Source-backed scam alerts and warning signs

Country-wide travel scam prevention

Official-source checklists, not destination crime rankings.

• Canada
• United States
• India

All country travel guides

Online and job scams

• Fake file-sharing requests may grant attackers access to accounts

  The FBI warns that attackers use convincing messages and deceptive application-permission requests to gain access to online accounts, even without asking for a password directly.

• Unexpected recruiter text or personal email? Check the job offer

  An unexpected remote-job offer may use a familiar employer name while the sender remains unverified. Check who is contacting you before sharing documents. A personal email address is a warning sign to investigate, not proof by itself that the offer is fraudulent.

• Job offer arrives before any real interview

  An unsolicited recruiter sends a polished offer letter and onboarding forms almost immediately, sometimes before discussing your experience or duties. This can be a route to collecting bank information or identity documents rather than recruiting staff.

• Fake direct-deposit forms collect banking details before hiring

  Fraudulent hiring messages may demand account numbers and other sensitive information under the guise of payroll enrollment before an applicant has been interviewed or hired. Early collection of this data is a strong reason to stop.

• Lookalike company branding in a remote job invitation

  A fake recruiter can copy an employer's logo, job description and interview materials to make a bogus opportunity look official. The visual polish of a PDF offer letter does not establish that the person is authorized to hire.

• Fake student assistant jobs imitate university contacts

  Scammers sometimes send campus-related emails that appear to come from a professor or school office, advertising flexible assistant work. A later request to deposit a check and send funds onward is a classic warning sign.

• Paid starter kits and training demanded before employment

  A work offer that requires an applicant to buy a starter kit, certification or training package may be designed to take money rather than provide a job. The FTC says legitimate jobseekers should not have to pay to obtain employment.

• Fake-check equipment purchases in home-office jobs

  A work-from-home scam may send a check for laptop or office supplies and instruct the new hire to pay a designated vendor. If the check is fraudulent, the bank can reverse the deposit after the victim has sent real funds.

• An upfront registration fee for a remote job

  Job scammers may describe a deposit as a refundable onboarding, identity-check or equipment-registration fee. A job opportunity is not validated by the promise that this money will be returned after orientation.

• Product-boosting task apps show commissions that are not real

  A so-called product-optimization job displays earnings for clicking, rating or boosting listings. The figures on the screen can be invented by the operator; they are not proof of a genuine wage or withdrawable balance.

• Task scam asks for a crypto deposit to unlock the next assignment

  Some gamified job platforms tell workers that a new tier or task cannot begin until they add cryptocurrency to their account. The FTC warns that the 'earned' commissions are fictitious and further deposits deepen losses.

• Small initial task payouts used to build trust

  A task scam operator may send a modest first payment to make the job feel legitimate, then present an increasingly expensive unlock or withdrawal request. Being paid a small amount initially does not establish that future earnings exist.

• WhatsApp or Telegram task recruitment with no verifiable employer

  An unexpected messaging-app offer for easy online tasks may come from an anonymous organizer rather than an actual hiring company. The FTC identifies unsolicited job approaches and invented commissions as common parts of task scams.

• New boss asks for gift cards before your first day

  A scammer watching new-job announcements may impersonate a manager and assign an urgent gift-card purchase as a supposed work errand. The real manager may know nothing about the messages.

• New-hire payroll update request comes from a supposed manager

  Soon after someone announces a new position, a fraudster may pose as the new boss and demand banking or personal details by text. An urgent request outside the company's normal onboarding channel should be checked first.

Investment and crypto scams

• Canada sees major reported losses from investment and bank impersonation fraud

  The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre reported approximately $351 million in fraud losses during the first half of 2026. Investment scams accounted for the highest reported losses, while phishing, fake bank investigators and recovery offers were also prominent.

• Beware of imposters pretending to recover money through FBI IC3

  The FBI warns that scammers pose as IC3 personnel or recovery agents to target people who have already lost money, using fake websites and convincing materials.

