#scam-prevention — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #scam-prevention, aggregated by home.social.
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The DoRaleigh Scam Report Popular Scams and How to Avoid Them
Scammers are becoming more convincing, using artificial intelligence, caller ID spoofing, social media, text messages, fake websites, and emotional pressure to steal money and personal information.
In 2025, consumers submitted approximately 3 million fraud reports and reported losing $15.9 billion, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Imposter scams alone accounted for $3.5 billion in reported losses.
Raleigh and Triangle residents can reduce their risk by learning the warning signs of today’s most common scams.
1. Government and Business Imposter Scams
A caller, email, or text may claim to come from the IRS, Social Security Administration, Federal Trade Commission, police department, bank, utility company, or another trusted organization.
Scammers often say that your account has been compromised, you owe money, or you face arrest unless you act immediately. They may even manipulate caller ID or send official-looking documents.
How to avoid imposter scams
- Do not trust caller ID alone.
- Hang up and contact the organization using its official website or published phone number.
- Never move money to “protect” it.
- Government agencies will not demand payment through gift cards, cryptocurrency, gold, or cash delivered to a courier.
- Do not provide account passwords, PINs, verification codes, or Social Security numbers after an unexpected contact.
The FTC advises consumers never to transfer money, cryptocurrency, or gold after an unsolicited call or message. Anyone directing you to move money for its protection is attempting a scam. Read more from the FTC’s imposter scam guide.
2. Phishing Emails and Text-Message Scams
Phishing messages imitate banks, delivery companies, toll agencies, streaming services, employers, and government offices. Common messages claim that a package is delayed, a toll remains unpaid, an account will be closed, or suspicious activity requires immediate attention.
The included link may lead to a fake website designed to steal login credentials, banking information, or credit-card numbers. The FBI explains that these sites can closely resemble legitimate financial or commercial websites. Learn about phishing and spoofing from the FBI.
How to avoid phishing scams
- Do not click links in unexpected emails or text messages.
- Open the company’s official app or type its website address directly into your browser.
- Inspect email addresses carefully for misspellings or unusual domains.
- Never share a login verification code with someone who contacts you.
- Delete messages that demand immediate payment or personal information.
3. Investment and Cryptocurrency Scams
Investment scammers promise guaranteed returns, exclusive opportunities, or profits with little or no risk. Some build relationships through social media or dating apps before recommending a fraudulent cryptocurrency platform.
A fake account dashboard may appear to show growing profits, but victims are later told to pay additional fees or taxes before withdrawing their money.
How to avoid investment scams
- Be skeptical of guaranteed or unusually high returns.
- Research the investment professional and company independently.
- Do not invest based solely on advice from someone you met online.
- Never send cryptocurrency to “unlock” earnings or protect an account.
- Avoid opportunities that pressure you to act before conducting research.
The FBI warns that no legitimate investment can guarantee a return. Review the FBI’s investment fraud guidance.
4. Romance Scams
Romance scammers create fake profiles on dating apps and social media, quickly building trust and emotional connections. They frequently avoid meeting in person while claiming to work overseas, serve in the military, travel extensively, or face a personal emergency.
Eventually, the scammer requests money for travel, medical care, legal problems, business expenses, or an investment.
How to avoid romance scams
- Be cautious when an online relationship develops unusually quickly.
- Conduct a reverse-image search on profile photographs.
- Discuss the relationship with a trusted friend or family member.
- Never send money, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or banking information to someone you have not met.
- Stop communicating when someone repeatedly avoids video calls or in-person meetings.
The FBI’s romance scam guidance explains how criminals use fake identities and emotional manipulation to gain trust before asking for money.
5. Job and “Task” Scams
Job scammers pose as recruiters offering remote positions with high salaries, flexible schedules, and little experience required. They may conduct interviews through text messages, send fake checks for equipment, or require applicants to pay for training.
Task scams promise commissions for completing simple online activities. Victims may initially receive a small payment before being required to deposit larger amounts or purchase cryptocurrency.
How to avoid job scams
- Verify openings on the employer’s official careers page.
- Research the recruiter’s name, email address, and company.
- Be suspicious of interviews conducted entirely through messaging apps.
- Never pay for a job or send money to begin working.
- Do not deposit a check and forward part of the money to another person.
- Never use your personal bank account to transfer money for an employer.
