SCAM LIBRARY · CATEGORY
Impersonation scams
Someone pretends to be a name you trust — a government agency, a company, your bank, or even family — to pressure you into paying or sharing details.
13 explainers in this category
The 'family in trouble' call
A panicked message claims a grandchild or relative is in jail or stranded and needs money now.
How to spot it →The fake tech-support pop-up
A fake pop-up or phone call pretends to be tech support, claiming your device has a problem, and pressures you to call a number or click a link so they can 'help.'
How to spot it →The tax-agency threat
Scammers pretend to be tax authorities and demand immediate payment, creating false urgency to catch you off guard.
How to spot it →The fake debt collector
A scammer pretends to be a debt collector and pressures you to pay money quickly, claiming you owe a debt.
How to spot it →The utility-shutoff threat
Someone calls claiming your utility service will be shut off unless you pay immediately—but it's not your real utility company.
How to spot it →The fake bank fraud alert
A scammer pretends to be your bank and creates fake urgency by claiming suspicious activity on your account, trying to trick you into revealing passwords or sending money.
How to spot it →The Social Security 'suspended' call
Scammers impersonate Social Security officials and claim your account is suspended or compromised, demanding immediate action to avoid legal trouble.
How to spot it →The Medicare / health-plan scam
Scammers impersonate Medicare or health-plan representatives to trick you into sharing personal information or money.
How to spot it →The loan-forgiveness scam
Scammers pretend to be loan-forgiveness programs or government agencies and charge upfront fees to make your debt disappear—but the debt remains and your money is gone.
How to spot it →The refund overpayment call
A caller claims you've been overpaid or owe a refund, and asks you to send money or share account details to 'fix' it.
How to spot it →The disaster-relief impersonation
Scammers impersonate disaster-relief organizations to pressure people into sending money quickly, exploiting compassion and urgency.
How to spot it →The 'bank fraud department' Zelle call
Scammers call pretending to be your bank's fraud department, create urgency around a fake Zelle transaction, and pressure you to act fast.
How to spot it →The 'suspicious Amazon order' call
A scammer calls pretending to be from a shopping website, claiming there's a problem with your account or a suspicious order, and pushes you to act fast—but it's a trick to get your information or money.
How to spot it →