Online Scam Alert: 20 Must-Know Online Scams + Your 2026 Defense Guide

Online scam alert: Read this before you click, call, or pay a single dime. 

In the first half of 2025, the world lost about $15.3 billion to scammers. The criminals are getting faster, smarter, and more convincing. 

If you’ve ever worried about a loved one falling for an online scam, there’s good news. Most scams are easy to spot once you know what to look for.  

This article is your defense toolkit for 2026: Share it with friends and family, and help the people you care about stay safe. 

Shopping scams: Tis the season for fraud 

The setup: A click on a social media ad takes you to an ecommerce site. You make a purchase, only to receive a fake tracking number or product. When you try to make a complaint, you find the site has disappeared.  

Krisha in Hawaii found out the hard way when she ordered from a website offering heavily discounted brand-name gear. As she tells the BBB, the scammers “sent” her package to the wrong state (even though she entered the right address).  

So, Krisha never received her order, and the scammers vanished soon after. 

Meanwhile, Dylan from Indiana tried to order honeybees from a beekeeping Facebook group. The seller told him to use PayPal’s “friends and family” option to pay, which Dylan didn't realize removed some of PayPal's buyer protections. 

The seller provided a fake tracking number and also disappeared, leaving Dylan with no product and no way to recover his funds.  

And that’s not all: These scammers often set long shipping timelines to keep you hopeful while they siphon funds from your account. 

So, if you’re thinking of skipping the lines to shop online, beware.  

Scam sites with sleek photos, massive discounts, and “sale ends in 5 minutes” countdown timers are ready to take your hard-earned cash and deliver...nothing. 

Your defense playbook:  

• Deep discounts and “too-good-to-be-true" deals are red flags. 

• Be skeptical of long shipping windows. Always compare to a trusted retailer’s shipping times. 

• Not sure if a marketplace is legit? Here’s how to tell if a site is safe. 

• Check for scam sites with F-Secure's Online Shopping Checker. 

Job offer scams: When a dream job becomes a nightmare 

The setup: A recruiter from a big-name company slides into your DMs with a remote job offer. And it sounds amazing: High pay. Flexible hours. Easy work. And they send you a check to start. 

Stop right there. 

Text job scams are at an all-time high. In 2020, there were 4,872 reports of text-based job scams, resulting in $2 million in losses. By 2024, those reports had surged to 20,673, with losses at $61.2 million.  

The task scam is particularly insidious: Complete simple online tasks, get paid. 

But first, the scammers want you to send money to “unlock” your earnings. Do it, and you’ll never see your money again.  

According to the BBB, work-from-home scams have also exploded. Rebecca from Virginia says she was hired to fulfill orders and compile sales data online. The job ad on Facebook said she could make more than $100/day, depending on her output. 

Her “manager” contacted her over Telegram and immediately sent her to a clone Amazon site to purchase items.  

None the wiser, Nydia made nearly $13,000 in purchases. She then submitted her report to the “manager.” 

A few days later, Nydia noticed she had yet to be reimbursed. To add insult to injury, her “manager” threatened to fire her if she didn’t keep “working.” 

Meanwhile, Donald from Florida says he was offered a reshipping job via email. His main task? To buy and send computers overseas for $76,000 + bonuses. 

To test the legitimacy of the offer, he bought an Apple computer and shipped it to Hong Kong. He was pleasantly surprised when he was immediately reimbursed on his credit card.  

Heartened, Donald threw himself into the work and bought over $100,000 in computers to ship. 

Things were going well until one day, all the “payments” to his credit card canceled. Donald’s bank informed him that every single payment was fake.  

He frantically tried to reach out to his “recruiter,” but they were nowhere to be found. In all, Donald was scammed out of $105,000. 

Your defense playbook:  

• Cold email or text offers are a red flag. 

• Never pay to start a job. Beware of mystery shopping and reshipping offers that require upfront purchases with the “promise” of reimbursement. 