• Wrong-number friendship turns into a crypto investment pitch

  A message that pretends to be sent accidentally may start friendly conversations before introducing an exclusive trading opportunity. The SEC warns that scammers build trust through relationships before directing people to fraudulent investment platforms.

• Fake trading dashboard shows profits that cannot be withdrawn

  Fraudsters can control the website showing an investor's balance, creating the impression of rapid gains without any real holdings. A believable chart or account statement is not independent proof that trades happened.

• Small crypto withdrawal used as bait for a much larger deposit

  A fraudulent platform might let a victim withdraw a little money so the scheme appears credible. After a larger deposit, the operator can refuse withdrawals or demand additional funds.

• Fake tax bill blocks a crypto withdrawal

  A supposed trading service may say profits are ready but demand a new tax or release payment directly to the platform before processing withdrawals. The SEC warns that such charges can be part of the original investment scam.

• AI trading bot promises effortless guaranteed profits

  Investment marketers may use artificial-intelligence language to imply a trading system cannot lose money. The SEC warns that emerging technologies are sometimes used as promotional hooks for fraudulent crypto investment offers.

• Deepfake video imitates a celebrity investment endorsement

  Manipulated video and audio can make a public figure appear to recommend a crypto product they never promoted. Authentic-looking faces and voices do not replace independent verification of the underlying business.

• Memecoin promotion followed by insider selling

  A token may be aggressively touted on social platforms before its promoters sell their holdings, leaving later buyers exposed to a sharp collapse. The SEC identifies this as a pump-and-dump pattern in some crypto-asset schemes.

• Imposter regulator asks for funds to rescue frozen crypto

  Fraudsters may pretend to be government regulators or investigators and claim they can release stolen crypto for a fee. Official-looking credentials, logos or documents can be forged.

• Investment contact instructs you to deposit cash at a Bitcoin ATM

  An online-only investment adviser may tell a prospective investor to buy Bitcoin at a kiosk and send it to a wallet address they supply. These deposits can be difficult to recover and are not proof of a regulated investment.

• Guaranteed weekly crypto returns are a classic fraud warning

  An offer may claim unusually high, fixed weekly income from digital assets while describing little or no downside. The SEC cautions that investments always involve risk and fabricated performance histories are a common lure.

• Crypto-mining investment site promises fixed high yields

  Fraudulent websites may claim to operate mining farms or secret trading systems producing exceptional risk-free profits. The SEC and CFTC have warned that such pitches can be linked to sites that simply take deposits.

• New coin offering relies on celebrity promotion rather than disclosures

  Crypto offerings can use famous names and influencer testimonials to create urgency, even when promoters have been paid. A celebrity association is not evidence of legitimacy, investor protection or suitability.

• Ponzi-style crypto payouts are funded by newcomers

  Some schemes show early participants receiving money from deposits made by later investors rather than from any real trading profits. Those initial withdrawals can conceal the unsustainable structure until the operation collapses.

Shopping and seller scams

• Fake farm equipment sellers use convincing ads and invoices

  The FTC reports offers for farm machinery where imposters mimic legitimate businesses, request large payments and never deliver the advertised equipment.

• Copied car dealership websites can trick buyers into deposits

  The FTC describes sites that copy real dealership listings, branding and images to convince buyers to send payment for vehicles they will not receive.

• Social-media ad imitates a well-known retail brand

  A promoted post offers branded goods at surprisingly low prices but links to an unrelated storefront. The FTC warns that lookalike advertisements may result in counterfeit, wrong or undelivered items.

• Fake closing-down sale advertises extreme clearance discounts

  Fraudsters have imitated a well-known craft retailer's closure sales with pages claiming dramatic online markdowns. An online checkout and emailed receipt do not prove that the real chain operated the sale.

• A bargain storefront disappears after payment

  A counterfeit online shop may take card details and send a confirmation number without sending the promised goods. Low prices, copied pictures and an absent verifiable business history are reasons for extra scrutiny.

