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We all know how it feels to be duped by another person. And in this day and age of technology, many of us have smartened up to detect a scam from a mile away. 

Yet, many fraudsters continue to strike using the internet as their primary tool. Fortunately, there are people online who expose their behavior and how they operate. 

We’ve collected some of the best screenshots showing scammers at work. Many of these are blatantly silly, and they may feel like an insult to your intelligence. Nonetheless, they are entertaining enough and worth spending a few moments of your spare time on.

#1

Someone Is Using My Girlfriend's Recently Deceased Cat's Pictures To Scam People On Gofundme

Gofundme scam example with a cat fundraising page and TikTok profile suggesting a possible deceptive campaign.

What the hell is wrong with people, my girlfriend's cat passed away due to smoke inhalation from a fire on October 31 2024 and people are using it to scam for donations.

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    #2

    Miami Restaurant Attempts To Scam Extra Tip

    Service charge receipt showing subtotal, 20% charge, tax, and tip, with total amount. Possible scam example.

    Was at Miami restaurant with 4 adults and a baby. When our “check” came, the waiter reads out loud the itemized list from his wireless POS device, and I said “sounds good.” He hands me the device to pay, and the only thing I see onscreen is $175.33 total and a keypad screen to add tip to this amount. No itemized list, no pricing breakdown. Just $175.33. Naturally I try to tip the 20% and write $35 but the screen calculated that as 25% tip. I thought that was strange so I kept guessing tip amounts until $28 rounded close to 20%. Again I had to guess because there was no price breakdown and the payment screen was the most confusing I’ve ever see on a POS. Finally make the payment and email myself the receipt.

    Finally get back to the hotel and the emailed receipt thankfully had the entire pricing breakdown and I see there was already a 20% service charge on the bill that the server never told us about and I guess expected customers to blindly add a secondary tip hoping they wouldn’t read the receipt. I found this extremely unethical and I demanded the second tip back. Just remember to always check your receipts!

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    Panda-sized Potato
    Community Member
    1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That's why I always triple check a bill before paying. Mistakes happen, but that's pure greed. Seriously, 20% for 4 adults and a baby?

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    Even if people are smart enough to recognize a scam, swindlers can still fool even the most cognizant minds. All it takes is the proper messaging from a supposedly credible source. 

    According to psychologist Dr. Robert Cuyler, these crooks use professional language and mirror the communication styles of trusted authorities, even family and friends. 

    "Once trust is gained, victims are more likely to comply with instructions without scrutiny,” Dr. Cuyler told Very Well Mind.

    #4

    This One Made Me Laugh

    Fake profile scam pretending to be a famous person requesting money via message.

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    Panda-sized Potato
    Community Member
    1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Well, obviously this one is real. It says so in handle, along with four 1s. Hee Hee!

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    #6

    Two “College Kids” Selling Chocolate Outside Of Target Said They Were Gonna Charge Me $5, Ended Up Trying To Scam Almost A Grand

    "Notification of declined $975 charge from Wells Fargo Bank, highlighting shameless scams in banking alerts."

    Luckily im broke as heck and was notified immediately of it declining.
    As a recent graduate, I thought I was supporting two kids going through it right now. Ended up calling the police to hopefully have them sent away.

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    Fear is one of the most primal emotions that can make us take action in a heartbeat. According to biopsychologist Dr. Mary Poffenroth, scammers use tactics such as threats of legal action or financial loss to push their victims into their trap. 

    “Our capacity for critical thinking and logical decision-making suffers under a state of anxiety,” she explained. 

    #7

    I Finally Started My Own Business And Got It Listed On Google Maps. I Was Thrilled Until This Started Happening Every Single Day

    Smartphone screen showing multiple "Scam Likely" calls in the recent contacts list.

    I don't even want to answer the phone anymore because it's always a recording asking about "something wrong with my Google account" and I know it's a scam. But I also want to be able to speak to my customers so I guess I'm just stuck in spam call hell forever now.

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    sfgothgirl
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Your friend Scam Likely seems a little obsessed.

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    #8

    I Fell For A Scam

    Sign warning about shameless scams, advising people to beware of fraud tactics involving pressure and cryptocurrency.

    Phone scam. Apparently I had warrants for missing court. They knew my name, my preferred name, signature, and home addresses.