• Look out for high-pressure tactics that push you to start immediately. 

Sweepstakes and lottery scams: Congratulations...you didn’t win anything 

The setup: “You’ve won $500,000!” There’s just one small processing fee to collect your earnings...

Did you know? From 2020 to 2025, the total loss nationally for lottery and sweepstakes fraud was a whopping $660 million, with $351 million occurring in 2024 alone. 

Florida leads the nation with victims losing $66.3 million.  

According to the BBB, scammers are increasingly using victims as “money mules.” They often reach out over email, texts, or social media. 

A Pennsylvania woman says she lost at least $35,000 over three years after being informed by “Mega Millions” that she had won $5.5 million and a 2019 Mercedes Benz.  

The scammer initially requested $9,500 in fees but soon asked her to cash counterfeit checks, which resulted in criminal charges against her. She also acted as a money mule, receiving money paid by other victims and then transferring it to the scammer.  

After becoming frustrated with the process of claiming her winnings, she complained to the scammer, who subsequently threatened her and her son. 

Your defense playbook: 

• Didn’t enter a sweepstake or lottery? No entry means no payout, ever. 

• True lotteries or sweepstakes never ask for money to “process” your winnings. 

• Always research the person who contacted you. 

• Check to see if you actually won. The BBB advises calling the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries at 440-361-7962. 

• Check the Publisher Clearing House (PCH) page for the latest PCH scams and ways to protect yourself. 

Personal loan scams: When payday costs more than it’s worth 

The setup: Buried in debt? The online lender offers to consolidate your loans at impossibly low rates. All you have to do is pay an upfront fee... 

Scammers offer you an “easy” way out of your misery, collect your “application fee,” and then vanish. Or worse, they ask for your banking info and SSN, claiming this info is needed to “release” the loan. 

Here are two cautionary tales from the BBB: 

Jill in Ohio applied online for a $3,000 emergency loan. In a moment she now regrets, Jill shared her banking info because the lenders said they needed it to deposit her “money.” Instead, they drained her account, leaving her without rent money and at risk of eviction. 

Kristy, a single mother in Chicago, took out a payday loan of $625 for rent. The massive interest rate meant another $275 in overdraft fees. Despite paying back about $650 over two months, the balance of the loan stayed the same due to the exorbitant interest rate and fees. 

Your defense playbook:  

• If a company asks for money to “release the loan,” it’s a scam. 

• Never hand over any personal information until you’re 100% sure it isn’t a scam. 

• Fake payday lenders often hide their true APR. This is because the effective rates are often in the range of 390% annually. Know that payday lenders are required by law to disclose APR. If you’re only given weekly or monthly rates, run. 

Crypto scams: The digital Gold Rush robbery 

The setup: A new social media “friend” shares their crypto investment secrets. Returns are incredible. You only need to start small...

Brace yourself for this number: Americans lost $9.3 billion in cryptocurrency-related scams in 2024, a 66% increase from the previous year.  

And in the first half of 2025, investors lost $2.47 billion to cryptocurrency scams. Ethereum was the most targeted blockchain, with $1.5 billion stolen in 164 incidents. 

The “pig butchering scam” is especially devastating. Scammers build online relationships for weeks or months before introducing you to a fake crypto investment “opportunity.” 

In December 2025, a Bay Area California widow was groomed online by a suave, caring suitor called “Ed.” Under his guidance, Margaret Loke wired nearly all her retirement savings (about $1 million in total) to accounts Ed controlled.  

When the fake trading app showed her profits soaring to $2.4 million, Margaret wanted to cash out, but Ed demanded $1 million to “unlock” her funds. 

She paid up after he threatened to sic his lawyers on her. Today, Margaret faces the loss of her home and a huge tax bill for withdrawing all the money from her IRA at once. 

Your defense playbook:  

• If someone you meet online wants you to invest in crypto, don’t do it. Protect your heart and hard-earned money: Since July 2025, the FBI’s Operation Level Up has already referred 64 victims for suicide intervention.  

