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Scam library
Browse every Be Scam Wise article in one place.
Search by keyword or filter by topic to quickly find guidance on phishing, impersonation, travel scams, Medicare fraud, relationship scams, and more.
The AI Grandparent Scam: When a Loved One's Voice Is a Fake
The call sounds exactly like your grandchild because scammers now clone voices with AI. Learn how this upgraded grandparent scam works, why it is so convincing, and the simple family plan (including a code word) that stops it cold.
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AI Voice Cloning & Impersonation Scams
AI voice cloning scams sound like science fiction, but they are very real. Thanks to advances in artificial intelligence, scammers can now mimic voices – sometimes even your loved ones’ voices – with frightening accuracy. The
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Home Improvement & Contractor Scams
Hey there, Scam Wise readers! Ready to talk about scams that literally hit close to home? Let's talk about home improvement and contractor scams. These fraudsters may knock on your door or happen upon you after a storm, offering to fix your roof, pave your driveway, or remodel your kitchen
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Sextortion Scams Targeting Teens
Sextortion scams targeting teens are a tough but crucial topic – especially for parents, grandparents, and educators. These scams are truly heartbreaking – predators trick or coerce teenagers (and even younger kids) into sharing explicit images, then blackmail them. It’s a serious and
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Employment & Job Scams (Task-Based and Boss Impersonation)
Scams can target us in the workplace or during the job hunt. Whether you’re looking for a side gig online or you’re an employee who might get a weird request from “the boss,” employment scams are big business
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Green Energy & Solar Panel Scams
Hello Scam Wise friends! Solar panels and green energy upgrades are more popular than ever – who doesn’t love saving money and the planet? But unfortunately, scammers love to prey on our enthusiasm for “going green.” In this newsletter, we’re focusing on green energy scams , especially those “too-good-to-be-true”
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Small Business Impersonation Scams
Business impersonation scams happen when crooks pretend to be a trusted company or organization to trick you. These scams are everywhere: the “Amazon” call about a supposed order, the “utility company” threatening to cut power, even fake “tech support”
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Pet Adoption & Puppy Purchase Scams
Hello Scam Wise readers! Are you or someone you know looking to add a furry friend to the family? Adopting or buying a pet should be a joyful experience, but sadly, pet scams are running rampant online. Scammers post adorable puppy photos or heart-wrenching rescue stories to tug at
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Government Grant and Loan Scams
Hello Scam Wise readers! Ready to talk about “free money” scams? Because that’s what government grant and loan scams promise – and they’re almost always phony. Scammers love to pose as government agencies or officials offering grants, special loans, or pandemic relief, especially targeting people who could use a financial
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Fake Delivery and Package Fee Scams
Fake delivery and package fee scams have hit almost all of us. You know the drill – a text or email says, “Your package is on hold due to unpaid fees” or “Click to reschedule delivery.” In today’s online
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Subscription Renewal & Refund Scams
Everyone has seen scams that clutter our inboxes and ring our phones all the time: subscription renewal scams and fake refund scams. You’ve probably seen emails saying “Your antivirus subscription is about to renew, click here to cancel” or gotten voicemails like “This is
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Dating App & Romance Scams
Matters of the heart can make even careful people vulnerable to scammers. We’re talking about dating app and romance scams . Whether you’re swiping on Tinder, Mingling on Match, or know someone looking
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Student & Job Scams
Welcome to Scam Wise. This guide is for students, job-seekers, and anyone looking for new opportunities. Hunting for a job or scholarship is exciting but can also open you up to scammers who prey on your ambitions. Fake job offers, fraudulent internships, bogus student loan “helpers” –
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Outsmarting Online Phishing and Tech Scams
Online scams and tech trickery are everywhere, and too many North Americans are encountering them. From phony tech support calls to sneaky phishing emails, scammers are constantly trying to weasel their way into our digital lives. We’re here with friendly guidance on
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Staying Ahead of Impersonation Scams
Impersonation scams are one of the most pervasive threats. These are scams where criminals pretend to be someone trustworthy – a government agent, a bank employee, or even a distressed family member – to trick you. It’s friendly advice from
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Online Marketplaces and Shopping Scams
Scammers lurk in the digital shadows of online marketplaces and e-commerce – buy-and-sell groups, auction sites, and retail websites. North Americans are buying everything from sofas to smartphones via Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, eBay, Kijiji, and dozens
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Cybersecurity 101 – Defending Your Digital Life
Scammers are active on the cyber side of fraud, using hacking, data breaches, and account takeovers. It might sound high-tech, but fear not: you don’t need to be a computer wizard to protect yourself. A few clear habits will
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Protecting Seniors from Scams
