Phishing and fake messages
Messages that imitate a bank, store or public body to capture passwords and card data.
- Link with an odd address
- Sense of urgency
- Request for password or code
Independent initiative · non-profit
Report the scam.Protect whoever comes next.
FRAUD SCAM gathers reports of online and financial scams to expose how fraud is built — from the idea to the loss. You tell what happened; we organise it, protect your identity and point you to the right channel.
- Free, always
- Anonymous by default
- No advertising
- Your data is never sold
Timeline
Anonymous by default- 01
Idea
Someone realises a simple story — a prize, a job, a romance — makes people lower their guard.
- 02
Plan
The scammer builds profiles, pages and conversation scripts. Everything is rehearsed to feel urgent and official.
- 03
Objective
The target is always the same: money, data or documents. The pretext changes; the intent does not.
- 04
Execution
The approach arrives by message, ad or call. Small requests test trust before the big one.
- 05
Outcome
The payment leaves, the profile disappears and the victim learns the money will not come back. This is where a report matters.
Why we exist
Fraud is not an accident. It is a script — and scripts can be dismantled.
Every scam follows a build-up: someone imagines the pretext, sets the stage, picks the target and executes. Once that script is visible, the next person recognises the pattern before losing money.
FRAUD SCAM is an independent, non-profit project. We sell nothing, run no ads and charge nothing for a report. We exist to turn scattered accounts into public, useful knowledge.
- 01
Accessible reporting
A short form in three languages, with no sign-up and no login. You decide whether to identify yourself.
- 02
The scam timeline
Each report rebuilds the story in stages — idea, plan, objective, execution and outcome — to expose the method, not just the loss.
- 03
Responsible referral
We point to each country's official channels. A report does not replace a police filing: it complements it.
Timeline
Every scam has five acts.
This is the structure the reporter rebuilds — and the one shown in every case in the catalogue.
Idea
Someone realises a simple story — a prize, a job, a romance — makes people lower their guard.
Plan
The scammer builds profiles, pages and conversation scripts. Everything is rehearsed to feel urgent and official.
Objective
The target is always the same: money, data or documents. The pretext changes; the intent does not.
Execution
The approach arrives by message, ad or call. Small requests test trust before the big one.
Outcome
The payment leaves, the profile disappears and the victim learns the money will not come back. This is where a report matters.
What to report
Eleven scam families. One single method.
If your case fits none of them, choose “Other fraud” and tell the story.
Fake instant payment and bank support
A call or message from a supposed bank asking for a transfer, refund or data confirmation.
- Verification code requested by phone
- Threat of account block
- Personal account as payee
Fake investment
A promised high, guaranteed return on platforms that exist only to collect deposits.
- Fixed profit above the market
- Unregistered platform
- Withdrawals blocked after deposit
Romance scam
A relationship built over messages, always followed by a money request that cannot wait.
- Excuses to avoid video calls
- Urgent request for a loan
- Recurring tragic story
Fake tech support
A virus warning or account problem with a “technician” who asks for remote access to your device.
- Pop-up with a support phone number
- Request to install software
- Remote access requested
Marketplaces and fake listings
A product listed below market price, payment taken off-platform and a seller who vanishes.
- Price far below market
- Direct bank transfer payment
- Recently created profile
Cryptocurrency fraud
Wallets, tokens and “yield bots” that absorb deposits and lock every withdrawal.
- Promised daily returns
- Telegram group full of profit screenshots
- Fee to release a withdrawal
Fake job offer
An easy hire that requires a fee, paid training or tasks that move other people's money.
- Hired without an interview
- Charge for materials or registration
- Use of your bank account
Sextortion
A threat to reveal intimate conversations or images in exchange for immediate payment.
- Threat with a short deadline
- Supposed webcam recording
- Demand for cryptocurrency
Deepfakes and impersonation
Videos and audio generated by artificial intelligence imitating someone you trust.
- Voice with an unnatural tone
- Urgent transfer request
- Very short video
Other fraud
Cases that fit none of the categories above. Describe the method in as much detail as you can.
- Unusual approach
- Promises that are hard to verify
- Pressure to act fast
These descriptions are guidance only and do not replace an assessment by law enforcement.
The anatomy of each scam.How it works
Three steps, no bureaucracy.
You do not need a lawyer, an account or documents to start.
Tell what happened
Describe the scam in your own words and build the timeline: how the approach started, what they asked for and what you lost.
Protected record
We store the report under a reference code and never expose your identity. The IP address becomes an irreversible code before anything is written.
Referral
You get guidance on official channels and on what to preserve as evidence. The pattern feeds the site's alerts.
Catalogue
The anatomy of each scam.