• Be skeptical when “friends” reach out on social media and tell you how they made “money” with cryptocurrency. 

• Don’t believe promises of guaranteed returns. The crypto market is extremely volatile. A good rule of thumb: Invest only what you can afford to lose. 

• Learn the tricks scammers use by reading the BBB study on cryptocurrency scams. 

Delivery scams: Your package isn’t coming 

The setup: A text from “USPS” says there’s a problem with your delivery. Just click here to update your shipping directions...

Fake package delivery issues were the most reported type of text scam in 2024. According to the FTC, consumers lost $470 million in 2024 to scams that started with text messages, five times higher than in 2020. 

The texts looked legitimate, with UPS, USPS, or FedEx branding. But the links led to phishing sites designed to steal credit card or personal info. 

Your defense playbook:  

• Real delivery services never text you to ask for money to release packages. 

• If you get a “free” package you didn’t order, beware. It could be a brushing or quishing scam. This 1-minute USPS video on brushing scams can save your wallet and peace of mind. 

• Forward any suspicious delivery emails to spam@uspis.gov. For text messages, forward to 7726. 

• Never click a link or call the number from an unexpected delivery notice. 

Online dating scams: When love hurts your wallet 

The setup: You match with someone incredible. Smart, attractive, kind, and most importantly, interested in YOU. After weeks of sweet connection, they suddenly have a financial emergency... 

In 2024, romance scam victims lost over $1.14 billion, with the average per victim losing $2,000. 

These aren’t quick hustles. Scammers spend months building relationships, often combining romance with crypto investment lures for maximum profits. 

If you’re on social media, beware. That’s where scammers work their magic. In the first half of 2025, 39% of investment scam victims were contacted via social media, with half of losses starting on Facebook, Instagram, or Snapchat. 

And on social media, your risk of being catfished rises exponentially. 

Your defense playbook: 

• If you haven’t met in person and they’re asking for money, that’s a red flag 

• Worried about being targeted? Here’s what to do if you suspect catfishing. 

• The loneliest people in your life are being targeted right now: Share our article on romance scams to save them from heartbreak and financial ruin. 

Charity scams: When generosity pays...for the scammer 

The setup: A disaster strikes. You see pictures of charred homes and frightened children with tear-streaked, mud-caked faces. The fire fighters wear grim expressions, knowing they’re racing against time. An urgent appeal for donations floods your inbox and social media. You’re asked to act fast to help... 

Criminals are experts at weaponizing your compassion. In 2024, the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received more than 4,500 complaints linked to $96 million in losses from charity fraud. 

After every major crisis, fake charities spring up overnight. They use AI-generated content, cloned celebrity voices, and spoofed domains to appear real. 

Your defense playbook:  

• Verify charities through official registries recommended by the FCC. 

• For a non-profit, review their operations, financial, and tax-exempt documentation. You can also review ratings and reports from trusted sources like Charity Navigator, Candid (formally known as GuideStar), and Excellence in Giving. 

• Don’t communicate with unknown individuals soliciting donations over email or text. 

• Never use debit, gift, or prepaid cards for donations. Credit cards offer stronger fraud protection. 

Travel scams: Fake vacations that promise you the moon 

The setup: Incredible deals on flights, hotels, vacation rentals. Prices so low you’d be crazy not to book immediately... 

Travel scams go with vacations like jam on hot buttered toast. Criminals get a warm feeling during vacation season, and it isn’t because they love wilting Caesar salads or greasy fried chicken at the cruise ship buffet. 

No, it’s the fake booking sites and rental listings – and the big money haul they promise – that gets them salivating. 

Jayaprakash of Michigan tells the BBB he stumbled across a clone Delta Airlines site while attempting to book a flight. The scammer convinced him to hand over $5,000 for tickets before Jayaprakash realized it was a scam. Luckily, his credit card company was able to process a refund for him.  

