Scams & easy money

30 cases in this category

Easy

What's the main warning sign?

You get an email from a personal email address. A man introduces himself as a lawyer representing an international law firm. He explains that you're inheriting two million dollars from a distant relative you'd never heard of, who died without a will. But before you can receive the money, you first need to pay a $500 processing fee to release the inheritance.

You'd never heard of this relative, so it must be fake
The email comes from a personal address, not an official one
You have to pay before you can receive anything

See the answer and the explanation

The right answer: You have to pay before you can receive anything

The scam runs on this logic: to unlock a supposedly huge payout, they ask you to front a small “fee” first. But a real inheritance goes through a local notary or estate lawyer, never through a payment to a stranger online. The move: always check with a licensed notary before handing over a cent.

Related reflex(es): 6. Too good to be true? · 1. Who is speaking?

Why is this a warning sign?

In a group chat, someone shares a screenshot: an investment portfolio that supposedly turned into $50,000 in three months, from a plan that pays 10% every week. He says: “It's simple, it's easy, and it's for everyone. Join me, this changes your life!”

An investment that guarantees 10% a week is financially impossible, not just risky
Investments that make serious money are always reserved for wealthy people
Sharing a screenshot proves it's real, since you can see the result

See the answer and the explanation

The right answer: An investment that guarantees 10% a week is financially impossible, not just risky

Financial markets simply don't allow returns that are both this regular and this enormous. Every real investment carries risk. When someone promises fixed, massive gains, it's either a scam or an illusion built to look like one. The move: find out where the money actually goes, and who really benefits from the system.

Related reflex(es): 6. Too good to be true? · 7. What is it selling me?

What should stop you from clicking?

You get a text: “Security alert: your bank account will be suspended tonight unless you reconnect. Click here to verify immediately: [link].” The message appears to come from your bank's usual number. Panic kicks in.

A made-up sense of urgency pushing you to act right now, without thinking
The fact that it seems to come from your bank's number, so it must be legitimate
The fact that it's a text message rather than a phone call

See the answer and the explanation

The right answer: A made-up sense of urgency pushing you to act right now, without thinking

Scammers manufacture urgency (“tonight,” “suspended”) to make you click before you can check anything. No real bank ever asks you to confirm your codes through a link in a text message. The move: call your bank yourself, using the number printed on the back of your card, before you click anything.

Related reflex(es): 6. Too good to be true? · 2. What's the source?

What detail makes this offer clearly fake?

An email announces: “Congratulations! You've won $100,000 in a major international lottery.” You don't remember ever entering, but the email says it's automatic for anyone with an email address. To receive your prize, you're asked to send your personal and banking details.

The amount is too large to be believable
You never entered, and only entrants can win
Real lotteries ask for personal information by email to validate a win

See the answer and the explanation

The right answer: You never entered, and only entrants can win

A real lottery only pays out if you bought a ticket or actually entered. No lottery randomly targets email addresses. The first reflex: if you don't remember entering, there's nothing waiting for you. The move: be especially suspicious of “automatic” wins, or prizes you supposedly won without even knowing you were in the running.

Why should you never answer this?

A man calls you, saying he's your bank advisor. He explains there's been a fraud attempt on your account and he needs to verify your identity. He asks: “Can you give me your 4-digit security code, just to confirm it's really you?”

Bank advisors keep a note of clients' security codes
Saying a code out loud on the phone is risky because someone nearby might overhear it
Your bank never knows your secret code, so it can't ask for it

See the answer and the explanation

The right answer: Your bank never knows your secret code, so it can't ask for it

Here's the golden rule: your real bank will NEVER ask for your security codes, your passwords or your full card number over the phone. It cannot, because it does not hold them: a secret code is stored so that nobody inside the bank can read it, and staff identify you by other means. So no advisor keeps a note of your code either. Anyone who demands one is running a scam, full stop. The move: hang up, then call your bank back yourself on the official number printed on your card.

Related reflex(es): 1. Who is speaking? · 2. What's the source?