    They told me they were my local sheriff, I had to pay bail and submit to a signature analysis but if I hadn't paid first I would be cuffed and jailed for 72 hrs before appearing before a judge. They kept me on the phone for literal hours while I drove around trying to get $9300. I had my kid with me. They threatened me with jail and cps. The told me there was a gag order on my case and if I mentioned even that the money was for bail cops would arrest me. They told me there were officers within 3-5 blocks at all times to arrest me if I don't comply. They tried to get me to cash app them when I wasn't able to get anymore money out of atms. When that didn't work they then had me go to a bitcoin ATM ( they called it a state bail machine). Thats when I saw a sign describing my exact situation. I told the cashier I wasn't sure if this was legit and the scammer got irrate. Screaming threats including, cops, swat, labeling me as armed and dangerous, 1-5 years in jail, life in jail, and CPS taking my kid. I had the cashier call 911 because I was still terrified to hang up the phone. Then the scammers hung up. I sat in my car shaking for the next 10 minutes not sure who was coming cops I called or the swat ready for a fight.

    I'm not a dumb person but it all felt so real. Now typing this I'm like " dude how did you fall for all these red flags". I was just trying to do the right thing. I've already made a police report, notified my banks, signed up for credit monitoring. I just wanted to warn people.

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    Roxy222uk
    Community Member
    1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm so glad that sign was there for you to see in the nick of time. It all sounds so harrowing.

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    #9

    Can't Use My $200 Printer And $50 Ink Because I Haven't Subscribed To This This "Optional" Service. Such A Scam

    HP Instant Ink prompt warns of unusable cartridges without enrollment, highlighting potential scam concerns.

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    Nad.nad
    Community Member
    1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yeah, I decided to not have a printer anymore. It's sick. If I need to print something I just go to the copy place, now.

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    Many scammers also take stabs in the dark, waiting until someone falls for their schemes. As UNSW Sydney lecturer Dr. KF Cheung stated in an interview with the school publication, they take advantage of the lack of awareness about their scams, which are still prevalent. 

    “People inadvertently increase their chances of falling victim to scams by staying uninformed,” Dr. Cheung said.

    #10

    Details Were Stolen From A Selling Page And Used To Book A Car Rental. Email I Received When I Cancelled The Booking

    Email screenshot showing a potential scam about reactivating car payment.

    So I got scammed and went through the fraud team at my bank to cancel / reverse transactions. Police involved.

    One was for a foreign car company rental who I called and cancelled a booking after explaining.

    The cheek of sending me an email in broken English and trying to guilt me about their father!

    The hee hee to say was more than mildly infuriating.

    T33FMEISTER Report

    #11

    Ordered A $1000 Graphics Card From Amazon, Received 4 Cans Of Beef Ravioli

    Graphics card box opened to reveal cans inside; a possible shameless scam unfolds.

    It showed up, in the sealed amazon box, and inside that the graphics card box still had intact security stickers and shrinkwrap. Taking it up with support, but also screaming internally for fear that they'll think I'm the one scamming and won't refund or replace.

    King_Carmine Report

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    Patrick H
    Community Member
    1 day ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    No, this happens a lot. They'll let you return it. I think what happens is that if the seller ships something/anything, they'll get paid. Some people don't follow through and talk to customer service out of fear/laziness/ignorance. Eventually, someone will report them, but by then, they got a few bucks, close the account, and start a new one. Amazon must have a shìtty vetting process (or none at all).

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    #12

    My Dad Got One Of The Scam Stickers

    Smartphone with an anti-radiation sticker scam, held over a desk with calendar in background.

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    Brittania Kelli
    Community Member
    1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    'Japanese technology.' There are really cute and sparkly stickers coming out of Japan, Japanese sticker technology is pretty great.

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    Dr. Cheung advises keeping a skeptical mindset because people will always find a way to take advantage of someone. This especially applies to unexpected offers that are too good to be true. As he reminds us, there is no harm in questioning the legitimacy of such claims. 

    #13

    Scammer Getting Slightly More Creative

    Text message scam claiming to be from the FBI agent about package and arrest.

