Scam Awareness Blog
Practical guides to help you recognize, avoid, and recover from scams.
By the Time Elder Fraud Looks Like Fraud, the Money Is Often Gone
A stranger calls an older woman, greets her as Grandma, and says her grandson is hurt and in police custody. The scariest part is how ordinary the next few minutes feel.
June 28, 2026
Seven 833-408 Numbers Are Tied to Fake Mortgage Servicer Mail and Calls
Consumers are reporting mailers and calls from numbers including (833) 408-1597 and (833) 408-1587 that impersonate mortgage servicers. Here is what the reports show.
June 26, 2026
Fake Chase Openers and Warm Transfers Feed a Three-Number Debt Fraud Operation
Callers impersonating Card Member Services are using intimidation tactics and transfer tricks to pressure consumers. Here is what the reports show.
June 21, 2026
Ignore Calls About an Unserved Summons Directing Contact to Janet Wilson
Callers posing as county process servers claim you have an unserved court summons and push you to contact a 'Janet Wilson' at toll-free numbers tied to a debt collection impersonation scheme.
June 20, 2026
833-382-5531 Is One of Eight Numbers on Fake Mortgage Postcards Hitting Homeowners
Postcards with real mortgage details and urgent language are being used to impersonate lenders including SmartFi. Here is what the reports show and how to protect yourself.
June 19, 2026
170 FTC Complaints on (855) 909-0817 Alone Connect to a $62,000 Unsolicited Loan Campaign
Callers claiming to be 'Adam Foster' with Capital Lending Union are pitching fake $62,000 personal loans. Seven phone numbers and one suspicious domain are tied to this campaign across multiple states.
June 18, 2026
Madurai, a Stolen Crypto Script, and a CEO Named Pilaventhiran All Lead to Spiegel Technologies
Community reports connect the name Spiegel Technologies and phone number (407) 545-7739 to debt collection pressure tactics and a years-old crypto theft allegation. Here is what the data shows.
June 17, 2026
Medicare Medical Equipment Scams Run All Year
A live caller offers you a free back brace, covered by Medicare. What they're really after is your Medicare number and a bill for equipment you never receive.
June 16, 2026
Fake Debt Robocalls Threatening Wage Garnishment Operate Under a Relief Disguise
Robocalls claiming to be from American Financial Relief are threatening wage garnishment, property liens, and criminal charges to pressure people into calling back. Here is what the complaint data shows.
June 15, 2026
www.ccspayment.com Collects Payments for Fake Insurance Debts Across Seven Numbers
Fraudsters posing as a debt collection agency are sending texts and voicemails that name real insurance companies to pressure people into paying fake debts. Here is what the reports show and how to protect yourself.
June 14, 2026
Agent "Micheal Stewart" at (310) 437-3551 Is Running a PCH Prize Fraud
Callers claiming to represent Publishers Clearing House are pressing people to confirm personal details or pay fees to collect prizes that do not exist. Here is what the reports show.
June 13, 2026
Fake Debt Calls Operating Under "AD Processing" Rotate Across Eight Numbers
Callers claiming to work for AD Processing are leaving threatening voicemails, contacting family members, and pressuring people over debts that do not exist. Here is what the reports show.
June 12, 2026
Toll Ticket Texts Draw Twice the Federal Complaints of a Robocall Number
Numbers reported for scam text messages draw about twice the complaints of robocall numbers. Federal complaint data shows the unpaid toll texts the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office flagged are part of a much wider pattern.
June 11, 2026
(888) 991-5696 Appears in Texts Claiming to Collect Jefferson Capital Debts
Consumers are receiving unsolicited debt collection texts from numbers linked to Shepherd Outsourcing. Here is what the complaints show and how to protect yourself.
June 10, 2026
The Workers' Comp Scam That Comes With Its Own Judge
The video hearing looks real. The ruling goes in your favor. Then comes the fee. Five states have now warned about the same script, and it just jumped from the Northwest to North Carolina.
June 9, 2026
Glued-Edge Envelopes With Personal Loan Details Hide a Mortgage Impersonation Campaign
Scammers are sending official-looking mailers that claim to be from United Wholesale Mortgage and urge homeowners to call back on numbers linked to fraud reports. Here is what the complaints show.