Meanwhile, Tyla from Virginia said she booked a luxury yacht experience in Seychelles with a group of friends. Everyone paid $3,200 each.  

When they arrived, the boat looked nothing like the photos, food wasn’t provided, and the amenities were abysmal.   

Your defense playbook:  

• Book through verified travel sites only. If the deal seems to stretch the limits of your imagination, trust your gut. Stay away. 

• If you receive emails or texts inviting you to a timeshare presentation, beware. Some presentations can last for hours. The presenters hope you’ll be so exhausted by the end that you’ll sign anything. If you decide to go, read the BBB’s timeshare scam study and the FTC’s advice on handling timeshare presentations.  

Parent/grandparent scams: When “help me” becomes a profitable lie 

The setup: “Grandma, it’s me! I’m in trouble. I need money right now! But pleeease...don’t tell Mom and Dad.”

What would you do if a scammer posed as your loved one and begged for help?  

Worldwide, people aged 60+ lost over $3.4 billion to grandparent scams in 2023. The average victim lost $33,915. 

And grandparents aren’t the only ones in the crosshairs. 

First, scammers mine social media to identify their targets. 

Then, with just seconds of audio from social media, they can use AI voice cloning tools to sound exactly like your loved one.  

In July 2025, Sharon Brightwell of Dover, Florida, received a call from her “daughter” claiming she had been in a car accident and was being detained. Overwhelmed, Brightwell sent $15,000 in cash for bail money.   

Then, a “lawyer” called to inform Brightwell that the other party in the crash, a pregnant woman, had lost her baby in the accident. To prevent her from suing, they were requesting $30,000. 

At this point, Brightwell’s grandson and a close family friend intervened and helped her get in touch with her real daughter, April.  

April later set up a GoFundMe for her mother and shared that her father had been dealing with a “botched surgery,” and as a result, her mother now had added daily responsibilities: 

"I only share this part to explain why a tragic call from your child added to this could easily send you over the edge and cause you to make choices you normally would not."

Your defense playbook:  

• Hang up when you get a panicked call. Then call your loved one directly using the number you know.  

• To verify identities, use a code or “safe” word only you and your loved ones know. Tip: Store your code in LastPass, so you’ll never forget it. If you ever change it, you can easily and securely share it with Emergency Access - get it free with a LastPass Families trial (no credit card required). 

• Use privacy settings to limit access to your voice on social media. Parent/grandparent scams often start on social media and culminate in a phone call. 

Government impersonation scams: The IRS isn’t texting you 

The setup: Someone claiming to be from Social Security, the IRS, or Medicare texts or emails you, saying you owe money. If you don’t pay up, your benefits will be cut off.  

Did you know? Total losses to impersonation scams for seniors increased four-fold, from $600 million in 2020 to $2.4 billion in 2024. 

These criminals are skilled at creating urgency and fear. They threaten arrest, prosecution, or loss of benefits. And they demand immediate payment via bitcoin ATMs, gift cards, or wire transfers. 

Some even impersonate the FTC itself, telling you to move money to “protect” it. 

In September 2021, an Alaska woman told BBB she was contacted by someone claiming to be a Social Security employee. Apparently, someone committed fraud with her SSN, and there was now a warrant for her arrest. 

But the good news was, she would be given a new SSN to protect her identity.  

The scammer told the woman she could protect her money by buying government bonds. To get the bonds, she was told to buy gift cards in $500 increments. They instructed her to send photos of the gift cards and PIN numbers to the “US Department of Treasure.”  

The next day, officers would meet with her to cancel the arrest warrant and give her a new SSN.  

The woman said she suspected fraud when the scammers asked her to take out money on her credit cards. In all, she spent $4,200 on gift cards, money that was lost forever. 

“I was so shocked, devastated and exhausted,” the woman wrote. “I could not believe I fell for this scam. Everything seemed to make sense up until the last moment when it was already too late...” 

