Scammers rely on one thing: you not knowing how the trick works. Scamwise explains the top online scams in plain language, shows the red flags, and tells you exactly what to do if one lands in your inbox.
You don't need to be a tech expert. You just need to recognise the pattern.
Every scam follows a script: a hook, pressure, and a payment method you can't reverse. Learn the scripts and they lose their power.
Urgency, secrecy, gift cards, crypto, and links that don't match. Each scam on Scamwise lists the exact warning signs.
Know who to call, what to freeze, and where to report so you limit the damage and help protect others.
These cause the most losses for Canadians and Americans every year. Learn these ten and you're ahead of most people.
Messages pretending to be your bank, Netflix, Amazon or a delivery company, pushing you to a fake login page that steals your password or card.
A friendly stranger or slick ad shows huge returns on a crypto or trading platform. Your balance grows on screen until you try to withdraw, then fees appear and the money is gone. Often called pig butchering.
Someone builds a relationship online for weeks or months, then has an emergency: medical bills, customs fees, a stuck inheritance, or a can't-miss investment.
A pop-up or caller says your computer is infected or hacked and gives a number for 'Microsoft' or 'Apple'. They take remote control and charge you, or empty your bank account.
A caller or text claims you owe taxes, your SIN is suspended, or there's a warrant for your arrest, and you must pay immediately.
Professional looking stores, often advertised on social media, with brand names at huge discounts. Items never arrive, or you get cheap junk.
A panicked call from a 'grandchild' or relative in jail or a hospital who needs bail money now. Scammers now use AI to clone a real voice from social media clips.
An easy remote job: rating products, liking videos or 'optimizing' apps. You earn small payouts at first, then must deposit your own money to unlock bigger tasks.
On Facebook Marketplace or Kijiji, a buyer sends a fake payment email, overpays and asks for a refund, or sends a 'verification code' trick to hijack your account.
A text says a package couldn't be delivered and you need to pay a small fee or update your address. The link steals your card details.
Search by keyword or filter by category. Members unlock every explanation.
Early investors are paid with new investors' money until the whole thing collapses.
Promoters hype a penny stock or coin, then sell their shares once you buy in.
A slick trading site shows big gains but never lets you withdraw.
Developers of a new token vanish with investors' funds overnight.
A 'guaranteed profit' bot that only ever takes deposits.
Someone offers to get back money you lost to a scam, for an upfront fee.
Your loan is 'approved' as soon as you pay a processing fee. No loan ever comes.
Promises to erase your debt, collects fees, and does nothing.
Fake videos of famous people promoting an investment platform.
Gold or silver sold at huge markups, or never delivered at all.
Cute puppy or kitten listed cheap; shipping, insurance and vet fees keep coming.
Fake brand items sold as genuine, often through social media ads.
Car listed below value by a seller who is 'overseas' and ships after payment.
Fake or duplicated concert and sports tickets sold online.
A 'free trial' that turns into hard to cancel monthly charges.
Unsolicited packages sent to you so the seller can post fake reviews in your name.
Any seller who insists on gift cards as payment.
Seller insists on a 'safe' escrow site that they control.
Dropship store that never delivers or sends something nothing like the photos.
'We refunded you too much, please send back the difference.'
Caller claims to be your bank's fraud team and asks you to move money to a 'safe account'.
Fake police say you'll be arrested unless you pay a fine right now.
Caller says your immigration status has a problem and demands payment.
Fake hydro or gas company threatens to cut power within the hour.
Robocall says your SIN is frozen due to criminal activity.
'Did you authorize a $999 iPhone purchase?' leading to remote access or payment.
A 'CEO' texts asking you to buy gift cards for clients, urgently and quietly.
A lawyer says a distant relative left you money, once you pay fees.
Fake customs or border agency says your parcel is held until you pay.
You 'qualify' for a grant if you pay a processing fee first.
You're sent a cheque, told to deposit it and send part back. The cheque bounces later.
You receive and reship packages, which were bought with stolen cards.
A 'payment processor' role moving money through your bank account. It's laundering.
You're paid to 'test' a money transfer service with your own money.
Pay for training or equipment to start a job that doesn't exist.
Asks for your SIN, bank details or ID before any real interview.
Income comes from recruiting others, not selling real products.
Pay a refundable 'deposit' to access data entry work.
A client overpays for a project and asks you to refund the extra.
Modelling or acting 'agency' that charges for photos and portfolios.
Fake virus alerts that push you to buy useless 'antivirus' software.
Scammers move your phone number to their SIM to intercept bank codes.
'I sent you a code by mistake, can you send it back?' It's your account.
Fake QR stickers on parking meters lead to payment stealing sites.
Free extension that injects ads or steals passwords.
Copycat banking or wallet app in an app store that harvests logins.
A perfect copy of a real login page used to harvest passwords.
Claims your webcam was hacked and demands Bitcoin. Usually a bluff.
'Your Norton/Geek Squad plan renewed for $399, call to cancel.'
