoid, and recover from scams.

Bill Huffman Isn't Approving Your Loan

A voicemail about a $52,000 loan you never applied for. A fake name. A callback number that steals your identity. We traced one scam call from start to finish.

March 28, 2026

Blocking That Local Number Doesn't Mean The Scammers Give Up!

FTC complaint data reveals how quickly scammers rotate through phone numbers, which ones generate the most reports, and why blocking individual numbers barely helps.

March 22, 2026

Scammers Bill Fake Medical Equipment to Your Medicare Account

Medical scam calls generated over 21,000 FTC complaints from nearly 8,000 phone numbers. The real numbers are much higher.

March 21, 2026

Tax Refund Identity Theft Still Hits Millions Every Filing Season

Government impersonation calls spike every January through April. FTC complaint data shows how scammers use tax season urgency to steal personal information.

March 20, 2026

Scammers Hit Seniors Hard During Tax Season

Government impersonation, medical scams, and fake tech support calls converge on older Americans every January through April. The FTC data shows exactly how they do it.

March 19, 2026

Americans File 2.6 Million Robocall Complaints Every Year

Over 10,000 unwanted call reports hit the FTC every business day. Debt reduction scams top the list, followed by government impersonators.

March 18, 2026

Fake IRS Calls Love 800 Numbers and DC Area Codes

Tax scammers spoof toll-free and Washington numbers to sound official. California and Florida take the biggest hit during filing season.

March 17, 2026

Fake IRS Calls Hit These Places Hardest

71,000+ government impersonation complaints reveal surprising hotspots. Small towns get hammered while scammers love spoofing D.C. numbers.

March 16, 2026

That IRS Call Is Fake

The IRS won't call you demanding gift cards. These scams steal $400 million from Americans every year.

March 15, 2026

Tech Support Scams: How They Work and How to Fight Back

No, Microsoft didn't detect a virus on your computer. Here's how tech support scams trick you into paying for nothing.

March 3, 2026

Package Delivery Scams: How to Spot Fake Shipping Notifications

Fake USPS, FedEx, and UPS texts are the most common smishing scam. Here's how they work and how to protect yourself.

February 28, 2026

How to Spot a Phishing Email in 2026

Learn the 5 telltale signs that an email is trying to steal your information.

February 25, 2026

What to Do If You Gave Info to a Scammer

Step-by-step damage control: freeze credit, change passwords, file reports.

February 20, 2026

Why You Keep Getting Robocall Scams

How scammers get your number and what you can do to stop the calls.

February 15, 2026

Is This Text Message a Scam? A Quick Guide

Smishing is on the rise. Here's how to tell a real text from a fake one.

February 10, 2026