What's the classic trap here?

On a classifieds site, you find an ad: a recent-model car, low mileage, priced 30% below market. The photo looks genuine. The seller says they need to sell fast because they're moving abroad, and asks for a deposit to “reserve” the car before you even see it.

That the seller is moving abroad, so you couldn't take legal action later
Demanding payment before letting you inspect the car
That the car seems too new to be sold at that price

See the answer and the explanation

The right answer: Demanding payment before letting you inspect the car

The scheme is a classic: a very attractive price, manufactured urgency (“I'm leaving soon”), and a request for a deposit before you've seen the item. The money disappears, and so does the car, if it ever existed. The move: never send money before physically seeing both the item and the seller.

Related reflex(es): 6. Too good to be true? · 7. What is it selling me?

What's the real mechanism here?

A friend invites you to an online meeting. They say they've found a “mutual support club” where everyone earns money just by inviting other people in. The more you invite, the more you earn. They show photos of happy people receiving bonuses. Joining is free at the start.

It's free, so there's no risk in trying it
It's a genuine mutual support system that banks simply don't like
It's a pyramid scheme fed by new members' money

See the answer and the explanation

The right answer: It's a pyramid scheme fed by new members' money

Any system where you mainly earn by recruiting other people is a pyramid scheme. The only real winners are the earliest ones, and it always collapses eventually. Money from new members flows up to fund the earlier ones; there is no actual product or service generating it, so the payouts stop the moment recruitment does. The move: walk away the moment a system pushes recruiting harder than any real product or service.

Related reflex(es): 7. What is it selling me? · 5. Who else is saying it?

What signal should stop you here?

You find a job listing that pays very well: a solid monthly salary, remote work, very few hours required. Before you can start, the company asks you to pay a fee for “mandatory training” or a “starter kit.” Without that payment, you can't even see the full job details.

A real company hiring staff never asks candidates to pay money
It's normal to have to pay for training
Since the job is remote, the company must be covering its costs somewhere else

See the answer and the explanation

The right answer: A real company hiring staff never asks candidates to pay money

This is a dead giveaway: a real employer pays for your training, they don't charge you for it. If you're asked for money before you've even started a job, that's a recruitment scam. The money disappears, and the job never existed. The move: report listings like this.

Related reflex(es): 1. Who is speaking? · 6. Too good to be true?

Why should you stay cautious anyway?

An email announces: “Good news! You're getting a $450 refund on your taxes. Click below to confirm your refund and receive the transfer within 48 hours.” The email is beautifully designed, with an official-looking logo.

A real tax refund arrives by official letter, not by an email that demands a click
If the email has an official-looking logo, it must be genuine
These days, all refunds happen by email

See the answer and the explanation

The right answer: A real tax refund arrives by official letter, not by an email that demands a click

Scammers impersonate the organisations that actually pay out money: tax offices, insurers, postal services. An email demanding an urgent click to “confirm” something is almost always a trap, and a logo copied from a real website proves nothing at all. The real process is slower and far less dramatic, and it starts with a letter. The move: never click a link in an email to claim a refund. Go straight to the official site by typing the address in yourself.

What's the major trap here?

An ad leads you to a site: “Crypto investing, guaranteed. Earn 5% a day with our patented algorithm. Invest $1,000 today, withdraw $50,000 in three months.” The site displays five-star reviews and glowing testimonials. It's genuinely convincing.

No algorithm can guarantee 5% a day
The site has positive reviews, so it must genuinely work
Cryptocurrencies can't generate gains like this under any circumstances

See the answer and the explanation

The right answer: No algorithm can guarantee 5% a day

Promises of “guaranteed” or “patented” returns in crypto, or anywhere else, are always scams: a fixed 5% a day compounds to figures no market on earth produces. “Easy” returns like this don't exist, and the money you put in simply disappears. The reviews are fake, written for the site. The move: walk away the moment someone promises fixed, massive gains, guaranteed or patented.

Medium

Before responding, what should you do first?

