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“We Have Literally So Much Information Now”: 35 Massive Scams People Are Still Buying Into
Interview
I have a huge business opportunity that you’re going to love! You’ll be earning six figures, have flexible hours and be able to work from anywhere in the world. All you have to do is invest $5,000 up front, and I guarantee that you’ll earn it back in no time!
If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. But unfortunately, plenty of people fall for scams every single day. Whether it’s a “Nigerian prince” sliding into their DMs or a grandchild begging Nana to cover their hospital bills, scams are running rampant all over the globe. To raise awareness for some of these schemes, Redditors have recently been discussing common scams people fall victim to, as well as things that are absolute wastes of money. Enjoy scrolling through this list, and be sure to upvote the things you would never give a dollar to!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Prosperity Gospel Preachers.
Battarray:
Specifically Joel Osteen and his ilk. They're why we should be taxing performative mega-churches like they live off of.
iseefractals 2 days ago
All of them. Not just the greediest mega churches. All of them. Housing every homeless person in the U.S would cost $20 billion per year. The sum total untaxed money taken in by churches each year in the U.S , is $75 billion. Churches could fund those housing costs, and give every one of the 550,000 homeless people in the U.S a salary of $31,000 a year, and they'd still have $37.5 billion left over.
#2
Religion.
Anton Burger 1 day ago
I am always taken aback how anti-religion this site is, and specifically anti-Christian this site is. It seems that when it comes to religion, this site is a free for all to say what they please. I've never seen so much hate spread in the name of anti-religion as on this site.
#3
Scientology.
Michael P (Perthaussieguy) 2 days ago
A 'Religion' founded by a Science Fiction writer. It was/is all about the $$$, lol
To find out how this conversation started in the first place, we reached out to HurtHurtsMe, the Reddit user who posed the question, "What do you consider to be the biggest scam?” They were kind enough to have a chat with Bored Panda and explain what inspired them to start this thread.
"With the holiday season and change in weather, it’s hard seeing clothing prices jump around," the author shared. "A jacket could be $50 original price but on sale for $22. Then the next day, it’s the lowest price of the season sale! 50% off. Same jacket is marked back to $50 with 50% off to equal $25. If you are not actively stalking pricing, you could get scammed into what you think is a good deal based on retail messaging."
#4
Health insurance in America. Paying $400 monthly only to still have a $5000 deductible and argue with insurance companies about 'in-network' doctors. It's basically paying for the privilege of paying more.
TCW Sam Vimes 1 day ago
The USA is insane on several levels. This is in the top three. Right after selling guns to every idiot and what they call election system where the wealthy buy the president they want.
#5
Funerals, weddings, and pretty much every other thing we blindly accept have to be insanely expensive without even thinking about it.
#6
Tipping and tip workers, tip shame, tip expectations.
THE_Lena:
This! Their income should be paid by their employer not the customer.
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 2 days ago (edited)
You should only tip for exceptional service and if you can afford it. A £20 or $20 meal should be just that, no extra for a tip needed.
When it comes to what the OP considers to be the biggest scam, they shared, "Higher Education costs are outrageous."
On average, it costs students in the United States $108,584 to attend college for 4 years, and they can spend even more if they go to school outside of their home state or at a private university.
#7
The wealth is going to "trickle down".
#8
Having to pay for daily parking at your place of employment.
#9
"Detoxing" your gut/armpits/body. Your body does it for you if you're a healthy individual. Most of the bacteria in your gut is beneficial and necessary.
We were also curious what the author thought of the replies to their post. "I agree that eye glasses costs are a scam," HurtHurtsMe said.
And as far as avoiding scams, the OP recommends that consumers do their own research "and not take things at face value."
#10
"Grandma? I'm calling from the police/hospital. Can you send me money?
#11
I think unrealistic beauty standards pushed by media are the biggest scam.
#12
Organic food in the U.S.
The regulations have been so watered down as to be meaningless….
Leading_Preparation6:
Happy to see this. It was my thesis topic and it’s definitely not what people think it is. Buy the “cheaper” version or grow your own because the USDA organic label means next to nothing.
Mason Kronol 2 days ago
I still don’t understand the “organic” section in produce at our local grocery store it upsells looks the same or worse than everything else and isn’t labeled on where it came from.
#13
The Mormon "Church" - check out the r/exmormon subreddit for more details.
It is a real estate and securities hedge fund masquerading as a church in order to maintain tax exemption.
iseefractals 2 days ago
They're all scams. It's absolutely insane to me that 30 years on from everyone finding out that the catholic church was (and continues to be) complicit in child molestation for....like 70 years. All the nuns stealing, selling, and either killing or covering up the deaths of babies. Missionaries going to africa during the aids crisis, telling them that condoms are sinful while also handing out injectable meds/vaccines.....while using the same dirty needles for who knows how many people at a time. Every single religion is filled with one horrific story after another.