June 8, 2026
Fake Relief Fund Texts From "Dan" Promise $5,286 Already Issued in a Name
Scammers posing as a relief fund representative are sending texts claiming $5,286 is waiting in your name. The messages point to mylostcheck.com and reliefcheckhelp.com, both registered in December 2025.
June 7, 2026
254 FTC Complaints Link a $52,000 Fake Loan to One Persistent Callback Number
BBB reports and FTC complaint data point to a fake loan approval scheme running through (866) 959-0917. The callers claim to be from a 'credit executive office' and promise up to $52,000 in financing to people who never applied for anything.
June 6, 2026
(833) 408-1591 Sends Fake Mortgage Mailers Using Bank of America's Name
Mailers and recorded messages impersonating mortgage servicers are reaching homeowners across the country. Here is what the reports show and how to protect yourself.
June 5, 2026
25 Percent Settlement Offers Arriving by Mail Are Fake Debt Collection Letters
Consumers are receiving official-looking mailers impersonating their real mortgage lenders and credit unions. Here is what the reports show and how to protect yourself.
June 4, 2026
pixgenie.net and pdfdirect.co Surfaced Weeks Apart and Are Already Drawing Fraud Reports
Newly registered domains and toll-free numbers surface in a fraud cluster that includes impersonation of American Express. Here is what the data shows.
June 3, 2026
Fake Offers From sprinterhealth.us Route Through Eight Rotating Numbers
Scammers are impersonating Sprinter Health with fake job offers routed through suspicious phone numbers and lookalike domains. Here is what the reports show.
June 2, 2026
204 FTC Complaints Trace Back to a Fake Debt Collector Rotating Eight Numbers
Callers identifying themselves as Credit Adjustment Division are contacting consumers across the country to collect debts and solicit sensitive personal information. Here is what the complaint data shows.
June 1, 2026
75 Federal Complaints Filed Against a Medicare Call That Opens With an Employer Name
Callers from this Minnesota number open with your employer's name before you say a word. They use that detail to build trust, then ask you to confirm your date of birth and address.
May 31, 2026
A Fake Charity and a Fake VA Text. Two of the 10 Scams Arizona Warned Veterans About.
The Arizona Attorney General's office alerted veterans to 10 scams targeting their benefits. We went into our complaint data and found two of them running, a charity that wanted a boat donor's home address and a text impersonating a VA medical biller.
May 30, 2026
Colorado's Crackdown Named Two Crypto Fronts. The Other 202 Sites Are Still Online.
Colorado's Attorney General charged two crypto front companies hiding behind a Denver mailbox. We ran that list against public records and found the victims, plus 202 more sites running the identical scheme, every one of them still taking money.
May 29, 2026
163 FTC Complaints and 143 BBB Reports Link to Fake CNA Job Postings
Recent job scam reports describe recruiters moving from social media to private interviews, fake healthcare postings with multiple invented contacts, and a subscription trap buried in job search results.
May 28, 2026
$2,000 Fine, or 5 Years Imprisonment Is the Hook on a Fake Warranty Letter
Envelopes threatening federal prison time and fines push consumers to call auto warranty scam numbers. Here is what the complaint data shows about the letters and the phone numbers behind them.
May 27, 2026
$4,875 Robocall Claims Hit Voicemails With Fake Registry Deadlines
A fake company called US Claim Registry is robocalling people about unclaimed $4,875 balances. The urgent deadline is manufactured to pressure you into paying fees or sharing personal information.
May 26, 2026
$150 Fine Demands Follow QR Code Scans That Open Credit Card Theft Portals
Scammers figured out that QR codes bypass your brain's link-clicking hesitation. One scan opens fake payment portals that harvest credit card details in seconds.
May 22, 2026
91 PayPal Seller Complaints Hit Databases Last Month
Professional websites, instant payments, then nothing. The guitar pedal that never shipped tells the whole story.
May 20, 2026
Ignore Voicemails About Legal Papers From Sarah Rodriguez
Professional voicemails claim they're delivering court documents from a company that isn't real. The same script runs from 66 different numbers targeting people whose data was stolen.
May 17, 2026
65 DMV Text Variations Spotted Since January
Sixty-five different license suspension scams hit inboxes since January. Same threats about losing your license, different throwaway domains every week.
May 16, 2026
Parking Revenue Recovery Services Doesn't Exist
A fake company sends official-looking parking violation notices through the mail. The letters demand payment for violations that never happened at places you never parked.