    Tiki985 Report

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    Multa Nocte
    Community Member
    1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That is EXACTLY how I would expect the FBI to word an e-mail. Oh, this one seems legit! 😂

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    #14

    Do Not Click The Link. If Your iPhone Is Stolen And You Get A New One, This Is A Phishing Scam To Confirm Your Apple ID And Asks You To Log In So They Get Your Password

    Text message scam claiming iPhone found, urging visit to suspicious link.

    CostiveFlicker Report

    #15

    Biggest Scam/Most Ingenious Invention In History. Probably Been Through Over 10 Of These Adaptors Since They Got Rid Of The Headphone Jack

    A white headphone adapter on a gray marble surface, associated with shameless scams.

    AssadShal Report

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    GhostlySnail (she/her)
    Community Member
    1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I have to use one of these for my phone and the worst part is they stopped selling them. I spent like two days trying to get one when my last one broke

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    It also helps to know the blatant red flags of a scam. The United States Postal Inspection Service listed them in a PDF document, one of which is a payment request, where someone would ask you to send them money in different forms. 

    These people will also have a questionable sense of urgency, whether they badger you to send the money as soon as possible or force you to collect a prize immediately.

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    #16

    Received A Ring In The Mail - Is This A Scam?

    Ring in red box with GRA card, labeled moissanite, may be a scam. Warranty details shown, raising authenticity questions.

    A few weeks ago, I received this ring in the mail. It was addressed to me, but I did not order it. It did not come with any explanation, no enticement to order more. The band is adjustable, and the metal seems cheap - it’s definitely not gold or precious metal.
    This is all that came with it - that card, and the envelope it was contained in. When I went to the QR code, it gave a 403 Forbidden.

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    ƒιѕн
    Community Member
    1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Its a brushing scam, it involves receiving unsolicited packages from online retailers or third-party sellers. These packages often contain inexpensive or random items you didn’t order, such as socks, phone cases, or small gadgets. While it might seem harmless to receive free items, there’s more to this scam than meets the eye. In a brushing scam, sellers use your address to create fake orders and post positive reviews under your name. This deceitful practice boosts their ratings and makes their products appear more popular, giving them a competitive edge in online marketplaces.

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    #17

    Amazon Is Scamming People With AI Now

    Plush gorilla-shaped sofa in living room setting, priced at $9,997, highlighting potential scam.

    For $10,000 no less. This should honestly be made illegal.

    Buunuuhnuhnuhnuhnuh Report

    #18

    I Received A Scam Text After Posting For Help To Find My Lost Cat

    Text message scam involving a lost pet, asking for $10 via Cash App.

    Dalo600 Report

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    Earonn -
    Community Member
    1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Play along, meet in person, beat this PoS to mush, feed mush to the cat you hopefully get back

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    Another reminder from the US Federal Trade Commission is to resist the urge to act immediately. As the FTC points out, an honest business would give consumers ample time to make a decision. 

    If an unsettling gut feeling arises during an interaction with a potential scammer, it may be best to step back and listen.

    #19

    Found This Scam On Facebook

    Facebook ad for a free PS5 in the UK, original price £499 slashed to £0, promoting potential scams.

    tommy_rugrats Report

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    Bogdan C
    Community Member
    1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Well, apply!!! Local LAWN Enforcement is a legit government agency, right?! :))

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    #20

    I’ve Noticed People Sharing Scam Texts Recently. I Decided To Play Along

    "Text message exchange revealing a shameless scam with humorous and unexpected responses."

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    ƒιѕн
    Community Member
    1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Wrong Number Scam. Scammers will try to strike up innocent conversation to establish a friendship. This may go on for weeks or even months before the scammer uses this bond to lure you into their schemes, such as cryptocurrency investment scams.

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    #21

    Daily Reminder That Hp Is A Scam. Ink Cartridges Come With 75% Empty Space

    Empty HP ink cartridge beside cover on notebook, representing potential scams.

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    Panda-sized Potato
    Community Member
    1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Standard cartridge, yes. The XL cartridges have more ink. They both use the same size to fit in the cartridge slot.

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    #22

    Phone Was Dying And I Was In A Hurry, And Didn't Get The Chance To Read It Properly Until I Got Home

    Purple one-time use power bank, a potential scam product, on a dark textured surface.