#14
Printer ink. My printer cost $50 but replacing all the cartridges costs $75. Make it make sense.
Barong 2 days ago
Yep typical Razor and blades business model. Same with many pod based coffee machines. So much waste, so much plastic. Bought a an epson et 5880 eco tank printer and it was significantly more expensive than printers with cartridges, but I have less waste, ink is cheap and interchangeable with aftermarket inks so could be even cheaper and it’s a great printer. Great business printer. Almost as fast as our laser printer.
#15
Multi level marketing schemes. We have literally so much information now about how they are predatory. It’s disgusting how a lot of them target low income mothers who feel guilty about spending time away from home to work and earn a living.
life-love:
Not gonna lie, I attended one of those pyramid scheme meetings at my friend's insistence and man it was filled with low-income people and the whole thing was clearly targeted at them. Felt really bad seeing how they were being sold dreams of earning a lot of money and stuff. Such a scam.
BookFanatic 1 day ago
I was a blissfully unaware late teen/early 20s jobseeker who found a really great deal selling knives. And if I got some of my friends and family to buy my knives, they could also learn to sell them! And I'd even get some of the money they made! My parents had to explain what, exactly, the problem was.
#16
My stepfather texted me a year ago saying "your mom and I won a lottery, we just need to go to the store to get some cards to pay for the taxes". Like cmon man, I know you are smarter than this. Thankfully enough all I had to do is ask him why would they make you use gift cards to pay taxes instead of just paying the IRS? He immediately connected the dots.
Melissa Harris 2 days ago
Did you also tell him to make an appointment with his doctor? First signs of cognitive decline and dementia is often falling for obvious scams that a oetson wouldn't have previously.
#17
Fake, RICH celebrities on Facebook begging for money.
cbostwick94:
The number of times "Vin Diesel" has confessed his love to my mother on Facebook is wild. Man has a LOT of accounts
#18
The email/text “this is the United Postal Service, your package has been delayed, we need you to verify name, address, and card information for delivery” gotten those dozens of times when I don’t have any packages on the way, but a ton of friends have fallen for it.
Child of the Stars 2 days ago
I've recently started getting similar texts about my "order from Amazon" being canceled because of "the seller's reason." I haven't used my Amazon account since I canceled my Prime subscription 3 years ago.
#19
Payday loans. The interest rates are atrocious. They prey on the poor.
BugABoo 1 day ago
I feel the same way about rent-a-center. I get it is helpful to some who need things but can't afford them but the over charging is ridiculous. If you could just put aside the amount they want you to pay weekly/monthly you can buy what you need in a few week or months instead of paying $1000 for a $100 product.
#20
That one where you get a random “wrong number” text from a gorgeous woman who wants to get to know you. I promise no actual women want to get to know a random stranger they accidentally texted.
Bob Brooce 2 days ago
Generally very good advice. It was before texting was a thing, but a glass artist named Josh Simpson (makes some amazing stuff) once answered a wrong number call from a woman who happens to be an astronaut. I've never found out exactly how the call went, but they're married. I'm not sure if he was already making his "planets" before that, but a lot of his work is inspired by space. Untitled-6...ae95d1.jpg 
#21
Amway, Herbalife and any pseudo-pharma-sounding c**p.
Yellow dot 1 day ago (edited)
My darling cousin has been pushing keto products on instagram for some MLM scheme for 6 years. First she sold for that stupid "sharp forever" MLM knife company, then it was the romantic sex product MLM company, then it was a different crash diet MLM..... my poor cousin just doesnt understand how she isn't 1. Losing weight on these MLM crash diet companies and 2. Isnt getting promoted or making the money these companies promise she will make.
#22
Paying money to the “IRS” in the form of Apple gift cards.
iseefractals 2 days ago
and after you've done that, kindly send an eight ball and a couple hookers to this no-tell motel.....or you'll be audited.
#23
Literally anything related to the slimy Kenneth Copeland Ministries. That guy is one of the biggest con artists, if not THE biggest, to ever exist in this country.
#24
Ticketmaster.
GrumpyCoo:
Ticketmaster is one of the primary reasons I stopped going to concerts...
#25
“Contractors” that show up to your door unsolicited telling you they’ll do work on your house for super cheap. *Especially* those “working in the area.”
Do your homework on anyone working on your house. Make sure they’re licensed, insured, permitted to work in your state etc.
Remi (He/Him) 2 days ago
Scammers like that have tried my parents more than once. Luckily my mom is more than willing to tell them off, but they can be quite insistent. They usually target older people
Load More Replies...
April Pickett 1 day ago
The "I was in the neighborhood finishing up a project and I noticed...."