• A seller demands cryptocurrency for an ordinary purchase

  A social-media merchant may insist that payment be sent only by cryptocurrency, gift card or wire transfer instead of a protected checkout. Those methods are much harder to reverse if the item never arrives.

• Marketplace seller pushes payment outside the platform

  A seller may ask buyers to move from the marketplace's checkout to direct transfers, claiming they will avoid service charges. This can leave buyers without the platform's normal dispute tools.

• Online order arrives but is very different from the advertised product

  A fraudulent shop can advertise a recognizable product and send a counterfeit or low-quality substitute instead. The FTC notes that paid social-media ads are not proof the merchandise or seller is genuine.

• Fake tracking number used to delay a refund

  A non-delivery scam may offer shipping updates to reassure a purchaser while avoiding clear proof the order was dispatched to the correct address. The FTC encourages buyers to keep purchase records and enforce delivery and refund rights.

• High-pressure countdown sale conceals a questionable store

  Urgent timers, limited-stock banners and unusually low prices can push shoppers to skip seller checks. The FTC advises researching both the merchant name and destination URL before entering payment details.

• Fake five-star reviews make a seller look trustworthy

  Review counts and flattering quotes can be manufactured or selectively displayed by a dishonest seller. Strong-looking ratings should be compared with independent records and recent buyer experiences.

• Retailer lookalike site charges a different merchant name

  A forged brand store may accept an order and send a normal-looking receipt, while the payment statement reveals an unrelated seller. The FTC documented this discrepancy in fake clearance-sale schemes.

• Unordered parcel may be used for fake product reviews

  Receiving a low-value item you never ordered can be part of a brushing scheme. Sellers may use someone else's name and address to create apparently genuine transactions and deceptive reviews.

• QR code in an unexpected package asks for personal details

  A brushing shipment may include a card urging the recipient to scan a code to learn who sent the item or arrange its return. The FTC warns such links can lead to phishing pages.

• Fake order-quality refund message steals login information

  A text may claim that a retailer recalled or failed a quality inspection on a previous purchase and that a refund is ready. The link can lead to a phishing page instead of a real refund process.

Rental and housing scams

• Copied apartment photos hide a fake rental agent

  A fraudster can reuse photos, floor plans and descriptions from a genuine listing while replacing the contact information. The address may be real even though the supposed agent has no authority to rent it.

• Same property is advertised by different supposed owners

  A listing can be duplicated on multiple sites under different names, creating the illusion of choice when one advertiser is an impostor. Conflicting owners or contacts are strong reasons for further verification.

• Landlord refuses to show an apartment before requesting money

  Some fake listings are designed to collect a deposit before the renter sees the property. The FTC recommends viewing the home where possible and checking the ownership or management independently.

• Out-of-country owner says keys will be mailed after payment

  A fake landlord may explain their inability to meet by claiming to be overseas and offering to send keys once a deposit is received. This story can conceal the fact that the sender has no access to the home.

• Hold-the-unit deposit demanded before a lease exists

  A listing may claim that many people are interested and a quick deposit is essential to reserve the address. Urgency should not replace verifying who controls the property or reviewing written terms.

• Rental application fee collected for a nonexistent unit

  A fraudulent advertiser may accept applications and fees for an apartment that is unavailable or imaginary. The small amount per applicant can still create a profitable scheme at scale.

• Rent far below nearby listings is used as bait

  An unusually cheap apartment can be a lure to attract renters willing to act before they check details. The FTC recommends comparing local prices and researching the landlord or property manager.

• Gift cards requested as a security deposit

  A fake landlord may require a prepaid card or gift-card code to cover the deposit. These are cash-like payments that usually do not offer practical recovery rights once the code is shared.

• Crypto-only first month's rent is a danger sign

  A scammer may describe cryptocurrency as faster or safer for a rental deposit. Crypto transfers can be hard to reverse and do not confirm that the person receiving them can provide the home.

• Wire transfer required before receiving the rental contract

  A fraudulent agent may say a wire transfer will finalize a lease, sometimes with a promised refund if the property is unsuitable. A wire can be difficult to recover after a deceptive recipient vanishes.

