Face to face scams can be some of the most frightening to be a victim of. Instead of anonymous hackers, the victim is brought face to face with the thief.
The way these scams typically work is using a pretense to meet at a specific location for any of a number of purposes. It could be to repay a debt owed by a family member or perhaps bail for a loved one in trouble.
The victim of the face to face scam either is defrauded of the funds or is placed in a position where they have to give the funds to the perpetrator or else they – or a loved one held ostensibly for ransom – will come to harm.
Sometimes a face to face scam will involve cash, other times the victim is asked to hand over a debit card and their PIN.
These scams are some of the most brazen, but also the most traumatizing to the victim. Learn more about them by watching this space. See below:
How the scam works: (with video below) You're in a bar meeting a few friends for a pint. An older gentleman sits at the other end of the table, but he seems harmless so you don't think twice about it. As the night progresses and so does everybody’s intoxication level, you find yourself chatting with […]
How the scam works: (with video below) If you are looking to move all your belongings to a different city or state, use only reputable companies that have good reviews. Do not fall for the lower prices that some online ads will offer from obscure companies you have never heard of. If you do, this […]
How the scam works: You are driving on a one-way narrow street (back alley) and the car in front of you stops, appearing to be breaking down. You both stop, he steps out of his car and nicely asks you to reverse so he can somehow push it on the side to make room for you. You […]
Rare Coins Collection Scam: How It Works Here is a scam that targets collectors of all kinds, especially money collectors. Let's say you are in a mall, parking lot, or in a popular place. Alternatively, you find an ad online. As you are walking around the premises thinking about your day, you are approached […]
Rebate Scams: How Some Marketers Make You Believe You Are In For A Treat In the rebates sector, the success of every campaign is measured by the number of rebates unclaimed. Some people think rebates are just a “legalized scam.” Don't get us wrong, there are legitimate promotions out there, whether they are from […]
How the scam works: You are in a mall or in an Internet café and a guy in a hurry, looking like a tourist (maybe carrying a back pack) approaches you frantically. “Sorry to interrupt. I’ve just been robbed and I need your help. Somebody stole my satchel (or purse) and all my documents were […]
Snow Removal Services Scams: How They Work (with videos below) Whether you're looking for residential snow removal services or commercial ones, be aware of a bunch of snow removal scams happening this time of the year. Let's take a look at a few versions of the scam, starting with the residential sector. Watch the video […]
How the scam works: If you are a big fan of shopping in street markets you might come across a great offer for “magic cheese”. The vendors will advertise the cheese as the special ingredient that is used by big cosmetic companies in the making of high-end shampoos and other secret recipes. It is not expensive, so you think […]
How the scam works: Have you ever heard of anybody falling in love with a stripper? Yes, it happens all the time, by design. Dealing with people on a regular basis, strippers are smart and very good judges of character. They know exactly how to approach every man, telling older gentlemen, divorcees or those who […]
"I've Seen You on Instagram, You'Ve Got Talent": How the Scam Works The world is full of Instagram models and 'influencers' showing off their bodies and skills. Maybe you are one of them or maybe you have a little relative who could become the next star. If you're looking into how to become a […]
How To Become A Model And Talent Representation Scam Read More
How the scam works: You and your partner decide to have a special night out. Choosing a nice classy restaurant, you pull into the lot when a nice valet in a bowtie greets you and tells you he'll take your car from here. As you get out, the valet also informs you about a special draw […]
How the scam works: If you are a waitress working in a bar, you might come across this scam. A couple of guys will dine and drink at your table then ask for the bill. You bring it over but, before they pay, they decide to have another round. You bring the new drinks to their […]
How the scam works: You are walking to a subway station or pass by a parking site. You see a sign. “Watch for your wallet. Pick pocketing in the area”. Instinctively, you check to see if your wallet is OK. You might not think you're obvious, but a subtle gesture will give it away letting […]
How the scam works: New York has a famous diamond-trading centre, located on 47th street. If you have heard about it and decide to visit the area, be careful never to buy jewelry at the street level of the trading centre. The legitimate trading at wholesale prices takes place only in high security offices. The […]
Door to Door Magazine Subscription Fraud: How It Works (with video below) You're sitting at home watching the tube when a young girl knocks on your door. She tells you she's working to raise funds for a church trip (or even for the soldiers abroad) by selling magazine subscriptions and any little bit will help. […]
How the scam works: Scammers go to department stores and fill a shopping cart with absolutely everything from DVD players to sports equipment. They line up and pay for their purchases like anyone would, but once outside the store, the person who paid gives the receipt to their partner. The partner then goes into the […]
Electronics for Sale – White Van Scam: How It Works (with video below) It's amazing how this scam continues to happen day by day. Let's say you are in a parking lot and are just getting out of your vehicle when a white van pulls up next to you. Inside are a couple of […]
Verify Another website
Are you just about to make a purchase online? See if the website is legit with our validator:
vldtr®
Want to know how to keep passkey safe from scammers? Ignore unprompted passkey or 2FA...
Read More
The IRS CP53E scam takes advantage of the move to digital tax refunds to target...
Read More
What is scambaiting? Scambaiting means engaging with scammers to antagonize, provoke, or waste their time,...
Read More
A company data breach can expose your personal information and increase your risk of scams....
Read More
Learn how fake CAPTCHA scam messages work, how they can lead to unexpected charges, and...
Read More
A new tax season means old scams in new disguises. We take a look at...
Read More
The Dark Web can be a scary place, but it can also scam even the...
Read More
AI crypto fraud uses deepfakes, fake trading platforms, and phishing scams to steal money from...
Read More
Modeling scams can range from fake talent scouts to exploitative contracts and social media phishing....
Read More
Fake QR codes can lead you to scam sites, which can steal data and money....
Read More
If you think you’ve been added to a Microsoft Team without your consent, it’s likely...
Read More