Boo 1 day ago
If I need work done on the house, I will do my research and call the company I choose. I don't care if you're in the neighbourhood..... I've lived for over 20 years with the draughty windows, uneven paving slabs etc. Just go away and give me peace.
Jessica SpeLangm 1 day ago
Anyone showing up at my door (internet, energy company, pest company, etc) saying "I can give your whole street a good discount/deal if you sign up with us". Nope.
Der Kommissar 1 day ago
Offering to pave your driveway/parking area for a very low price is also a common scam.
Dog Mom to Zoe 1 day ago
Do research. Find a reputable, licensed and bonded contractor. This way you do have a recourse if something goes wrong.
#26
Chiropractors. I’ve personally cared for two patients with vertebral artery dissections from chiro adjustments. I’ve known one other outside of work.
Rafael 1 day ago
The problem is that there's some actual things you can do to joints and ligaments to reset/realign them whatever, but chiropractors base their practice on pseudoscience - it is like someone giving you plant extracts to balance your "humours" - some, maybe most of them do work, but not for the reasons the "healer" thinks, and when they are wrong, boy do they do some damage.
#27
The Nigerian prince emails.
dude_stfu:
These are intentionally ridiculous / over-the-top / filled with errors. They don’t want to go back and forth with the 99% of people who can sniff out relatively obvious bulls**t. They want that rare, vulnerable 1% who will take the bait and believe it. Phishing is a science.
Roxy222uk 1 day ago
This is what people don't realise. Predators seek out vulnerable prey. They are after people with learning difficulties, dementia, mental health problems, brain injuries, and those that are vulnerable due to loneliness or grief. When people say 'if you fall for it you deserve to be scammed' they are imagining someone like themselves.
#28
"Don’t forget tomorrow starts the new Facebook rule where they can use your photos. Don't forget Deadline today!!! It can be used in court cases in litigation against you. Everything you've ever posted becomes public from today Even messages that have been deleted or the photos not allowed. It costs nothing for a simple copy and paste, better safe than sorry”.
#29
When people say invest in Cryptocurrency.
I'll tell them let me know when you can buy anything in the store or online with it.
#30
Healing crystals. If anything, they've become even more popular recently.
Edit: Having said that, I *have* seen them be very effective as tools to effect introspection and discussion about mental health, basically operating as a fun, dialectical abstraction of psychological concepts that might be too complicated or daunting to address directly. But it's a slippery slope to letting this abstraction become a real, significant part of how you live your life.
#31
The five-day work week.
David Paterson 2 days ago
Australia has a holiday to celebrate the unions for winning the 5 day 40 hour work week.
#32
Buying new iPhones. They’re extremely overpriced.
#33
Being green.
top 10 corporations produce 90% of the pollution. but it always falls on the citizen to be green! buy an ev you can’t afford!!
if everyone is pissing in the pool besides you, are you making a difference?
and i don’t mean to litter freely, everyone should 110% do their part. BUT. it’s crazy to think/ask citizens to completely change their routine day to day life while you still move on private jets/ motorcades.
for those of you jay don’t know. i drive a diesel F250. a new one with modern emission systems. every 5k ish miles i have to buy DEF(Diesel exhaust fluid) for my emissions right?
it comes in a 2.5 gallon plastic jug. with a plastic nosel thats wrapped in plastic in a cardboard box.. so how f*****g much am i helping?… (this is a required chemical on all diesels 2011? 2010? and newer.
#34
How about the scam I fell for :( The fraud department of my bank calling me, alerting me to fraudulent charges happening on my card. I’ve had my identity stolen before, so I wasn’t surprised snd was just grateful they found the charges early on. I googled the number and it was the same # as my bank.
They had identifying info about me that not just anyone would have and asked me verifying questions after that my bank asks me any time I have called them before. It was so, so believable and I was already in a stressed mental state prior to the call. When I called my bank directly the next day, even the employee told me it was legitimate. It wasn’t until I called again that an employee dug into their logs of texts/calls to me that they determined it was fake. Luckily, I was only out about 1.5 hours of my time in total with talking to the scammer, changing card and bank numbers, updating accounts, etc and didn’t lose a dime.
Main lesson I learned: If your bank calls you for ANY reason, hang up and call them directly. Don’t be dumb like me.
Edited to add: When they were sending me texts to verify things / help me add the card alerts to my phone, the confirmation texts came from a number that I’ve gotten legitimate texts from my bank before. They’re too smart!!
Lily Robertson 2 days ago
My "bank" called me about something "suspicious" and wanted my bank info. I said i wasn't comfortable sharing that info when i was being called by a blocked number. She told me that was fine, and that i should call my bank and clear it up. I did. She was real, and there was something suspicious, which we cleared up, but i told them that having someone call like that was insane.
#35
Homeopathy.
