Fight Back Against Online Scams.
Empowering individuals and communities to stand against cybercrime. Our platform is dedicated to raising awareness, promoting transparency, and providing the tools needed to tackle online scams and fraud effectively
File an online scam report
Report your experience and take the first step toward addressing online fraud. We make it simple and secure to file a detailed complaint.
Scam Prevention Tips
Learn how to identify and avoid online scams with our expert prevention tips. Stay informed and protect yourself from potential threats.
What We Do
Protecting You from
Cyber Threats
Our platform is a collaborative initiative dedicated to combating online scams and cybercrime. Backed by expertise and resources from leading organizations, we provide a centralized hub for reporting fraud, sharing prevention strategies, and fostering awareness. Together, we aim to enhance digital trust and protect individuals, businesses, and communities from evolving cyber threats.
Understanding Cybercrime
Understanding Cybercrime: What It Is, How It Works, and How to Stay Safe
In today’s digital world, understanding cybercrime is more important than ever. Cybercriminals are constantly evolving their methods to exploit individuals, businesses, and governments. From identity theft to ransomware attacks, cybercrime can affect anyone online.
What Is Cybercrime?
Cybercrime refers to any criminal activity that involves a computer, network, or digital device. These crimes can target individuals, companies, or even nations, and often involve stealing sensitive information, extorting money, or disrupting systems.
Cybercrime falls into two main categories:
Crimes that target computers (e.g., viruses, malware, DDoS attacks)
Crimes committed using computers (e.g., fraud, cyberstalking, identity theft)
How Scams Work
How Online Scams Work (And How to Avoid Them)
Online scams are deceptive tactics used by cybercriminals to trick people into giving away money, personal information, or access to sensitive accounts. These scams have become more sophisticated over time, making it crucial to understand how scams work and how you can protect yourself.
What Is an Online Scam?
An online scam is a form of fraud conducted through the internet. Scammers often pretend to be legitimate organizations, government agencies, or trusted individuals to manipulate victims. The goal is usually to steal money, personal information, or login credentials.
How Scams Work: Step-by-Step
Baiting the Victim
Scammers use enticing messages, fake ads, ornal stories to draw people in. This could come via email, social media, SMS, or fake websites.
Building Trust
They often pose as well-known companies (banks, delivery services, tech support) or even someone the victim knows. The scammer’s goal here is to create a sense of urgency and trust.Phishing for Information
Victims are asked to click a link, fill out a form, or log into a fake site that looks real. This is where login info, banking details, or credit card numbers are stolen.Taking Action
Once the scammer gets the information or payment, they either vanish or continue manipulating the victim (e.g., with follow-up scams or blackmail).Covering Tracks
Scammers may delete messages, deactivate fake sites, or change tactics frequently to avoid detection.
Common Types of Online
Phishing Emails & Texts
Fake E-commerce Websites
Tech Support Scams
Investment or Crypto Scams
Romance Scams
Social Media Impersonations
How to Avoid Online Scams
Never click on suspicious links or download unknown attachments.
Verify websites before making payments (look for “https” and check domain spelling).
Don’t trust unsolicited messages asking for urgent action or money.
Use strong, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication (2FA).
Report suspicious activity to relevant authorities immediately.
Final Thoughts on How Scams Work
Understanding how scams work is the first step to protecting yourself online. Whether you’re shopping, networking, or browsing the web, staying informed is your best defense. If something feels off, it probably is.
Reporting Fraud and online scams Effectively
Promptly reporting fraud is crucial for mitigating its impact and aiding investigations. The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) accepts online Internet crime complaints from either the person who believes they were defrauded or from a third party to the complainant
Cybersecurity Best Practices
Implementing robust cybersecurity measures is essential to protect your digital assets. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) offers guidelines on securing your personal and organizational data against cyber threats.
Stay Informed
Scam News and Alerts
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