Scam Glossary
Learn the vocabulary used by scammers and security experts. Understanding these terms will help you identify and avoid scams.
Types of Scams
Different forms of fraud you may encounter
A fraudulent investment scheme where returns for earlier investors are paid using capital from newer...
A business model that recruits members via a promise of payments for enrolling others into the schem...
A type of cryptocurrency scam where developers abandon a project and run away with investors' funds....
A confidence trick where a scammer creates a fake online identity to gain a victim's affection and t...
A sophisticated scam combining romance and investment fraud. Scammers build relationships over month...
A business model where participants earn money by selling products and recruiting new participants. ...
A scam where victims are asked to pay upfront fees in order to receive a larger sum of money later. ...
When operators of a business or project suddenly shut down and disappear with all user funds. Common...
A scam where criminals pretend to be someone else - a celebrity, government official, or someone you...
Fraudulent online stores that take orders and payments but either never ship products, ship counterf...
Fake cryptocurrency airdrops that trick users into connecting their wallets to malicious websites, a...
Techniques
Methods used by scammers to deceive victims
A type of cyber attack that uses fraudulent emails, text messages, or websites to trick people into ...
A scheme where scammers artificially inflate (pump) the price of an asset through false statements a...
A form of phishing that uses SMS text messages to trick victims into clicking malicious links or sha...
Voice phishing - a phone scam where attackers use phone calls to extract personal information or mon...
The psychological manipulation of people into performing actions or divulging confidential informati...
A psychological phenomenon exploited by scammers where victims fear missing a profitable opportunity...
Financial Terms
Financial vocabulary useful for understanding investment scams
Security
Cybersecurity terms to protect yourself online
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