6. Tech-Support Scams
A pop-up, phone call, or email may claim that your computer has a virus or your account has been hacked. The scammer may request remote access to your device, install unwanted software, or demand payment for unnecessary repairs.
How to avoid tech-support scams
- Do not call numbers displayed in unexpected security pop-ups.
- Never give remote access to someone who contacts you unexpectedly.
- Contact the device manufacturer or software provider directly.
- Close the browser or restart the device if a suspicious pop-up will not disappear.
- Never pay for technical support with gift cards, cryptocurrency, or a wire transfer.
The FTC’s tech-support scam guide notes that scammers prefer payment methods that are difficult to reverse.
7. Online Shopping, Marketplace and Rental Scams
Scammers advertise nonexistent products, pets, concert tickets, vehicles, apartments, and vacation rentals. Prices are often significantly lower than comparable listings, and the seller may demand a deposit before allowing an inspection.
How to avoid marketplace and rental scams
- Search the seller’s name, phone number, and listing photographs.
- Compare the price with similar listings.
- Inspect property or merchandise before paying whenever possible.
- Use the platform’s approved payment system and buyer protections.
- Avoid sellers demanding gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or payment outside the platform.
- Never pay a rental deposit before verifying the property and owner.
8. Family Emergency and Grandparent Scams
A caller may pretend to be a child, grandchild, lawyer, police officer, or hospital employee. Some scammers use artificial intelligence to imitate a loved one’s voice.
The caller claims there has been an accident, arrest, kidnapping, or medical emergency and insists that the situation remain secret.
How to avoid family emergency scams
- Hang up and call the family member directly.
- Contact another relative to verify the story.
- Create a private family verification word.
- Ask a question that a stranger could not answer from social media.
- Never send cash to a courier or pay through gift cards or cryptocurrency.
9. Prize, Lottery and Sweepstakes Scams
Scammers tell victims they have won money, a vacation, or another prize—but must first pay taxes, processing costs, or delivery fees.
How to avoid prize scams
- Remember that legitimate sweepstakes do not require payment to receive a prize.
- Do not provide banking or Social Security information.
- Be suspicious if you did not enter the contest.
- Never deposit a check and return a portion of the funds.
- Ignore demands for gift-card or cryptocurrency payments.
10. Payment-App and Gift-Card Scams
Payment apps are designed to send money quickly, which can make recovery difficult. Scammers may impersonate a bank employee, buyer, seller, friend, or relative and ask for an immediate transfer.
Gift cards are another major warning sign. No legitimate government agency or business will require gift cards as payment. The FTC’s gift-card scam guidance advises consumers never to share a gift-card number or PIN with an unexpected caller.
How to avoid payment scams
- Confirm payment requests directly with the person involved.
- Review the recipient’s name before sending money.
- Never return an alleged accidental payment by starting a new transaction.
- Do not share gift-card numbers, PINs, or photographs.
- Stop when someone dictates exactly how and where you must pay.
Major Scam Warning Signs
Stop communicating when someone:
- Creates a sudden emergency
- Pressures you to act immediately
- Demands secrecy
- Requests gift cards, cryptocurrency, gold, cash, or a wire transfer
- Promises guaranteed profits
- Asks for passwords, PINs, or verification codes
- Tells you to move money for its protection
- Refuses to let you independently verify the story
What to Do If You Have Been Scammed
Act quickly, but do not feel embarrassed. Scammers are trained to manipulate emotions and create believable situations.
- Contact your bank, credit union, card issuer, payment app, or gift-card company immediately.
- Ask whether the transaction can be stopped, recalled, or disputed.
- Change compromised passwords and enable multifactor authentication.
- Save emails, text messages, receipts, usernames, phone numbers, and transaction records.
- Report fraud to the Federal Trade Commission.
- Report internet-enabled fraud to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center.
- Use IdentityTheft.gov for a personalized recovery plan if personal information was stolen.
- File a complaint with the North Carolina Department of Justice or call 1-877-5-NO-SCAM.
- Contact local law enforcement if money was stolen or you are being threatened.
Protect Your Accounts Before a Scam Happens
Use a unique password for every important account, turn on automatic software updates, and enable multifactor authentication for email, banking, social media, and payment accounts. CISA recommends MFA because it adds another identity check beyond a password and makes unauthorized access more difficult. Learn more from CISA.