Fake public Wi-Fi hotspot that captures what you send.
Fake profile gets intimate photos then demands money. Often targets teens.
Fake soldier overseas needs money for leave, shipping or communications.
Online partner keeps asking for gift cards for 'emergencies'.
A friend's account messages you needing money or a code.
Impostor celebrity accounts promising prizes or doubling your crypto.
Someone claims family ties to get money or personal info.
'Hi, is this Amy?' turns into friendship, then an investment pitch.
Fun quizzes that collect your security question answers.
Promise of allowance payments after you pay a 'verification' fee.
A copy of a friend's profile sends you a new friend request.
Landlord is 'away' and wants a deposit before you see the place.
Holiday property that doesn't exist or isn't theirs to rent.
Company promises a buyer for your timeshare after an upfront fee.
Cheap flights or packages that are never actually booked.
You won a trip, just pay taxes and booking fees.
Movers load your stuff, then demand much more money to deliver it.
Roofing or driveway crew takes a deposit and disappears or does poor work.
'Mandatory' inspection that ends with a scary, overpriced repair.
Search ad leads to a fake support line that takes your card.
Criminals use fake ID to sell or mortgage your property.
You won, just pay the taxes or fees first.
Pay a 'processing' fee to claim a sweepstakes prize.
New charity appears right after a disaster with no real track record.
Fundraiser with a fake sad story or a made up project.
Someone unrelated raises money in the name of a real tragedy.
'Congratulations, you've won an iPhone!' after a survey, pay shipping.
International lottery win that needs wire transfers to release.
Guaranteed scholarship or grant for an application fee.
Text says you're owed a carbon rebate or benefit, click to claim.
'Your rewards points expire today' links to a card stealing page.
Supplier email 'updates' bank details. It's a hacked or spoofed account.
Invoice for a business directory listing you never ordered.
'Someone is registering your brand name in Asia, act now.'
Fake Shopify, PayPal or Stripe notice that your account will be closed.
Customer receives goods then claims it never arrived to get a refund.
Wholesale supplier takes payment and never ships the stock.
Guarantees first page on Google for a big upfront fee.
DMCA 'evidence' link that installs malware.
Scammer runs a store, buys from you with stolen cards, ships to their customer.
Pay up or we'll flood your business with fake bad reviews.
Products claiming to cure serious diseases or melt fat overnight.
Cheap prescription drugs with no prescription, fake or dangerous pills.
Fake insurance or benefits plan that collects premiums and pays nothing.
Pay to remove a 'curse' that keeps getting worse.
Text says you have a tax refund waiting, click to deposit.
Pay a fee to get your student loans 'forgiven'.
Unlicensed consultant promises guaranteed visas or jobs.
'You're owed a settlement' if you pay a filing fee.
Fake links to watch a loved one's funeral that ask for card details.
A live video call that looks and sounds like your boss or a relative asking for money.
All 110 scams, monthly scam alerts, and new scams added as they appear. Just $1 a month.
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I've spent years baiting scammers, keeping them on the line for hours and getting their numbers and accounts shut down. I even lost $60 to one when I got cocky. Scamwise is everything I learned, so you don't have to learn it the hard way.
Every minute a scammer spends on you is a minute they're not spending on someone's grandma. Learn how to waste their time, collect evidence, and get their numbers, accounts and sites shut down.
Burner email and phone numbers, a throwaway virtual machine, and a fake persona that can't be traced back to you.
Ready made replies and call scripts that keep scammers busy for hours without ever giving them anything real.
How to capture numbers, wallet addresses, bank details and domains the right way so reports actually get action.
Report templates for phone carriers, domain registrars, hosting companies, banks, crypto exchanges and social platforms.
What the CAFC, FTC and police need from you, and how to file so your report feeds real investigations.
Where the line is, the mistakes that get baiters doxxed or hacked, and when to walk away.
Phishing texts and emails, investment and crypto scams, romance scams, tech support scams and government impersonation calls cause the most losses. Our top 10 list explains how each one works and the red flags to watch for.
Watch for urgency, a link that doesn't match the company's real website, requests for gift cards or crypto, and senders using free email addresses or odd domains. When in doubt, open the company's app or type its website yourself.
Call your bank or card issuer right away. Then report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 (Canada) or reportfraud.ftc.gov (US), and file a police report. Keep every message and receipt.
Wasting a scammer's time and reporting their phone numbers, websites and accounts is legal. Hacking them, threatening them or taking their money is not. Our Scam them back guides explain where the line is.
The top 10 scams and 30 library entries are free. Membership is $1 a month and unlocks all 110 scams, monthly scam alerts and printable family checklists.
Reporting gets scam numbers and sites shut down faster, even if you didn't lose money.
Federal Trade Commission. Report fraud, scams and bad business practices.
reportfraud.ftc.gov →Call your bank or card issuer first, right away. Then file a police report and keep every receipt and message.
See what to do →Join Scamwise for $1 a month and stay one step ahead of every new trick.
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