You get a message on a messaging app from a friend. They say they lost their wallet while travelling and can't access their bank account. They ask: “Could you lend me a large sum urgently? I'll pay you back the moment I'm home.” The tone feels natural, but it's odd that they'd ask you specifically.

Transfer the money right away, since it's a friend and it's urgent
Call them by phone or video to check that it's really them
Send the money, after asking them to also cover the transfer fees

See the answer and the explanation

The right answer: Call them by phone or video to check that it's really them

This is a very common scam: a friend's account gets hijacked, and the scammer asks their contacts for urgent money. A real friend can wait ten minutes for a verification call. The move: always call the person directly, on a number you already know, before sending any money.

Related reflex(es): 1. Who is speaking? · 10. What if I'm the one who's wrong?

What deserves checking before you order?

You find an online shop selling well-known clothing brands at 70% off. The prices are unbeatable. The site has only existed for two months, but the reviews are glowing (five stars across the board), and it accepts card payments. You're tempted to place an order.

Steep discounts are normal for online shops, so there's no need to check anything
If the site accepts card payments, it must be safe
Who runs the site, and where it is legally based

See the answer and the explanation

The right answer: Who runs the site, and where it is legally based

A brand-new site, rock-bottom prices and suspiciously perfect reviews are three warning signs at once. Sites like this often steal your payment details or ship counterfeit goods. The move: read the “about us” page, look for a physical address and the legal information, then search the site's name plus the word “scam.” A legitimate shop leaves verifiable traces.

Related reflex(es): 2. What's the source? · 5. Who else is saying it?

Why stay cautious despite the detailed explanations?

A law firm contacts you by email. An inheritance is waiting for you, but there are several fees to settle first: processing fees, notification fees, international transfer fees. Each one is explained and sounds reasonable on its own. Added up, the total comes to a few thousand dollars.

Foreign law firms regularly reach out by email about inheritances, that's normal practice
Estate fees go through a local notary, not to a stranger
If every fee comes with an explanation, it must be justified

See the answer and the explanation

The right answer: Estate fees go through a local notary, not to a stranger

The scam has simply evolved: instead of one huge fee, it asks for several smaller payments that each sound reasonable. It's still a scam. A real local notary meets you in person and doesn't ask for odd advance payments like these. The move: consult a notary local to you BEFORE paying anything at all.

Related reflex(es): 2. What's the source? · 6. Too good to be true?

What would actual finance experts say about these numbers?

A man offers you a special investment: “I've got an automated trading strategy. You put in a set amount, and every month I pay you back 10% in gains. It's tested, it's safe.” He shows you spreadsheets with impressive results stretching back two years.

The spreadsheets prove the system works
Automated trading strategies are real, and this kind of return is normal
A steady 10% a month is impossible

See the answer and the explanation

The right answer: A steady 10% a month is impossible

Scammers love financial jargon and convincing-looking spreadsheets. 10% a month works out to over 120% a year, which would outperform every market on the planet. No investment offers that kind of regularity: it is either mathematically false, or a pyramid scheme stacking new investors on top of old ones. The move: look for verifiable proof, namely an actual financial licence, and search online for complaints.

What's the trap here, even though the email looks like it's really from your bank?

You get an email carrying your bank's logo. Subject line: “Security update required.” The message asks you to verify your identity by clicking a link, or your account will be suspended. The link leads to a page that looks almost identical to the real site.

A real bank never asks you to verify your identity by clicking a link in an email
If the fake page imitates the real site closely enough, it counts as official
Security update emails like this are normal and safe

See the answer and the explanation

The right answer: A real bank never asks you to verify your identity by clicking a link in an email

Scammers copy the design specifically to fool you. A real bank will NEVER ask you to click an email link to verify your identity. It only ever asks by calling you, or through its official site when you type the address in yourself. The move: ignore “security” links in emails and go straight to the site by typing the address.

What should you check before making that payment?