Most importantly, pause before responding. A few minutes spent verifying a message can prevent significant financial loss. If you need help in Raleigh contact BTDesigns.pro
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#CyberSecurity #DoRaleigh #freeCybersecurityWorkshops #IdentityTheft #ImposterScams #InvestmentScams #JobScams #News #NorthCarolinaScams #OnlineSafety #PhishingScams #PopularScams #RaleighConsumerAlerts #RomanceScams #ScamPrevention #ScamReport -
🚨 60-second scam investigation.
Before you click, reply, or send money, run a quick check with Listcrime AI Investigator. Analyze suspicious emails, websites, phone numbers, usernames, IPs, and more—in about a minute.#CyberSecurity #ScamPrevention #FraudPrevention #OSINT #ThreatIntelligence #CyberCrime #AI #DigitalSafety #Listcrime #ScamAwareness
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🚨 PHISHING DETECTED 🚨
🔗 Suspicious URL: trzor-hub[.]pages[.]dev
🔍 Analysis at: https://urlscan.io/result/019d21dd-837a-72a2-97d0-0c179f2d2d7b/ -
ICYMI: Meta deploys AI and law enforcement to fight scams across Facebook, WhatsApp: Meta today launched AI scam tools across Facebook, Messenger, and WhatsApp, expanded advertiser verification to 90%, and aided 21 arrests in Thailand. Here's what it means. https://ppc.land/meta-deploys-ai-and-law-enforcement-to-fight-scams-across-facebook-whatsapp/ #Meta #AI #ScamPrevention #Facebook #WhatsApp
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🚨 PHISHING DETECTED 🚨
🔗 Suspicious URL: enybex[.]com
🔍 Analysis at: https://urlscan.io/result/019bd980-432d-7409-ae54-dc35e1fb6c31/#CyberFraud #WalletHackers #BlockchainSafety #ScamPrevention #Web3Awareness #ScamDetection
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🚨 PHISHING DETECTED 🚨
🔗 Suspicious URL: xref-404[.]co
🔍 Analysis at: https://urlscan.io/result/019b6cb2-e19e-74ec-8e38-c70a98ee9d1b/#CryptoHacking #ScamDetection #ScamPrevention #scamalert #scam #malware #BlockchainSafety
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Finland's "Scam call and payment fraud prevention" has won 2025 European Crime Prevention Award:
https://www.eucpn.org/document/finland-scam-call-and-payment-fraud-prevention
While this scheme works it naturally hasn't prevented call-based fraud fully. However, at least the scammers can't easily call from outside of the country with forged #callerid
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RE: https://infosec.exchange/@harrysintonen/111291548609414904
Finland's "Scam call and payment fraud prevention" has won 2025 European Crime Prevention Award:
https://www.eucpn.org/document/finland-scam-call-and-payment-fraud-prevention
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AARP and OpenAI team up to help older adults fight scams with AI
https://web.brid.gy/r/https://nerds.xyz/2025/09/aarp-openai-ai-partnership-older-adults/
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Bank of Thailand Freezes 3M Accounts, Sets Daily Transfer Limits
#HackerNews #BankOfThailand #FreezesAccounts #DailyTransferLimits #FinancialRegulations #ScamPrevention #ThailandNews
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One of our @dc902 members, Willow did a dive into a employment scam recently. Nice read! Its a shitty thing to happen considering the state of the world these days.
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Meta’s Expansion of Anti-Fraud Facial Recognition Tool in UK, a Security Measure or Privacy Risk?
#Meta #FacialRecognition #AI #PrivacyRisk #CyberSecurity #OnlineFraud #BiometricData #AIinTech #DataProtection #TechNews #ScamPrevention #ArtificialIntelligence #MetaAI #DigitalIdentity #TechRegulations
https://www.techi.com/meta-launches-anti-fraud-facial-recognition-tool-uk/ -
Meta has reintroduced facial recognition to detect scam ads and verify accounts with AI-powered video selfies
#Meta #FacialRecognition #AI #PrivacyMatters #BigTech #Security #Biometrics #ScamPrevention #DataProtection #GDPR
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Because this was Cancelled yesterday.
Lets all post some Scams targeting Seniors.