Pick a case to see how the scheme is built, the warning signs and what to do to avoid it.
- See how the scam works
The e-mail from your bank that was not from your bank.
Phishing and fake messages
Phishing is a message that imitates a bank, store or public body to lure the victim into handing over passwords, codes or card details on a fake site.
- See how the scam works
The call from the “bank” that asks you to transfer money yourself.
Fake instant payment and bank support
The fake instant payment scam is a call or message from a supposed bank employee who convinces the victim to transfer money or share codes to “cancel” a fraud.
- See how the scam works
The guaranteed return that only exists in a screenshot.
Fake investment
A fake investment is a platform or adviser promising high guaranteed returns in order to collect deposits; the profit appears on screen, but withdrawals are never released.
- See how the scam works
A perfect story with a request that cannot wait.
Romance scam
A romance scam is a relationship built through messages by someone who never meets in person and who, once attached, asks for money for an emergency.
- See how the scam works
The virus that exists only to make you call.
Fake tech support
Fake tech support is a virus or error warning that leads the victim to call a number and allow remote access to the device.
- See how the scam works
The profit shows on screen; the withdrawal never does.
Cryptocurrency fraud
Cryptocurrency fraud uses wallets, tokens or yield bots to collect deposits in digital assets and block any withdrawal.
Illustrative cases based on public fraud patterns. They do not describe specific people or companies.
Before you report
Protect what can still be protected.
Five minutes of care prevent a bigger loss.
Do not click links or reply to the scammer: any reply confirms your contact is active.
Keep evidence before deleting anything: conversation screenshots, receipts, e-mails, numbers and site addresses.
Never send documents, a selfie with a document, verification codes or passwords.
Tell your bank immediately and ask to block the cards and accounts involved.
File a police report. A report here complements — it does not replace — the police record.
After the report
What we do with your account.
Transparency is part of the project.
We read every report. Accounts are grouped by pattern — same site, same number, same story — to identify active campaigns.
Personal data is never published. What appears in the catalogue is knowledge about the method, never about the victim.
When there are signs of an ongoing crime, we point to the official channel that fits the reporter's country.
FRAUD SCAM is not a police station, does not investigate and does not recover funds. We charge nothing and never ask for payment for any service.
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers.
What people ask most before reporting.
Is FRAUD SCAM a law enforcement agency?
No. We are an independent, non-profit project. We do not investigate, arrest anyone or recover money. Our role is to record reports, expose patterns and point to official channels.
Does reporting here replace a police report?
No. A police report is free and is the legal instrument. A FRAUD SCAM report complements it: it helps map the pattern and guide other victims.
Is the report anonymous?
Yes. No field is required to identify you. If you fill in an e-mail, it is used only for follow-up about the report and is never published.
Does FRAUD SCAM charge to recover my money?
Never. Nothing is charged at any stage. If someone claims to represent FRAUD SCAM and asks for payment, it is a scam — report it.
How long does it take?
Three to five minutes. The form asks for the scam type, your account, where it happened and the timeline of the scam.
Do I need to send documents?
No. Never send personal documents. Links to receipts and images you host yourself are enough for the analysis.
What happens to my data?
The report is stored with restricted access and identified only by a reference code. The IP address is turned into an irreversible code before being written. We do not sell it, share it for marketing or display ads.
Can I report a scam that happened to someone else?
Yes. Describe the case and state that the victim is someone else. Avoid sharing third-party personal data without authorisation.
Official channels
Where to file it for real.
FRAUD SCAM guides and organises. The formal report is filed with each country's public channels.
Consumidor.gov.br
Official platform for consumer complaints and conflict mediation.
Brazil — Opens in a new tab
SaferNet Brasil
Guidance and reporting of cybercrimes, in partnership with public prosecutors.
Brazil — Opens in a new tab
Delegacia Virtual (gov.br)
Online police report and guidance from the Civil Police of your state.
Brazil — Opens in a new tab
Polícia Judiciária
Authority responsible for criminal investigation, including cybercrime.
Portugal — Opens in a new tab
CNCS
National Cybersecurity Centre: alerts and guidance on digital incidents.
Portugal — Opens in a new tab
INCIBE
National Cybersecurity Institute: 017 helpline and digital fraud reporting.
Spain — Opens in a new tab
IC3
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, for cases with financial loss.
International — Opens in a new tab
APWG
Anti-phishing working group that receives phishing reports worldwide.
International — Opens in a new tab
Always confirm the official address before sending data. We list public bodies and non-profit organisations only.
Lost money or almost fell for it? Tell us.
Your story helps the next person recognise the scam before the loss.
Report a scam
Free · Anonymous by default · 3 to 5 minutes