• Credit-score check links to a paid subscription trap

  An impostor landlord may ask renters to obtain a credit score through a particular site that enrols them in recurring paid monitoring. This can monetize applicants even when no lease is available.

• Fake rental application seeks identity documents

  Scam listings may request passports, driver licences, pay stubs or government identification to steal sensitive information. A real address in the listing does not prove the applicant portal is genuine.

• Self-guided tour is not proof the advertiser controls the rental

  A visitor may be able to access a legitimate self-tour service while the online person collecting money is an impostor. The FTC advises investigating the landlord's identity even after seeing a real property.

• Vacation-rental listing is copied to a different website

  Vacation properties can be advertised with stolen pictures and a replaced contact address. Paying an impostor can leave travellers arriving at a real property with no valid reservation.

• Mandatory rental fees appear only after an advertised bargain

  A low headline rent may conceal additional required charges that emerge late in the application process. The FTC recommends asking for all mandatory fees in writing before accepting an offer.

Suspicious messages and calls

• Fraudsters impersonate the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and offer fake recovery help

  The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre warns that scammers impersonate its staff or bank investigators, use official-looking logos or documents, and demand payment or financial details to supposedly recover lost funds.

• Be careful with paid services promising to stop sextortion threats

  The FTC warns that people facing blackmail threats may encounter expensive assistance services promising results they cannot deliver. Seek help from trusted people and official reporting channels instead of relying on guarantees.

• Imposters posing as police or government officials demand payments

  The FBI describes impersonation schemes where callers claim to be authorities and threaten penalties or arrest unless the recipient sends money or provides personal information.

• QR stickers on parking meters can lead to fraudulent payment pages

  The FTC explains how tampered parking QR codes may take drivers to imitation payment websites designed to steal money or account information.

• Fake bank fraud text tells you to call a security number

  A message pretending to come from a financial institution may claim a suspicious payment needs urgent review. Calling the supplied number can connect you to someone trying to obtain credentials or move money.

• Delivery text asks for a redelivery fee? Verify it before paying

  An unexpected delivery-problem text may lead to an imitation carrier website asking for card or identity details. A small claimed fee and familiar branding do not authenticate the request. Verify the delivery independently before entering information.

• Unpaid toll text threatens a penalty

  A spoofed transport-agency message can say a toll remains unpaid and that penalties will follow unless you click to settle it. The linked site may be set up to steal card numbers and personal information.

• Wrong-number message is used to start a longer scam conversation

  An apparently innocent misdirected text can be an opening move for a relationship-based financial scam. Continuing the conversation with an unknown contact may lead to pressure to share details or invest.

• Phone message about an unauthorized purchase leads to a fake helpdesk

  An impostor can claim that a large order was placed on your account and direct you to an invented customer service number. The caller's goal may be to extract payment or account access, not resolve an order.

• Fake shopping refund text claims a product was recalled

  A text imitating an online retailer may cite a quality inspection and promise a full refund without a return. The refund link can instead be a phishing form collecting credentials or payment data.

• Anti-fraud investigator impersonator offers to recover stolen money

  A scammer may claim to represent a Canadian fraud authority and offer reimbursement after a past loss. Official-sounding titles and copied logos do not establish that the outreach is genuine.

• Bank investigator says to move funds into a safe account

  A caller can pretend to investigate suspicious transactions and instruct the account holder to transfer savings for protection. In reality the destination may be controlled by the caller.

• Government impostor threatens arrest unless you pay by phone

  Fraudulent calls can imitate police or government offices and create fear of an imminent arrest or fine. Pressure and official-looking caller ID are not evidence that a payment demand is legitimate.

• Prize-winner text requires bank details to claim a reward

  A message may say you have won something but must first provide identifying data or pay a fee. The unexpected reward is used to make recipients overlook that no genuine competition was entered.

• Unexpected loan-approval text requests account verification

  An unsolicited notification may claim you applied for or were approved for a loan, then ask you to complete a link or call a number. Treat the contact information as untrusted until verified.