Beware of These Common Scams

If you seem to hear about more scams these days, you’re not imagining it. Cyber fraudsters scammed Americans out of nearly $21 billion in 2025, up from $1 billion in 2015, according to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.

According to FBI’s 2025 data, consumers filed the most complaints about following scams.

Phishing and spoofing

In a phishing scam, you get an e-mail that appears to be from a source you trust, such as your bank or a retailer you love. But that e-mail actually came from a cybercriminal who hopes to trick you into handing over sensitive personal information. (If the scammer instead sends a text, it’s called smishing.)

The e-mail or text might claim that there’s a problem with your account information or there’s been suspicious activity on your account. To fix it, you may be asked to click a link or open an attachment. When you do, the scammer gets access to your personal information.

Phishing scammers use spoofing to convince you that a text or e-mail is coming from someone you know. They may change one letter of the person’s (or organization’s) e-mail address, for example.

Learn more about phishing and how to protect yourself against it.

Investment scams

Investment scammers lure you in by promising easy riches. Some claim to have gotten wealthy investing in cryptocurrency, then invite you to invest too. Or they might try to sell you their signature strategy for making money by investing in financial markets or real estate.

Investment scammers often reach out to potential victims on social media or even on dating apps. They usually promise big money with little to no risk. If you ask questions, they may be vague about the investment or rush you to make a quick decision. And once you hand over your money, they disappear quickly, without a trace.

Learn how to avoid investment scams.

Non-payment and non-delivery

Imagine discovering a great deal on the laptop you want. You place your order online and eagerly await your new laptop — but it never arrives. If this happens, you may be the victim of a non-delivery scam.

First, contact the seller to check on it. (Shipping delays do happen.) If the seller won’t resolve the issue, you have recourse, thanks to The Fair Credit Billing Act. Under this legislation, certain disputed credit card charges — including charges for items you didn’t receive — are treated as billing errors.

Here’s how to dispute the charge:

• Write to your credit card issuer within 60 days of the first credit card bill that includes the error. Need help? Use the FTC’s sample letter and include a copy of the receipt. It’s best to send the letter certified mail and request a return receipt so you’ll know it arrived.
• Your credit card company must acknowledge your complaint within 30 days of receiving it.
• Your card issuer must resolve the dispute within 90 days of receiving your letter.

A non-payment scam, on the other hand, happens when you ship goods or services online but never get paid.

If you sell online, take these steps to avoid trouble:

• If you sell goods via an online marketplace, make sure the website has a URL that contains https.
• Make sure you know who you’re selling to before shipping products. If you sell on a marketplace like eBay, check the buyer’s feedback rating. Avoid selling to a buyer who has low ratings or no ratings.
• Avoid buyers who make odd requests, such as asking that their package be shipped in a specific way to avoid customs or taxes in another country.

Got scammed? Report it.

If you’ve been cyber scammed, report it to your local police as well as to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Tech and customer support scams

If your bank calls to say that there’s a problem with your account, or your software provider sends a text to alert you about a virus on your device, you’ll naturally want to cooperate with them to resolve the issue.

But beware: a scammer might have sent that message. Tech support scammers might offer to fix the problem and charge a fee. Or they may request access to your computer to fix it — then steal your personal data or money. Scammers typically create a sense of urgency, pressuring you to act right away, so you don’t have time to think things through.

Learn how to avoid tech support scams and what to do if you’re a victim.

Government impersonation

Some scammers pose as government officials. You might get an e-mail, text, or social media message that appears to be from the IRS, for example, claiming that you owe taxes. Or you could get a message from Social Security, saying that there’s a problem with your account or claiming that you can increase your benefits.

The message will then ask you to either share your personal information or pay them. They’ll warn that if you don’t, there will be consequences.

Government agencies never call, text, or reach out to you on social media to request personal information or money. Learn more about how to spot and avoid government scams.