On a rental site, you find a nicely located three-room flat, brand new, with a view, priced 40% below others in the area. The owner says they want to rent it out fast because they're retiring. They ask for a security deposit before you even sign a lease.

See the flat and meet the owner before paying
If the owner accepts a bank transfer, that makes it legitimate
Rock-bottom prices like this are common, so there's no need to check anything

See the answer and the explanation

The right answer: See the flat and meet the owner before paying

It's a classic scheme: an appealing ad, a price well below market, manufactured urgency, and a deposit requested before you've even seen the place. The scammer may be letting the same flat to several people at once, or may not own it at all. The move: never send money without seeing the home, meeting the owner, checking their papers and the property deed, and signing an actual lease.

Related reflex(es): 6. Too good to be true? · 1. Who is speaking?

Why is a “refund guarantee” suspicious here?

A group on social media promotes: “Secure crypto trading platform. Start with a small stake, earn a fixed daily payout, guaranteed. Not happy after 30 days? Full refund.” It's all written out clearly, and the offer looks carefully put together.

If it's guaranteed, that makes it legitimate
No crypto platform can guarantee steady returns, whatever the small print says
Crypto platforms that offer a guarantee are regulated and trustworthy

See the answer and the explanation

The right answer: No crypto platform can guarantee steady returns, whatever the small print says

Crypto scammers offer a “guarantee” specifically to reassure people and pull them in. The guarantee is the bait: after 30 days the account freezes, the company vanishes, or it suddenly demands fees to “unlock” your funds. There's no real regulator standing behind any of it. The move: walk away the moment guaranteed crypto returns or no-questions refunds are promised.

What's the main trap here?

You've ordered a package from abroad. An email announces a customs issue. To release the package, you're told to pay a small customs fee through a payment link. The email appears to come from an official shipping carrier.

Customs fees are normal and should be paid to the carrier
If the email looks official, it must be
Customs charges are paid at delivery, never through a link

See the answer and the explanation

The right answer: Customs charges are paid at delivery, never through a link

The scammer is impersonating a shipping carrier. Real customs charges get paid in person, at delivery, never through an email link. The link leads to a fake payment page where your money disappears, and the package was never really held up in the first place. The move: call the carrier directly, on its official number, if you're ever unsure.

Related reflex(es): 2. What's the source? · 7. What is it selling me?

What's the real mechanism here, despite the legal-looking front?

A mutual savings group invites you to join. The structure looks legitimate: official bylaws, a named president, monthly meetings. You pay in a set amount, receive an interest-free credit worth much more, and are expected to recruit other members. The more you recruit, the more points you earn.

It's legitimate, since there's a proper administrative structure behind it
It's a pyramid scheme behind a legal-looking front
It's a genuine cooperative system, as long as the bylaws are written down properly

See the answer and the explanation

The right answer: It's a pyramid scheme behind a legal-looking front

Modern pyramid schemes hide behind bylaws, meetings and a convincing legal front. Only the earliest members gain: new members' money funds the earlier ones, not any real credit, because there is no economic activity behind it. The collapse is only a matter of time. The move: be wary of any system that pushes recruitment harder than an actual product or service.

Related reflex(es): 7. What is it selling me? · 5. Who else is saying it?

What should alert you first?

A charismatic man starts a “savvy investors” group chat. He shares “exclusive” investment tips supposedly before the market catches on. His clients apparently made 30% in six months. He offers a spot in the group for a fee.

It's a great opportunity, since experts are sharing their tips
Nobody sells a genuinely winning tip for a small fee
If people really made 30%, the advice must be legitimate

See the answer and the explanation

The right answer: Nobody sells a genuinely winning tip for a small fee

This is a con artist playing the role of expert. A tip that profitable and that exclusive would never be sold for a small fee in a group chat: it would be used, not marketed. The “clients” who supposedly made 30% are often accomplices, or cherry-picked success stories. The move: consult advisors who are actually licensed by your country's financial regulator.

Tough

How can you be sure this is a real promo and not a trick?

