Investment Fraud
- Ponzi schemes, cryptocurrency scams, unregistered securities, and guaranteed-return promises.
- Prevention: Verify regulatory registration (SEC, FINRA, etc.) and avoid investments promising unrealistic returns.
Comprehensive Anti-Scam Guide
A practical security guide designed to help you identify threats quickly, prevent financial losses, and take decisive action when scams occur.
Emergency Response: File a ScamNemesis Report
ScamNemesis is a specialized platform that helps victims document scams, initiate fund recovery, and protect the community. Upon submission, we generate a comprehensive PDF incident report, conduct OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) analysis, and coordinate information sharing with relevant institutions including financial institutions, cryptocurrency exchanges, and law enforcement agencies.
Early reporting within the first hours significantly increases the likelihood of transaction interception and accelerates coordination with your bank and service providers.
File a Report Now60-Second Risk Assessment
A single "YES" to any of these questions indicates high scam probability. Immediately halt all payments and communication. Verify legitimacy through independent channels—for example, contact your bank using the official phone number from their website, not from any message you received.
1) Urgency and Secrecy
Are you being pressured to act immediately or instructed to keep this confidential from others?
2) Unconventional Payment Methods
Are they requesting gift cards, cryptocurrency transfers, or expedited wire transfers through unusual channels?
3) Unrealistic Promises
Are they guaranteeing exceptional returns, "zero-risk" investments, or premium products at suspiciously low prices?
4) Lack of Verification
Are regulatory licenses, verifiable physical addresses, team information, customer reviews, or operational history absent?
5) Communication Red Flags
Do messages contain grammatical errors, suspicious domains, or does the party refuse video calls or in-person meetings?
6) Single-Channel Insistence
Do they refuse to use official communication channels and insist on a specific messaging platform?
7) Sensitive Information Requests
Are they asking for passwords, PINs, SMS verification codes, cryptocurrency seed phrases, or identification documents?
8) Immediate Action Links
Did you receive unsolicited login links or urgent "invoice/shipment" attachments demanding immediate response?
Understanding Scams: Definition and Mechanics
A scam is a deliberate act of deception designed to obtain money, sensitive information, or access to digital assets through fraudulent means. Perpetrators employ sophisticated manipulation techniques including impersonation, fabricated urgency, and social engineering to bypass victims' critical thinking. Modern scams leverage technological tools, psychological manipulation, and information asymmetry to maximize their effectiveness while minimizing detection risk.
Psychology of Scam Victimization
Scam victims span all demographics and intelligence levels. Successful scams exploit fundamental aspects of human psychology rather than lack of knowledge or education.
Authority Bias
Impersonating government agencies, financial institutions, or law enforcement triggers compliance reflexes and reduces critical evaluation.
Time Pressure
Artificial urgency ("account will be suspended," "limited time offer") induces stress-based decision-making and prevents thorough verification.
Social Proof
Fabricated testimonials, fake reviews, and manufactured social media presence create false legitimacy and exploit conformity bias.
Emotional Exploitation
Scammers weaponize fear (security threats), greed (guaranteed returns), or compassion (fake emergencies) to override rational analysis.
Trust Manipulation
Extended relationship-building phases (particularly in romance and investment scams) establish false trust before the exploitation phase.
Information Asymmetry
Victims lack specialized knowledge to identify sophisticated forgeries, technical manipulations, or financial fraud indicators.
12 Most Prevalent Scam Categories
Understanding common attack vectors enables proactive defense and early threat detection.
Romance Scams
- Fraudulent relationships established through dating platforms leading to financial exploitation.
- Prevention: Never send money to individuals you haven't met in person. Verify identity through video calls and reverse image searches.
Phishing Attacks
- Fraudulent emails or messages impersonating legitimate organizations to harvest credentials.
- Prevention: Verify sender authenticity, inspect URLs carefully, never click suspicious links, and access sensitive sites through bookmarks only.
E-commerce Fraud
- Non-existent products, counterfeit goods, or payment theft on fake storefronts.
- Prevention: Purchase from established platforms, verify seller ratings and reviews, use secure payment methods with buyer protection.
Technical Support Fraud
- Fake warnings about viruses or system issues leading to unnecessary paid "repairs" or remote access compromise.
- Prevention: Legitimate companies don't initiate unsolicited technical support. Never grant remote access to unknown parties.
Employment Scams
- Fake job offers requiring upfront payments for training, equipment, or background checks.
- Prevention: Research companies thoroughly, avoid opportunities requiring payment, and verify job postings through official company channels.
