Scam Awareness Blog
Practical guides to help you recognize, avoid, and recover from scams.
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
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.
May 13, 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 and Mail
Fake court notices with QR codes are hitting phones and mailboxes. 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
QuickBooks Never Sends Subscription Renewal Warnings Like This
That QuickBooks renewal notice asking you to call immediately is a scammer's trap. Real software companies don't operate this way.
May 9, 2026
Advanced Financial Servicing Robocalls Hide Social Security Threats
This fake debt collector uses official-sounding names to mask classic Social Security suspension scams. The robocalls multiply daily until victims bite.
May 8, 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
(800) 266-2278 Claims Your Computer Is Infected
This number generates nearly 300 complaints per month with the same script. Your computer isn't infected, but your wallet might be in danger.
May 5, 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
Certified Legal Mail Services Targets Disabled Americans
Scammers posing as "Legal Mail Services" are calling families with disabled members, claiming failed delivery of urgent legal documents. The voice messages sound official but lead to identity theft schemes.
May 4, 2026
$399 Buys an Auto Warranty That Excludes Whatever Just Broke
She thought she was being responsible. Six months later her transmission failed, and the warranty she bought from the callback number didn't cover it.
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
No Utility Company Takes iTunes Gift Cards as Payment
Scammers threaten to cut your electricity in 30 minutes unless you pay with gift cards. Real utilities don't work that way.
April 21, 2026
Tax Day Came and Went. The IRS Scam Calls in North Carolina Didn't.
AG Jeff Jackson warned North Carolina residents about fake IRS websites ahead of Tax Day. The phone side of the same scam is still running, with more than 2,100 complaints from NC residents in the last 90 days.
April 20, 2026
We Detected Unusual Login Activity Means They Detected Your Wallet
Phishing emails disguised as security alerts flood complaint databases daily. They look identical to legitimate warnings until you check the sender.
April 17, 2026
Publishers Clearing House Doesn't Call Winners Asking for Fees
Fake Publishers Clearing House calls flood the FTC complaint feed daily. Real sweepstakes never ask winners to pay fees, taxes, or processing charges to collect their prize.
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
It's Not Just Hogs Getting Slaughtered These Days
Someone you met online wants to teach you to trade crypto. They're planning to steal everything you send them.
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
Blocking That Local Number Doesn't Mean The Scammers Give Up!
Government impersonation scams use 20,068 different phone numbers. Most get reported only 2-5 times before scammers abandon them for 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
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 doesn't call demanding gift cards or wire transfers to avoid arrest. These robocall scams take roughly $400 million from Americans each 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
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