May 14, 2026
Scratch-Off Cards Promise Free Cruises and Luxury Showcases
Those winning scratch-off cards in your mailbox aren't what they seem. The cruise invitation is fake, and the real pitch comes later.
May 12, 2026
QR Code Traffic Tickets Arrive by Text Message
Fake court notices with QR codes are hitting phones. The codes lead to credential-harvesting sites designed to steal your personal information.
May 11, 2026
(888) 269-4978 Won't Stop Calling About Loans You Never Applied For
This number has generated over 1,300 complaints in 30 days. The victims all have one thing in common: phantom loan applications they never submitted.
May 10, 2026
Kevin Hagelberg Keeps Calling About That $161K Business Loan You Never Applied For
A fake loan processor from "Business Review Unit" leaves the same voicemail every day about approved funding. The script never changes, but the hook works on desperate business owners.
May 7, 2026
(208) 205-8876 Called 369 Times About Your Medicare Benefits
One Idaho number generated nearly 400 federal complaints in a month. The callers claim your Medicare card needs updating, but they're really after your personal information to file fake medical claims.
May 6, 2026
That Voicemail About Court Papers Was Built to Make Your Stomach Drop
Ruby Garcia, John Douglas, Angela Lopez. Different names, identical voicemail. The case number is fake. So is the 24-hour deadline.
May 4, 2026
418 FTC Complaints in 30 Days Link Vehicle Service Contract Calls to Ten Numbers
Fake activation notices, blank sender addresses, and urgent deadlines mark a wave of auto warranty robocalls and mailers. Here is what the complaint data shows about the phone numbers behind them.
May 3, 2026
There Is No $5,286 Relief Check Waiting For You
Same voicemail. Same $5,286. Same script for thousands of phone numbers. The website asks for your Social Security number.
May 2, 2026
$19.50 to Release Your Package, $847 in Fraud Three Days Later
A text demands a small customs fee to release the package you're waiting for. Pay it and the real charges start showing up on your card.
May 1, 2026
888-300-3373 Answered as Delta, Then United, Then Virgin, Then Booking.com
888-300-3373 switches between Delta, United, Virgin Atlantic and Booking.com depending on which company you think you're calling.
April 30, 2026
Real Banks Never Text From 213 or 347 Numbers
Banking text scams cluster in specific area codes that recur in FTC complaint data month after month. Real banks never text customers from regular 10-digit phone numbers.
April 29, 2026
Woodlystore.ca Took Their Money and Sent Damp Boxes Full of Junk
Fake Facebook stores are flooding social media with knockoff products and shipping schemes. Nearly 8,000 complaints hit the BBB last month alone.
April 28, 2026
That Apple Email Looks Fake Because It Probably Is
Tech company impersonation emails flood our threat feeds daily. The real ones have specific header signatures scammers can't fake.
April 27, 2026
Most Credit Card Mystery Charges Turn Out to Be Nothing
Most unrecognized charges turn out to be forgotten subscriptions or confusing merchant names. Don't panic and file a fraud report until you investigate first.
April 26, 2026
Mycozzies.com Vanished With Sarah's Money After One Week
Fraudsters hijack trusted email addresses to run fake businesses and recruit unwitting accomplices. The technology behind these cons is more advanced than you think.
April 25, 2026
Anthony Parker from loan underwriting doesn't exist
Live scammers use your real name and fake caller IDs to sound like banks and government agencies. They're much more dangerous than robocalls.
April 24, 2026
Holman Automotive didn't register holmanhires.com last week
Scammers register dozens of fake domains at once to impersonate legitimate companies. Here's how to spot them before they steal your credentials.
April 23, 2026
These AI Tax Scammers Sound Real Until You Notice the Pattern
Fake tax resolution services are using AI voices to rotate through personas like Jessica, Nancy, and John. Same callback number, different fake companies.
April 22, 2026
249 Federal Complaints Tie Ten Numbers to Utility Shutoff Threats
A cluster of numbers tied to fake utility disconnection threats has drawn hundreds of federal complaints. One caller claimed to be Sevier County Electric and demanded immediate payment to avoid shutoff within the hour.
April 21, 2026
Tax Day Came and Went. The IRS Scam Calls in North Carolina Didn't.