This guide is especially for those of us caring for seniors – or who are seniors ourselves (though the advice is useful for everyone). Scammers often target older adults with cruel tricks – from the classic “grandparent scam” to Medicare frauds. Let’s talk about how to create a safety net around
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Spotting Investment and Crypto Scams
Watch out for investment scams – those offers that promise to make you rich, but only make the scammers richer – and the world of cryptocurrency cons. From bogus stock tips to “friendship” turned fraud, we’ve got a lot
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Health/Medicare Scam Awareness
Welcome to Scam Wise. This guide focuses on healthcare and Medicare scams that often target seniors and vulnerable patients. Scammers exploit our health concerns and trust in medical providers – from fake Medicare representatives to bogus “free” medical services. We’re here with friendly guidance to help you or
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Travel Scam Safety
Greetings from Scam Wise. As travel picks up, so do travel-related scams. Whether you’re planning a relaxing vacation or visiting family, scammers have “travel deals” and fake bookings lying in wait. Let’s explore common travel scams (online and on the road), share a real cautionary tale, and
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Authority Impersonation Scams
This guide covers scams where criminals impersonate authorities – think IRS agents, police officers, court officials, or tech support from big companies. Few things are as frightening as getting a call that “you’re in trouble with the law” or “your bank account will
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Charity Scam Awareness
Giving to charity is a beautiful thing – and scammers exploit it. When disaster strikes or the holidays arrive, many of us open our hearts and wallets to help those in need. Scammers know this and are ready with
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Holiday & Seasonal Scams
The holidays bring giving, shopping, and celebration – and unfortunately, they also bring scammers. Seasonal scams spike around the holidays: from fake online deals on Black Friday, to charity cons at
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Safeguarding Seniors – Protecting Older Adults from Scams
Our parents, grandparents, and senior friends have a wealth of life experience, but they didn’t grow up with today’s technology – and criminals exploit that learning curve. Seniors are often targeted by scammers through phone calls, mail,
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Vacation & Travel Scams – Don’t Let Fraudsters Ruin Your Trip
Summer or winter, scammers never take a vacation. In fact, they target your vacations! Whether you’re booking a trip, renting a vacation home, or just daydreaming about a free cruise, stay alert so your relaxation time isn’t spoiled by fraud. Scam #1: Fake Vacation
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Looking Ahead – Emerging Scams and Final Fraud-Fighting Tips
Let’s look at where scams are heading – and the habits that will keep you safe. Scammers are always evolving, using new technology like artificial intelligence to craft tricks. But don’t worry: while tactics change, the core ways to protect yourself
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Stay Safe on Social Media & Email – Online Presence Under Attack
Scams exploit our everyday online communication – from social media scams to sneaky frauds in your email inbox. Social networks and emails connect us with friends and information, but they also
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Too Good to Be True: Why Classic Investment Scams Still Work
The promise sounds perfect: a guaranteed return, a secret tip, an opportunity that won’t last. It’s the oldest trick in the book – and it still works, because hope is a powerful thing. Investment scams led to an astonishing $5.7 billion in reported losses in 2024 – more than any other type of fraud.
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Work-from-Home or Job Offer
Job and employment scams target you when you’re looking for work or easy income. With many people seeking flexible or remote jobs, scammers have swooped in. Reports of job-related scams have nearly tripled from 2020 to 2024, with losses
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Ring, Ring – It’s a Scam Calling (Phone & Tech Support Cons)
Your phone vibrates. The caller ID might even show a local number or a name like “Tech Support.” But is it legit? It could be a phone scam – from relentless robocalls to those fake tech support pop-ups that urge you to call
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The Taxman & Government Impersonator Scams
Scams that pose as authorities are among the most frightening. Fraudsters often impersonate government officials – IRS agents, border services, police, you name it – to scare you into paying. These imposter scams are actually the most commonly reported scams in the U.S., with over 850,000 reports in
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Guarding Your Identity – How to Prevent Identity Theft
This newsletter is all about identity theft , which is often called “the scam of all scams.” That’s because having your identity stolen can lead to many kinds of fraud – credit cards opened in your name, loans, tax filings, even criminals impersonating you if they
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Matters of the Heart – Romance Scams & Online Imposters
Some scams prey on a kind heart. Romance scams and social media imposters are rampant, and they can fool even the savviest among us. In fact, romance scam victims lost over $1 billion in 2023
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Spotting Phishing Scams
Welcome to Be Scam Wise. We’ll help you stay one step ahead of fraudsters by breaking down common scams and how to avoid them. Scams are on the rise – U.S. consumers reported losing a staggering $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, with
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