Carliebeans:
Right?! My Dad has a friend with serious health issues. He’s under the care of traditional western medicine which has saved his life, and he also has his homeopathic ‘potions’. Guess what he credits for his health?
Rafael 1 day ago (edited)
Homeopathy has one (and ONLY one) thing going for it, in that the "doctor" treat their patients with respect and care - it is one of their "dogmas", it seems. Considering that most patients have no idea how homeopathy supposedly "works", the placebo effect plus the "therapy" session with a trusted "doctor" might in fact produce some results. This is not to condone homeopathy in any way, there are still big bucks preying on ignorance, but our real "western" medicine could learn a thing or two about the value of respect towards the patient.
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Steve Robert 12 hours ago
And tens of millions of people fall for it. It's just so sad!
Load More Replies...
Daniel Gómez 1 day ago
They forgot to include (unless I skipped it unknowingly) AI generated "art" that is passed as an artist's physical and actual work. People who don't know any better fall for it all the time.
Dog Mom to Zoe 1 day ago
2 drink minimum when going to comedy clubs in the U.S. Well in California anyway. One of the many reasons I stopped going out. Concert tickets. They drop a huge screen for you to see the artist. Might as well watch it at home. Plus, if the person in front of you stands up, you're watching their behind. Waste of money in my opinion but you all do you.
Liz The Biz 1 day ago
Recycling. I care about the environment and try to avoid being wasteful, but I lost my enthusiasm for recycling when I found out that when you send your waste off in good faith, most of it ends up in landfill or is shipped abroad to end up in another country's landfill.
BookFanatic 1 day ago
First time I ever used FB Marketplace I listed a bunch of stuff at once. Immediately got tons of interest on everything. Red flag 1. One in particular was very interested in my dresser but wanted a picture of me to prove I wasn't a scammer. Red flag 2. Then they asked if I could share my Paypal details so they could send me the money. That's when I finally wised up.
Papa 1 day ago
My mother signed up for insurance to pay her mortgage if she got hurt. She found out about it from an unsolicited email, which should have been her first clue, but she fell for it. She paid into it for years, and then got hurt at work. She wasn't worried because of the insurance, but then discovered that in the fine print (that of course she didn't read) it said that they would make ONE mortgage payment. To be honest, I was surprised they even paid one.
Georgia R 3 hours ago
I can't believe no one mentioned sites like Temu, Shein etc. These are ecommerce sites, designed to make you buy sh*t you don't need. And seem to be deliberately misleading on the product. Just because it's a $3 dress, people don't seem to care that the quality is terrible, if you even get what you ordered. Not to mention they promote fast fashion, terrible worker conditions, pollution and waste.
Cosmos in your eyes 1 day ago
The Pentagon failing 7 audits and we're just supposed to shrug it off.
Steve Robert 12 hours ago
And tens of millions of people fall for it. It's just so sad!
Load More Replies... Daniel Gómez 1 day ago
They forgot to include (unless I skipped it unknowingly) AI generated "art" that is passed as an artist's physical and actual work. People who don't know any better fall for it all the time.
Dog Mom to Zoe 1 day ago
2 drink minimum when going to comedy clubs in the U.S. Well in California anyway. One of the many reasons I stopped going out. Concert tickets. They drop a huge screen for you to see the artist. Might as well watch it at home. Plus, if the person in front of you stands up, you're watching their behind. Waste of money in my opinion but you all do you.
Liz The Biz 1 day ago
Recycling. I care about the environment and try to avoid being wasteful, but I lost my enthusiasm for recycling when I found out that when you send your waste off in good faith, most of it ends up in landfill or is shipped abroad to end up in another country's landfill.
BookFanatic 1 day ago
First time I ever used FB Marketplace I listed a bunch of stuff at once. Immediately got tons of interest on everything. Red flag 1. One in particular was very interested in my dresser but wanted a picture of me to prove I wasn't a scammer. Red flag 2. Then they asked if I could share my Paypal details so they could send me the money. That's when I finally wised up.
Papa 1 day ago
My mother signed up for insurance to pay her mortgage if she got hurt. She found out about it from an unsolicited email, which should have been her first clue, but she fell for it. She paid into it for years, and then got hurt at work. She wasn't worried because of the insurance, but then discovered that in the fine print (that of course she didn't read) it said that they would make ONE mortgage payment. To be honest, I was surprised they even paid one.
Georgia R 3 hours ago
I can't believe no one mentioned sites like Temu, Shein etc. These are ecommerce sites, designed to make you buy sh*t you don't need. And seem to be deliberately misleading on the product. Just because it's a $3 dress, people don't seem to care that the quality is terrible, if you even get what you ordered. Not to mention they promote fast fashion, terrible worker conditions, pollution and waste.
Cosmos in your eyes 1 day ago
The Pentagon failing 7 audits and we're just supposed to shrug it off.
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