North Carolina residents filed thousands of government impersonation complaints this quarter. The toll-free numbers driving them are still active, and the scripts haven't changed.
April 20, 2026
2,383 Banking Impersonation Reports Hit Americans in 30 Days
AI voices manufacture fake fraud alerts about accounts that don't exist. These banking impersonation calls hit 2,383 people in 30 days.
April 17, 2026
$44.3 Million Golden Lantern Winner Jerry Heath Is an Invented Character
A fake lottery winner named Jerry Heath is texting people about a million-dollar gift. Federal complaint data ties this script to a cluster of phone numbers with hundreds of reports filed in the last 30 days.
April 16, 2026
$45 an Hour For Data Entry?? I Doubt It!
Fake job offers follow the same playbook every time. Here's how to spot them before they steal your money or identity.
April 15, 2026
Scammers Send Real PayPal Invoices to Steal Your Money
Scammers send real PayPal invoices for things you never bought. Don't call the phone number. Don't pay the bill.
April 14, 2026
Scammers Know You Drove Through That Toll Booth
Fake toll texts hit thousands of phones daily. The small amounts and tight deadlines trick people into clicking without thinking.
April 13, 2026
Dating Site Wants Crypto to Unlock Your Match
The voting process never ends. The fixes cost more crypto each time. The girl you picked doesn't exist.
April 12, 2026
The Many Victims of Romance Scams
The person messaging you might be trapped in a forced labor camp, beaten for missing quotas. Every dollar you send funds an operation that enslaves real people.
April 11, 2026
Amazon Prime Doesn't Cost $499 and Never Will
Amazon Prime didn't renew for $499. That email wants you to call a scammer who will 'help' by stealing your money.
April 10, 2026
Your Social Security Number Can't Be Suspended
Your Social Security number can never be suspended. The recorded threats about warrants and frozen accounts are scams. Millions of Americans report them to the FTC each year.
April 9, 2026
That $847.93 Fraud Alert Wants You to Panic and Call Back
Fake fraud-alert texts spoof your bank's real security workflow so you'll call back a scammer's number. The oddly specific dollar amount is bait, not evidence.
April 8, 2026
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.
April 7, 2026
Your Switch Is No Deal
Electronics top the dollar losses in online shopping scams, but the pattern is the same at every price point. These stores are built to take payment and disappear.
April 5, 2026
74.9% of Government Impersonation Calls Now Display Local Area Codes
Government impersonation scams rotate through tens of thousands of phone numbers. By the time a number gets flagged, scammers have already moved on to fresh ones.
March 22, 2026
Scammers Bill Fake Medical Equipment to Your Medicare Account
Tax season brings a surge in fake Medicare calls. Over 21,000 complaints last year came from nearly 8,000 different numbers.
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
416 FTC Complaints Tie Fake Tax Abatement Numbers to One Rotating Voicemail Script
Fake agents named Charlotte, Kathy, and Kendra are leaving voicemails about files in "final stage review." The office names sound real. The callback numbers are not government lines.
March 16, 2026
Lucy at the National Tax Executive Office Works for a Fictional Agency
A voicemail from 'Lucy at the National Tax Executive Office' keeps circulating with rotating callback numbers. The office doesn't exist, but the complaints keep coming.
March 15, 2026
(800) 266-2278 Collects Geek Squad Callback Victims Across Ten Rotating Numbers
Consumers are receiving unsolicited Geek Squad billing emails designed to provoke a phone call. Federal complaint data and firsthand reports show what happens next.
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
The FTC logged over 300,000 email fraud reports in 2025. AI-written phishing clones brand templates and spoofs sender addresses. Five reliable tells separate fakes from real.
February 25, 2026
What to Do If You Gave Info to a Scammer
Clicked a phishing link or replied with personal data? Freeze your credit, change passwords, and file reports. The next few hours matter more than the mistake.
February 20, 2026
Why You Keep Getting Robocall Scams
Americans got 52.5 billion robocalls in 2025 and 57% were scam or unwanted telemarketing. Here's how dialers find your number and what actually stops them.
February 15, 2026
Is This Text Message a Scam? A Quick Guide
Scam text complaints jumped 168% between 2021 and 2025. Smishing impersonates USPS, banks, and the IRS. Here's how to tell a real text from a fake one.
February 10, 2026