A big clothing retailer launches an online flash sale. Items are marked “60% off,” but only for 24 hours on certain collections. The discounted prices look realistic compared to typical sales. You need to click fast, or you'll miss it.

If it says “60% off,” that must be true
Compare it with the price the same item carried a few days earlier
It has to be a scam, since real promos are never this big

See the answer and the explanation

The right answer: Compare it with the price the same item carried a few days earlier

Real promos genuinely exist. But you shouldn't trust the sticker alone: a “discounted” price can be inflated first, so the discount looks bigger than it is. The real move: search for what the item cost a few days before the “sale,” then compare it across other sites. Real deals are out there, but they still need checking.

Related reflex(es): 9. Does the number have context? · 2. What's the source?

What makes this offer suspicious despite its legitimate appearance?

Your employer offers you a raise. It's unexpected, and you're thrilled. But to receive the raise right away, you're told you have to accept it in cryptocurrency instead of regular pay. The reasoning given: “It's our new policy, to stay modern.”

A raise must be genuine if it's coming from your employer
It's a great opportunity to earn in crypto
No real employer pays wages in cryptocurrency instead of money

See the answer and the explanation

The right answer: No real employer pays wages in cryptocurrency instead of money

This is a sophisticated trap: the raise itself might be real, but the crypto payment is where the scam hides. Cryptocurrency is unstable and does not meet legal payroll requirements, and once your pay is converted, control of that wallet can slip away and the balance vanishes. No genuine company imposes a system like this. The move: refuse any salary paid in crypto and insist on regular currency landing in your actual bank account.

Does this offer seem legitimate?

An investment fund offers you a supplementary retirement plan with an average return of 4% a year. That's lower than in the past, but the company is upfront that rates are simply low right now. The fund is registered with the relevant financial regulator. You can withdraw your money anytime, subject to a notice period.

No, it must be a scam because the return is too low
Yes, but check the official register first
Yes, since it's regulated, it's automatically safe

See the answer and the explanation

The right answer: Yes, but check the official register first

This is a case where the offer really could be genuine. But “possible” doesn't mean “safe.” The move: confirm the fund actually exists on the official regulatory register, check its registered address and its certifications, identify who regulates it, compare its fees and read the full contract. Even a regulated offer deserves checking before you sign.

What should alarm you in hindsight?

You get an email from your bank announcing a new mobile payment feature. It's perfectly formatted, uses your full name, and the link leads to a page that looks exactly like the real thing. You click through and enter your username and password. Afterward, the page just says: “Verification in progress, please try again in an hour.”

The page said “verification in progress,” so you should just wait it out
It arrived as an email rather than a text message
You typed your login details into a fake page

See the answer and the explanation

The right answer: You typed your login details into a fake page

The trap here is subtle: the email looks real, and the page copies the genuine site almost perfectly. But no bank will ever ask for your login credentials through an email, however convincing the page looks. What you entered went straight to whoever built that page. The move: always go directly to the site by typing the address yourself, never through a link in an email, and change the password at once if you have already typed it.

Should you dismiss this ad outright?

An ad offers a studio flat in a lesser-known part of town, well outside the centre. The price is 50% below comparable listings. The ad explains: “Low demand in this area, owner selling due to health reasons, no agency involved.” The photos look clear and genuine, and the owner has a local number and is happy to arrange a viewing.

No, but verify everything before you pay
Yes, it's a scam simply because the price is abnormally low
No, the explanations given are clear enough to just trust

See the answer and the explanation

The right answer: No, but verify everything before you pay

This is a genuinely nuanced case: the explanation could easily be true, because a less sought-after area really can mean a lower price. But it's also textbook scammer language. The move: don't dismiss it, but verify carefully BEFORE any payment changes hands. Meet the owner, see the place, ask for the property deed, and confirm the rental is legitimate.

Related reflex(es): 10. What if I'm the one who's wrong? · 1. Who is speaking?

Why is something that sounds generous actually much less attractive?

