Browse By Scam Type

What kind of scam is it.

Every report is tagged with a scam type at submission. Pick one to see every report filed under it, across every country.

13 reports on file · refreshed live on every request · most recent

Scam types on file

Romance Scam6 reportsA stranger builds a romantic relationship over weeks or months, then invents an emergency or investment opportunity that requires you to send them money.Fake Job Offer2 reportsA recruiter offers a high-paying job with little effort, then asks for an upfront registration or training fee, or your banking details, before any interview.Money / Currency Exchange Scam2 reportsA stranger offers an unusually good exchange rate or urgently wants to buy your currency, pressuring you to transfer first, then vanishes with your money.Wrong Number / Pig Butchering1 reportA friendly wrong-number message from a stranger builds trust over weeks, then steers you toward a fraudulent crypto or trading platform for your money.Advance Fee (Visa/Loan/Customs)1 reportA promised visa letter, loan, inheritance, or held shipment requires an upfront processing or customs fee before release. The fee is the scam itself.Impersonation (Bank/Government)1 reportA contact claims to be your bank, tax office, or another authority, warning of a frozen account or unpaid fine to pressure you into an urgent payment.Investment / Crypto Scam0 reportsA contact promises guaranteed high returns on a crypto or trading platform, often with fake screenshots of gains, then stalls once you try to withdraw funds.Task / Part-Time Job Scam0 reportsYou're offered easy paid tasks with small early payouts to build trust, until bigger commissions require you to top up your own money first, unreturned.Phishing Link0 reportsA message urges you to click a link and log in, often mimicking a bank, delivery service, or WhatsApp itself, to steal your credentials or verification codes.OTP / Verification Code Scam0 reportsA contact asks you to read out or forward a one-time passcode you just received, often claiming it was sent by mistake, to hijack your account.Lottery / Prize Scam0 reportsYou're told you won a lottery or prize you never entered, then asked to pay a processing or customs fee before the nonexistent prize can be released.Package Delivery Scam0 reportsA message claims your parcel is stuck at customs or awaiting redelivery and asks for a small payment or personal details via a link, usually phishing.Tech Support Scam0 reportsA contact claims your device or account has been compromised and offers to fix it if you install remote-access software or pay for unnecessary support.Sextortion / Blackmail0 reportsAfter coaxing you into intimate photos or video, the contact threatens to send it to family or colleagues unless you pay. Paying never ends it.Extortion / Threats0 reportsA contact threatens to leak your private chats, data, or contacts, or threatens violence or false charges against you or your family, unless you pay right away.Other0 reportsA scam pattern that doesn't fit the categories above. Check the notes on each report for specifics of what actually happened with this contact.

Filed against 13 reports in total.

How big is each type, in official numbers

This directory counts self-reported WhatsApp reports; the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center tracked 1,008,597 complaints and $20.9 billion in reported losses across all crime types in 2025 — up 26% from 2024. Its closest categories to the types on file here:

  • Investment / Crypto Scam — IC3's "Investment" category: $8.6 billion lost across 72,984 complaints in 2025 (+89% in losses since 2023).
  • Tech Support Scam — IC3's "Tech Support" category: $2.1 billion lost across 47,794 complaints in 2025 (+131% in losses since 2023).
  • Romance Scam — IC3's "Confidence/Romance" category: $929 million lost across 23,159 complaints in 2025 (+42% in losses since 2023).
  • Phishing Link — IC3's "Phishing/Spoofing" category: $216 million lost across 191,561 complaints in 2025 (+1052% in losses since 2023).
  • Extortion / Threats — IC3's "Extortion" category: $122 million lost across 89,129 complaints in 2025 (+64% in losses since 2023).
"In 2025, losses reported to IC3 continued to climb, surpassing the $20 billion mark. Investment-related fraud was once again the largest component of these losses, followed by business email compromises and tech support scams."

— FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, 2025 Internet Crime Report

Frequently asked questions

How is the scam type of a report decided?

The person filing the report picks the closest match from a fixed list at submission time. It reflects their judgment of the scam, not an independent classification.

What does the 'Other' type mean?

The reporter didn't pick a specific type, or the scam didn't fit any listed category. The report's notes usually describe what actually happened.

Can one number appear under multiple scam types?

Yes. Each report is typed individually, so a number reported several times can show up under different types as its operators change scripts.

Report this to official agencies

This case file is a self-reported community record, not an official investigation. If you were targeted, consider also filing a report with a national or international fraud authority:

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