Your defense playbook: 

• Real government agencies don’t threaten arrest and demand payment to secure your freedom. 

• Federal agencies also don’t take payments with gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers. 

Extortion scams: They’ve got nothing on you 

The setup: “I’ve hacked your computer and recorded you watching adult content. Pay me $2,000 in bitcoin, or I’ll send the video to everyone you know...” 

These emails are terrifying – and usually completely fake. Scammers send mass emails claiming to have access to your accounts or compromising videos of you. 

Sometimes, they include an old password (from a previous data breach) to appear credible. The truth? They have absolutely nothing on you. It’s a psychological trick designed to create panic, nothing more.  

Your defense playbook: 

• Delete the emails. As an extra precaution, change your passwords and sign up for premium credential security with a free LastPass Premium or Business Max account. 

Ransomware scams: All your files “are belong to us” 

The setup: You open what looks like a legitimate email attachment. Suddenly, your inbox locks, and a message appears, demanding payment to decrypt your files. 

The IC3 report revealed that it received 3,156 complaints tied to ransomware attacks in 2024. The losses? Over $12 million. 

Ransomware is expected to cost victims around $275 billion annually by 2031, with attacks striking every two (2) seconds. 

The damage extends beyond ransomware payments. You have costs associated with downtime, recovery, and public discontent with your brand. 

And the scary part is: Your business may not survive the onslaught. 

Your defense playbook:  

• If you run a business, restrict user ability to run applications and enforce least privilege access controls for all systems 

• Enforce phishing resistant MFA for all access points. 

• Monitor for unusual app login attempts with LastPass SaaS Monitoring + Protect. 

• Maintain offline backups of data to prevent operational disruptions. 

• Deploy advanced EDR tools to block lateral movement. 

• Segment your network to stop the spread of ransomware. 

• Read the 2025 CISA joint cybersecurity advisory on ransomware detection and protection. 

Deepfake video scams: When seeing isn’t believing 

The setup: You get a video call from your CEO requesting an urgent wire transfer, or you see a social media ad featuring a celebrity endorsing a “new” supplement. Both are fake but look completely real. 

Did you know? Deepfake fraud surged 1,740% in North America between 2022 and 2023, with financial losses exceeding $200 million in Q1 2025 alone. 

Beth Holland is one of 17 million women living with lipedema, a condition that causes abnormal fat buildup in the legs and leads to reduced mobility.  

“It just got so bad. And you can’t lose weight. It’s painful," Holland told TODAY. 

Desperate for relief, she found salvation on Facebook: an ad for “Svelta Venastra,” a skin cream promising to provide pain relief and aid with fluid drainage. 

The ad was professional and compelling, featuring testimonials from Oprah Winfrey, Kelly Clarkson, and Carnie Wilson.  

But what sealed the deal was the “appearance” of Holland’s own doctor, board certified lipedema surgeon Dr. David Amron. 

“I thought it was affiliated with Dr. Amron, so I thought, this is great," Holland says. Holland said she paid $300 for six bottles. 

The truth? Every single video was a deepfake. A TODAY investigation uncovered a flood of medical scams using AI-generated deepfakes of real health providers promoting fake treatments. 

Your defense playbook: 

• Always verify the source of an ad, even if the video looks real.  

• Ask your health provider whether the product or treatment actually works. 

• Read our blog post on deepfakes for more ways to protect yourself. 

Rental listing scams: The truth about that perfect apartment 

The setup: You’re searching Craigslist, Zillow, Facebook Marketplace. And then you see it: the perfect little place. Cute, trendy, and below market rent. You send the deposit and first month’s rent...and the landlord vanishes. 

According to the BBB, those who are 19-29 are 42% more likely to be victims. 

Here’s why:  

• People in this age group are more likely to move to a new city for jobs, internships, or college. 

• They are more comfortable with digital-only transactions and may overlook red flags like upfront payments without viewings. 

• Many ads play up the affordable housing angle to lure this budget-conscious group. 