A site advertises: “Pay with our virtual card, earn 10% cashback on everything you buy.” That's the big, bold claim. In small print underneath: “Cashback capped at a small monthly amount, valid for 24 months, paid out as non-transferable vouchers on our partner site.”

The conditions shrink the 10% to almost nothing
It's a genuine opportunity, since the cashback does technically exist
Conditions written in small print don't carry any legal weight

See the answer and the explanation

The right answer: The conditions shrink the 10% to almost nothing

The offer isn't technically false, but it's built to mislead. The big, bold 10% promise gets neutralised by the fine print: a low monthly cap, an expiry date, repayment in vouchers instead of cash. Most buyers will never see anything close to the advertised figure. The move: ALWAYS read the fine print; it very often contradicts the headline promise sitting above it.

What's wrong with this very realistic-looking scenario?

A law firm contacts you with what looks like an official letter. There's a genuine inheritance from a distant relative who passed away last year. The paperwork looks solid: correct names, a verifiable date of death, a reasonable amount. To receive the money, you need to sign papers with a notary. But the firm first asks for a sum in “advance registration fees.”

If all the paperwork looks in order, it must be real
Estate fees are paid after settlement, never in advance of it
Real notaries sometimes ask for a deposit to open a file

See the answer and the explanation

The right answer: Estate fees are paid after settlement, never in advance of it

This is the hard version of the trap: the scammer genuinely did their homework, with a real relative, a real death and a believable amount. But they insist on an advance payment, and that alone is a scam signal even when everything else checks out. A real notary never operates that way. The move: consult a notary local to where the death occurred yourself, never the one the other party suggests.

Related reflex(es): 2. What's the source? · 6. Too good to be true?

Why stay cautious despite this appearance of legality?

A company registered in the official business registry (you can verify it yourself) offers a structured investment plan. You put in a set amount, and over five years you're promised a fixed annual payout, GUARANTEED. The structure is legal, the paperwork is current, and the registered address is real.

If it's officially registered, there's no risk at all
A written guarantee is always legally binding no matter what
Registration proves a company exists, not that it is financially sound

See the answer and the explanation

The right answer: Registration proves a company exists, not that it is financially sound

Being legally registered isn't the same as being honest or financially stable. No annuity can truly be guaranteed: if the company collapses or turns out to be a scam, the guarantee disappears with it, and a scammer can set up a genuine company purely to disappear after collecting everyone's money. The move: look for real financial history, independent reviews, and complaints filed with regulators.

What doesn't add up here, despite everything looking legitimate?

You bought something online. An email announces: “Refund approved. Download your payment confirmation to finalise it.” The link leads to a secure-looking page. A few minutes later, you get a call from what looks like an official number, asking you to confirm the refund by giving your account number.

It's normal to need an extra confirmation step
An email, then a call asking for your account number
If the page looks secure and the call seems official, it really must be the platform

See the answer and the explanation

The right answer: An email, then a call asking for your account number

This one's subtle: each step looks plausible on its own, but together they form a trap. No platform needs TWO separate steps for a simple refund, and an email followed by a phone call is a classic pattern for a more sophisticated scam. A real platform would send you a single email and stop there. The move: never give banking details over a phone call, even one that sounds completely official.

How do you decide, without more information?

Your friend tells you about an investment they made: they put a set amount with a small, local asset management firm. Two years later, they got back a bit more than they put in. They say it's normal: a modest but safe return. You have no idea whether this is a scam or completely legitimate. Your friend clearly has no bad intentions.

It's a scam, because the return is too low to be worth it
You can't decide without checking the company itself
If your friend really got the money back, it must be legal

See the answer and the explanation

The right answer: You can't decide without checking the company itself

This is the ultimate nuanced case: you genuinely can't conclude anything yet, and a friend's good faith is not evidence. Your friend could have been scammed without realising it, because some scammers pay early “gains” using money from newer members. Or it really could be legitimate. The move: check the company's registration and certifications independently, read the actual contract, and ask exactly where the money is invested.

Related reflex(es): 2. What's the source? · 5. Who else is saying it?

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