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ICYMI: Meta unveils global anti-scam system to combat Valentine's Day fraud: Meta has released data on romance scam prevention measures and new safety features across its platforms ahead of Valentine's Day. https://ppc.land/meta-unveils-global-anti-scam-system-to-combat-valentines-day-fraud/ #Meta #AntiScam #ValentinesDay #ScamPrevention #DigitalSafety
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Scammers often use free emails. 🎣 Verify senders before engaging. Protect yourself online!🛡️ #ScamPrevention #OnlineSafetyTips 6/10
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Protecting Your Heart and Wallet: A Guide to Safe Charitable Giving – Source: securityboulevard.com https://ciso2ciso.com/protecting-your-heart-and-wallet-a-guide-to-safe-charitable-giving-source-securityboulevard-com/ #rssfeedpostgeneratorecho #SecurityBloggersNetwork #CyberSecurityNews #SecurityBoulevard #scamprevention #Cybersecurity #happyholidays #BlogPosts #Donation #holidays #charity
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Bitdefender has unveiled Scamio, an AI-powered scam detector designed to help users verify the legitimacy of links and messages. With scams becoming increasingly sophisticated, Scamio offers a hassle-free way to protect your digital life. 🎄✨ This holiday season, ensure a scam-free experience for you and your loved ones! Check it out here: https://www.bitdefender.com/en-us/blog/hotforsecurity/introducing-scamio-complimentary-scam-detector-and-prevention-service-from-bitdefender #Scamio #CyberSecurity #Bitdefender #ScamPrevention #newz
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AI Granny 'dAIsy' takes on scammers! O2's chatbot mimics an elderly woman to frustrate phone scammers, wasting their time and protecting vulnerable people. A mix of AI, humour, and innovation against fraud: http://kolt.at/mxwFyr
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It is 08.20, and I have just had my second "This is Microsoft Technical Support" scam phone call of the day.
Looks like there's bad weather for spam and scam out there today. Take care.
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🛑 Online scams are on the rise, and older adults are prime targets. Know the signs, avoid common traps, and stay safe. Read our tips today! https://askleo.com/173296 #OnlineSafety #ScamPrevention #ProtectYourselfFromOnlineScams
https://askleo.com/173296 -
Binance Says It Protects Over $2.4 Billion From Crypto Scams This Year - Crypto exchange Binance says it has protected over $2.4 billion from scams and fra... - https://news.bitcoin.com/binance-says-it-protects-over-2-4-billion-from-crypto-scams-this-year/ #cryptocurrencysecurity #cryptoriskmanagement #cryptowithdrawals #scamprevention #binancefraud #cryptoscams #exchanges #binance
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Meta denies claim more than half of Facebook crypto ads are scams - Australia’s competition watchdog has claimed 58% of crypto ads on Facebo... - https://cointelegraph.com/news/meta-denies-claim-more-half-facebook-crypto-ads-are-scams #australiancompetitionregulator. #socialmediafraud #metacompliance #scamprevention #onlinescams #cryptoads #accc
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Cop intercepts $40,000 Bitcoin ATM scam by Chase Bank impersonator - The officer intervened during the Bitcoin ATM deposit, preventing the vi... - https://cointelegraph.com/news/texas-police-bitcoin-atm-scam-elderly #whitesettlementpolice #chasebankimpersonator #scamprevention #elderlyvictim #bitcoinscam #texaspolice #cryptofraud #bitcoinatm
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Fake Federal employees target crypto investors: CISA warns - The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) warns of a s... - https://cointelegraph.com/news/cisa-warns-crypto-investors-employee-scams #cryptocurrencysecurity #fakefederalemployees #impersonationscams #scamprevention #cisawarning #cryptoscams #cryptocrime #chainalysis #phishing
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It's Best Friends Day! Take the time to call and talk to your friends. That way, they won't be too surprised if you lose your wallet during a holiday in Thailand and need money via Western Union.
#BestFriendsDay #scamprevention -
FBI Warns of Crypto Scams in Fake Work-From-Home Jobs - The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) issued an alert on June 4, highligh... - https://news.bitcoin.com/fbi-warns-of-crypto-scams-in-fake-work-from-home-jobs/ #cryptocurrencyfraud #employmentscams #cryptopayments #cryptocurrency #scamprevention #work-from-home #ic3reporting #cryptoscams #newsbytes-2 #onlinejobs #newsbytes #fbialert #jobfraud #bitcoin #crypto
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Check out KXLG's Go Blue Week, which focuses on scams during National Police Week.
Learn how to protect yourself from a phone, email, online, and mail scams: https://zurl.co/f55j #NationalPoliceWeek #ScamPrevention #KXLGNews
#KXLGCares #KXLG #radio