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    Panda-sized Potato
    Community Member
    1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If it was bought from one of those vending machines, then, yeah, you are getting cheap emergency power. They say they are one-use on the machines.

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    #23

    Scammed

    eBay case closed email, no refund issued, reflecting a potential shameless scam experience for the customer.

    Bought a speaker on eBay. I was really excited about it. It was quite expensive but was excited still. UPS had two tracking orders, one said it was delivered. I had checked and it wasn’t there. Looked again on eBay and there was a second tracking saying it would come two days later. Thought it was weird but waited patiently. Then when it was supposed to be delivered it wasn’t. Checked my cameras, talked to my neighbors, had them check their cameras. Nothing came from it. Called ups they told me to wait for the next day to have them call me back. Never got the call. Called them, they said it was delivered to the wrong address. The guy told me the address yet he’s not supposed to. I called the place, it was an iPhone repair store. They said there was no package. Called eBay they had me wait 5 days before letting me know that they won’t give me a refund so to it saying delivered. Yet it wasn’t at my address. UPS confirms that it wasn’t at my address, yet they don’t care. They say the seller sent it purposefully to somewhere else. So they delivered it there. So I’m paid for litterally a massive headache. Never buying anything from eBay again. This scam seems to be foolproof.

    PoonSlime Report

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    Patrick H
    Community Member
    1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Not foolproof. You can do a chargeback through your credit card company or PayPal or possibly Venmo (though I've never used Venmo on eBay).

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    #24

    Some Dude Tried To Chat Up/Impress My Friend With His Signed Tiger Woods Driver… Except It’s Not

    Golf club with fake signature scam, showing mismatched autographs as a possible shameless trick.

    Seeresss Report

    #25

    Double Jerk

    Woman claiming game earnings and bingo scam screenshot.

    The ad in this app claims you win real money and shows videos and reviews of people saying it’s not a scam and they earn 100s of dollars a day. Then in the fine print, says it’s all for illustration purposes only. THEN they misspell “no rewards” on purpose to “now rewards”.

    WholeTop2150 Report

    #26

    I Received A Zelle Payment Of $530 By Someone I Don’t Know

    Fake notifications claiming $530 received via Zelle. Potential scam alert for bank account holders.

    I woke up this morning with a pleasing surprise, $530 into my account sent to me by someone I don’t know. I confirm the money is liquid and the notifications are legitimate. Soon, the man contacted me claiming it was an accident and to help him by sending it back.

    I am aware of the scams where you send the money back and then they chargeback your account through support. I haven’t sent them anything back. I declined and told them to contact their bank.

    What would you do? How long should I keep the money if it isn’t taken from me?

    Mammoth-Address634 Report

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    Panda-sized Potato
    Community Member
    1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Block the number. Free money. Sit on it for a month before touching it, in case it does get pulled. Maybe talk to the bank and/or lawyer for more information about it.

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    #27

    Amazon Package Was Dropped Off Outside At 7am. Someone Opened It And Stole The Contents Then Left This Scam Support Note

    Person holding a scam letter offering replacements without returns, showcasing a shameless scam tactic.

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    Rudo
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You know what I do when a scammer supplies his email? I go to PINTEREST and sign up that address to every email catalog I can find. I blow up their in-box. I love petty revenge! A scammer once sent me his address, I sent pictures back on Google Maps of his house and the nearest police station.

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    #28

    Using The Dutch Prime Minister To Promote Your Scam App

    Man in a suit smiling, holding a phone showing a shameless scam game with coins floating around.

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    Beak Hookage
    Community Member
    1 day ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I am NOT interested in anything to do with your balls, mister.

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    #29

    Ah Yes, Scamming People Who Are Gullible Business 101

    Man surprised by free Milwaukee tools offer, hinting at shameless scams.

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    DennyS (denzoren)
    Community Member
    1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Once the thumbnail looks like this, I automatically don't watch it...and that applies to any sort of channel or video.

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    #30

    Got A Gift Card For Christmas. When I Opened It The Glue Ripped Off The Last Few Characters, Making It Unusable. What A Waste Of $50

    Person holding an Amazon gift card, exposing potential scam details and instructions for redeeming online.

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    Note: this post originally had 92images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.

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    Poll Question

    What is your primary way of detecting online scams?

    Gut feeling

    Research

    Advice from others

    Experience