But this isn’t a “young person’s problem.” If you’re looking for a deal in expensive housing markets like San Francisco, NYC, or Chicago, you’re in the crosshairs. 

Scammers are using professional-looking photos, licenses, and rent applications to make their schemes more credible. 

Take Leonard’s son, who got a job at a San Francisco tech company. In April 2019, his son signed a lease with a realtor named “Harris Griffin,” a property manager for SF Residential Realty.  

The son made two appointments to see the place, but “Harris” canceled both times. Despite this, Leonard paid the $1,600 security deposit, and his son paid $2,500 for the first month’s rent – done via wire transfer. 

The truth? The apartment was never for rent. The photos and lease agreements were all fake.  

After contacting the actual owner of the property, Leonard frantically called his bank, which refunded his $1,600 security deposit. Unfortunately, the $2,500 first month’s rent was never recovered. 

Your defense playbook:  

• Insist on viewings in person before putting down a deposit. 

• Rents that are significantly below market rates are a red flag. 

• No legitimate business requests payment through wire transfer, MoneyGram, or Western Union. If you’re asked for it, run. 

• If you drive by the property and see a “For Sale” sign, trust your gut. If it feels wrong, it probably is. 

• Always research the property owner and call them using official numbers, not the one provided in the online ad. 

• If using vacation rental platforms like Airbnb, VRBO, or HomeAway, always stay on the platform. Don’t entertain “deals” to move off the platform, or you’ll lose critical protections for your money. 

Subscription renewal scams: You didn’t subscribe but... 

The setup: An email says your Norton antivirus is renewing for $399. To cancel, you must call this number in 24 hours... 

So, you call.  

They say they’ll “refund” you but accidentally send too much.  

Now you need to return the “overpayment” via gift cards. The entire scenario is fabricated. There’s no subscription, error, or refund coming. It’s a script designed to get you to send real money for a fake problem. 

Your defense playbook:  

• Never call numbers in emails you weren’t expecting. Contact companies through their official websites or support channels. 

Adoption scams: When your love becomes their weapon 

The setup: After months of waiting, you’re matched with a birth mother. Your dreams seem to be coming true, and you can’t wait to be a parent. You wire money for medical expenses, living costs, legal fees... 

Adoption scams are particularly cruel because they exploit the desire to build a family. 

In a chilling 2019 BBC expose, scammers exploited Instagram to prey on adoptive parents. 

Victims like Sam Stewart and Kristen Johnson booked flights and prepared nurseries, only for hospitals to reveal no such births existed. 

The scammers used several names, such as “Alyssa and Josh,” “Ciara and Daniel,” “Mackenzie and Matt.” They portrayed themselves as a young couple who needed someone to adopt their baby.  

Adoptive parents who made contact often found themselves tangled in an emotional web, bombarded with relentless messages before being ghosted.  

Even experts like Juli Wisotsky, an adoption attorney, endured 24 hours of this barrage before she realized she had been conned. 

And that’s not the worst of it: The scammers stole a real woman’s social media profile to execute their elaborate scam. 

If you’re a pet parent hoping to adopt, the stakes are just as high.  

Gerald in British Columbia told BBB that he ordered a puppy online. When it was time for his fur baby to come home, the scammer demanded extra payment, claiming the dog had lung disease.  

Despite already paying $250 for the dog and another $300 for a temperature-controlled crate, Gerald was told that if he didn’t pay an extra $900 and the puppy died, it would be his fault. 

Luckily, Gerald realized he was being scammed and cut off contact. 

Your defense playbook:  

• The FBI warns against providers who use high pressure tactics or demonstrate a pattern of making incessant demands. 

• Be wary if the provider or birth mother is difficult to reach and refuses to provide proof of a pregnancy. 

• If you’re a pet parent hoping to adopt, watch out for scammers who offer popular breeds for incredibly low prices and who refuse to meet in person or take a video call. 