Rental Fraud
- Non-existent properties, identity theft of legitimate landlords, or upfront payment demands.
- Prevention: Physically inspect properties before payment, verify ownership through public records, and use secure payment platforms.
Lottery/Prize Scams
- Notifications of winning contests you didn't enter, requiring fees to claim non-existent prizes.
- Prevention: Legitimate prizes never require advance payment. Verify through official lottery or contest channels.
Charity Fraud
- Fake organizations or individuals exploiting disasters and humanitarian crises for financial gain.
- Prevention: Verify charitable organization registration and ratings on platforms like Charity Navigator or GuideStar.
Government Impersonation
- Fake IRS, Social Security, immigration, or law enforcement communications demanding immediate payment.
- Prevention: Government agencies use official mail for initial contact. Verify independently through official websites, not contact information provided in suspicious messages.
Healthcare Fraud
- Unproven "miracle cures," counterfeit medications, or unregistered medical products.
- Prevention: Consult licensed healthcare providers exclusively and purchase medications only from certified pharmacies.
Home Service Scams
- High-pressure sales tactics, substandard work, or advance payment for services never rendered.
- Prevention: Review contracts thoroughly, obtain multiple competitive quotes, and verify contractor licensing and insurance.
Immediate Action Protocol: First 24 Hours After Discovery
1) Terminate All Communication
Cease all money transfers and information disclosure. Block phone numbers, email addresses, and social media profiles associated with the scammer.
2) Contact Financial Institution
Immediately request transaction reversal (chargeback), payment recall, or temporary freeze. Time-critical for maximizing recovery probability.
3) Secure All Accounts
Change passwords for email, banking, and social media accounts. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) across all platforms.
4) Preserve Evidence
Capture screenshots of all communications, transaction receipts, payment identifiers, account information, dates, amounts, and relevant profile data.
5) File Official Report
Complete the ScamNemesis incident report to expedite institutional response and coordinate multi-platform investigation.
Evidence Collection and Documentation Standards
Comprehensive documentation significantly increases recovery probability and facilitates effective investigation by financial institutions and law enforcement.
Communication Records
Screenshots of messages and emails (including complete headers), phone numbers, social media profile URLs, and usernames.
Transaction Documentation
Payment receipts, IBAN/SWIFT codes, cryptocurrency addresses with transaction hashes, payment platform reference numbers, and exchange names.
Digital Footprint
Complete URLs, timestamps, full-page screenshots or archives, and saved PDF/HTML copies of relevant websites and profiles.
Incident Timeline
Chronological log documenting: initial contact, key interactions, who initiated communications, transaction amounts, dates, and destination accounts.
Fund Recovery Procedures by Payment Method
Recovery procedures vary by payment type. Rapid action and adherence to institutional deadlines are critical for successful recovery.
Credit/Debit Cards
- Contact issuing bank immediately and initiate chargeback dispute.
- Provide comprehensive evidence demonstrating fraudulent transaction or unauthorized charge.
- Adhere to card network deadlines (typically 60-120 days, varies by network and card type).
Bank Transfers
- Request immediate payment recall and coordination with receiving financial institution.
- File police report including complete IBAN/SWIFT details, transaction timestamp, and amount.
- Success rate decreases significantly after 24-48 hours.
Cryptocurrency
- Contact the exchange or wallet service provider used for fund transmission.
- Provide transaction hash, wallet addresses (sender and recipient), exact timestamp, and blockchain network.
- Request account monitoring or withdrawal blocking (success depends on exchange cooperation and transaction status).
Gift Cards
- Contact card issuer immediately with purchase receipt and card codes.
- Recovery possible only if codes remain unredeemed.
- Provide transaction documentation and circumstances of fraudulent solicitation.
Payment Platforms
- Initiate dispute/claim through platform's resolution center and request temporary payment hold.
- Submit evidence demonstrating seller misrepresentation, identity fraud, or service non-delivery.
- Follow platform-specific dispute procedures and deadlines.
Support Resources and Reporting Channels
ScamNemesis — Primary Reporting Platform
Streamlined incident reporting with automated PDF case documentation, OSINT analysis, and coordinated information sharing with institutional partners and authorities.
File an Official ReportLaw Enforcement & Regulatory Authorities
Following ScamNemesis submission, file reports with local law enforcement and relevant regulatory agencies. Your prepared documentation will expedite the process.
Financial Institutions & Payment Providers
Immediately notify your bank, card issuer, or payment service provider. Early reporting significantly increases fund recovery probability.