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Catalogue of the most common scams

Spot the signs immediately, know what to do and how to protect yourself. Updated with the latest cases.

Showing 11 scams

Email phishing
Fake emails from banks, couriers and services
Online

Scammers send emails mimicking banks, postal services, social security, couriers or streaming platforms, asking you to click a link to "confirm your details" or "prevent your account being blocked". The link leads to a cloned site that steals your credentials or card details.

  • Sender with a suspicious domain (e.g. mybank-security.com instead of mybank.com)
  • Urgency tone: "Your account will be blocked within 24 hours"
  • Link in the text differs from the real address (hover without clicking)
  • Request to enter password, PIN or OTP code via email
  • Grammatical errors or unusual formatting
  • Never click links in emails: go directly to the official website by typing the address
  • Report the email as spam and delete it
  • If you already entered data, change your password immediately and contact your bank
  • Report to the Cybercrime Police
Fake e-commerce and non-existent products
Fraudulent online shops and impossible offers
Online

Fake e-commerce sites or social media profiles sell products at ridiculously low prices. After payment the goods never arrive, a counterfeit product is sent, or the site disappears.

  • Prices far below market average
  • Site with no verifiable business registration or phone number
  • Payment only by bank transfer (no buyer protection)
  • All positive reviews with similar dates or profiles with no history
  • URL with typos or foreign domain
  • Always pay by credit card or PayPal — they offer buyer protection
  • Search the site name + "scam" or "reviews" before buying
  • Verify the business registration with the relevant authority
  • If you already paid, contact your bank for a chargeback and report to police
Miracle trading and investments
Fake crypto and stock market platforms
Online

Unauthorised platforms promise guaranteed and extremely high returns, often via social media ads or WhatsApp. The victim sees "earnings" on a fake dashboard, but finds they cannot withdraw and is pressured to deposit more.

  • Promises of guaranteed returns (no legitimate investment guarantees returns)
  • Pressure to invest immediately, offer "valid today only"
  • Platform not registered with the financial regulator
  • Inability to withdraw funds without paying additional "fees"
  • Referral scheme: they ask you to recruit other investors
  • Always verify authorisation with your financial regulator before investing
  • Do not trust anyone who contacts you spontaneously about investments
  • Report the platform to the financial regulator and cybercrime police
  • Consult a lawyer about possible debt recovery
Deepfakes and fake video calls
AI-simulated voice and face of colleagues or relatives
Online

Scammers simulate the face or voice of a colleague, boss or family member during a video call or voice message, convincing the victim to make urgent transfers or share sensitive codes.

  • Unusual and urgent request from someone you know
  • The person avoids answering specific personal questions
  • Poor video or audio quality, lip movements out of sync
  • Request to keep the matter confidential
  • Call the person back on their official number to verify
  • Establish a secret code word with colleagues and family for emergencies
  • Never make urgent transfers without double verification
  • Report the incident to the cybercrime police
Fake job offers
Mystery shopper, remote work, fake cheque refunds
Online

Adverts promise easy, well-paid remote jobs. The victim receives cheques or transfers for more than owed and is asked to return the difference. When the bank discovers the fraud, the account is left in the red.

  • Disproportionate salary for simple work
  • Hired without interview or only via chat
  • Asked to receive money and forward it to others (money mule)
  • Asked to pay upfront for a kit, training or "guarantee"
  • Never agree to receive and forward money for third parties — it is a crime
  • Verify the company on Google, LinkedIn and business registers
  • Report the advert to the platform and cybercrime police
Smishing (SMS and malicious links)
Fake SMS from banks, couriers, tax office with scam links
SMS & Chat

SMS or WhatsApp/Telegram messages refer to pending parcels, unpaid bills, tax refunds or banking blocks, with a link to click. The link leads to fake pages that steal data or download infected apps.

  • SMS from unknown number or appearing to be from your bank (spoofing)
  • Shortened or suspicious link
  • Urgency: "Click today or lose your refund"
  • Request for banking details or identity document
  • Your name is not mentioned (generic messages)
  • Never click links in SMS: go directly to the official website
  • Your bank never asks for PIN or password via SMS
  • Block the number and report the message as spam
  • If you already entered data, block your card immediately
"Hi mum, I changed my number" scam
Fake child or grandchild on WhatsApp asking for money
SMS & Chat

A WhatsApp message from an unknown number says "Hi, it's me, I broke my phone and this is my new number". After establishing trust, they ask for an urgent transfer for an "emergency".

  • New number claiming to be a family member
  • Urgent request for money shortly after first contact
  • Excuses for not calling (broken phone, in a meeting, abroad)
  • Asks you not to tell other family members
  • Call the family member on their old number to verify
  • Never make transfers without direct phone verification
  • Report the number to WhatsApp and block the contact
Fake bank or phone company operator
Calls that look official but steal your data
Phone calls

Calls from numbers that appear official (spoofing) where the caller presents themselves as a bank operator claiming urgent problems. They push the victim to share OTP codes or confirm transactions.

  • Your bank never asks for OTP codes or PIN over the phone
  • Urgency: "We need to stop an ongoing fraud on your account"
  • They ask you to install an app or share your screen
  • The number shown looks official but can be faked
  • Hang up and call the official bank number yourself
  • Never share OTP, PIN or password over the phone
  • Never install apps at telephone request
  • Report the incident to your bank and cybercrime police
Fake gas, water or electricity technician
Shows up at your door for "urgent checks" and robs you
In person

A person presents themselves as a technician sent for urgent checks with a barely legible badge. Once inside, they distract the victim to steal cash and jewellery.

  • You received no written advance notice from the company
  • Badge is not clearly legible or they refuse to show it
  • They insist on entering immediately without letting you verify
  • Involves an accomplice who distracts while the other searches
  • Always ask for the badge and phone the company on the official number
  • Never let anyone in without prior verification
  • Always inform a family member or neighbour
  • If in doubt, call the emergency services
Grandchild (or relative) in distress scam
Fake family emergency to extort money
Emotional

A phone call announces that a child or grandchild has had a serious accident or been arrested. The emotional urgency leads many people, especially the elderly, to pay without verifying.

  • Call from an unknown number announcing a family emergency
  • They ask you not to contact other family members
  • Request for cash, jewellery or immediate top-ups
  • Extreme urgency leaving no time to think
  • Hang up and call the family member directly on their number
  • Ask a detail only they would know to verify identity
  • Immediately alert other family members
  • No legitimate institution collects bail in cash from private individuals
Fake lotteries and winnings
You won a lottery you never entered
Contests

Emails and messages inform the victim they have won a lottery they never entered, asking for payment of "taxes" or "release fees". Scammers disappear after payment.

  • You won something you never entered
  • To claim the prize you must pay something in advance
  • Generic sender, no recognisable organisation
  • Urgency: "The winnings expire if you don't respond within 48 hours"
  • No legitimate competition requires payment to claim a prize
  • Ignore and delete the message
  • Never provide personal or banking details
  • Report to the cybercrime police

No scams found for this category.

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