• When adopting a pet online, be aware that scam platforms can often appear near the top of search engine results.  

• Always adopt in person, if at all possible.  

• Don’t fall for ruses claiming more money is needed for temperature-controlled crates, shipping fees, or vaccinations. 

DMV text scams: When your license is at risk 

The setup: You get a text saying your driver’s license is suspended, or your car registration has expired. And you’re asked to click a shady link to resolve the issue and avoid a fine... 

All over the country, scammers are impersonating Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) employees and insisting you pay for that “overdue” ticket before your driving privileges are suspended. 

The texts look official, using the same DMV logos and official-sounding language. But they're phishing attempts designed to steal your personal info and payment details. 

Your defense playbook:  

• Real DMVs send physical mail for serious issues like license suspension. They don’t email or text to demand payments.  

• Always verify any DMV communication by contacting your state’s DMV directly through their official website. 

Credit card scams: Fraudulent charges everywhere 

The setup: “We’ve detected suspicious activity on your account. Verify your identity by providing your card number...” 

According to the FBI, credit card fraud accounted for $199 million in losses in 2024.  

Fortinet researchers observed 18,000+ newly registered holiday-themed domains in the past three months, with 750+ (4%) classified as malicious. These fake sites exist solely to steal your credit card info. 

The latest credit card scams often involve cloned retail or ecommerce sites. Fortinet says attackers have registered 19,000 e-commerce themed domains in all.  

So, what does a typical scam look like? According to the BBB Scam Tracker: 

• The scammers first set up a clone retail site.  

• When you visit the site and enter your credit card info to make a purchase, you get a “payment declined” message.  

• The scammers then use your card to rack up thousands of dollars in fraudulent charges. One victim reported that their card was used to pay for limos, meals, and hotels – to the tune of $4,500. 

Your defense playbook:  

• Always check the URL to see if an extra word or character has been added. Cloned sites are often slightly misspelled. 

• Watch for redirection: When you click the link, are you redirected to a totally different URL? 

• Never click on a social media ad. Do a Google search and skip the sponsored listings. Click only on the real search result.  

Fraud recovery scams: The second theft that bleeds you dry 

The setup: After losing money to a scam, you receive a call from someone claiming they can recover your funds – for a fee...

This is devastatingly common. After victims report fraud, new scammers offer to help recover the lost money. They pose as lawyers, IC3 officials, or “recovery specialists.” 

Reaching out via text or email, they request personal info or money to “unlock” the recovery process.  

This is one of the cruelest scams, as it targets people who are already victims and are desperate to recover their losses. 

A recent diabolical scheme involved female personas joining social media groups for fraud victims. There, they directed actual victims to go on Telegram and reach out to a male persona named "Jaime Quin,” the alleged "Chief Director" of IC3. 

Once victims made contact, “Jaime Quin” told them he had recovered their funds and needed their banking info to “return” the funds to them. 

Your defense playbook:  

• Legitimate recovery specialists don’t require upfront fees. 

• The FBI will never contact you via email, text, or messaging apps. 

• Never share account info with people you’ve only met online.  

• If you’ve accidentally shared your details and have LastPass advanced MFA, the scammers must overcome this barrier to access your accounts. Don’t have this protection? Get it now with a free LastPass Premium or Business Max trial (no credit card required). 

Sources 

SQ Magazine: Scam statistics 2025: How much money’s lost and what’s coming next

AARP: 2025 holiday scams report

Robotics & automation news: Watch for these 6 red flags before you trust an online business

BBB: Online shopping fraud

BBB: Would you pay to win a prize?

BBB: Payday loan scams and predatory lending

BBB: Is that rental listing real?

Intricate adoption scam operation provides a cautionary tale

BBB: Government imposter scams

BBB: Timeshare and vacation scams

FBI: Beware of charitable fraud related to mass casualty and disaster events

People: Woman conned out of $15K after AI cloned her daughter’s voice in terrifying scam