Recent scam alerts
Original summaries of alerts from official sources, plus our own explainers. Each one shows where it came from, when the source published it, and when we last reviewed it.
4 of 4 alertsShowing the editorial set published with this version of the site.
Read a link from the right, not the left
The start of a link is the easiest part to fake. In hxxps://usps.parcel-help.example[.]com/track, the familiar name is a subdomain that anyone can create.
Stickers with fake QR codes are turning up on parking meters
The FTC says people have reported QR code stickers placed over the real ones on parking meters. Scanning the sticker opens a look-alike payment page that collects card numbers or logins.
Cloned car dealership websites are taking deposits for cars that do not exist
According to the FTC, scammers copy a real dealer site, logos, listings, photos and all, then collect upfront payments. Buyers find out when the real dealership has no record of them.
Jury duty callers now follow up with a fake arrest warrant by text or email
The FTC describes calls from someone posing as a U.S. Marshal or local officer who says you missed jury duty and must pay a fine to avoid arrest.
We do not rank alerts by how common they are, because we do not have the data to say. For national figures, see the FTC and IC3.