Scams & easy money

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 euros 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-euro processing fee to release the inheritance.

1. You'd never heard of this relative, so it must be fake
2. The email comes from a personal address, not an official one
3. You're being asked to pay money in order to receive more money

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!”

1. An investment that guarantees 10% every week is financially impossible
2. Investments that make serious money are always reserved for wealthy people
3. Sharing a screenshot proves it's real, since you can see the result

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.

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

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.

1. The amount is too large to be believable
2. You don't remember entering, yet only people who actually enter can win
3. Real lotteries ask for personal information by email to validate a win

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?”

1. Bank advisors don't pay attention to clients' security codes
2. Saying a code out loud on the phone is risky because someone nearby might overhear it
3. Your bank already has all your security codes on file - it never needs to ask for them over the phone

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.

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

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.

1. It's free, so there's no risk in trying it
2. It's a genuine mutual support system that banks simply don't like
3. It's a pyramid scheme: only the people at the top win, funded by the money new members put in

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.

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

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.

1. A real refund or tax rebate is first announced through an official letter, never through an email demanding an urgent click
2. If the email has an official-looking logo, it must be genuine
3. These days, all refunds happen by email

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.

1. No algorithm can guarantee a steady 5% daily return - it's mathematically and financially impossible
2. The site has positive reviews, so it must genuinely work
3. Cryptocurrencies can't generate gains like this under any circumstances

You get a message on a messaging app from a friend. They say they lost their wallet while traveling 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.

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

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.

1. Steep discounts are normal for online shops, so there's no need to check anything
2. If the site accepts card payments, it must be safe
3. Whether the site genuinely exists, who runs it, its physical address, and its legal information

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.

1. Foreign law firms regularly reach out by email about inheritances, that's normal practice
2. Legitimate inheritance fees go through a local notary or estate lawyer, never through payments to a stranger
3. If every fee comes with an explanation, it must be justified

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.

1. The spreadsheets prove the system works
2. Automated trading strategies are real, and this kind of return is normal
3. A steady 10% a month is impossible - no investment offers that kind of regularity. It's either mathematically false or a pyramid scheme

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.

1. A real bank never asks you to click an email link to verify your identity
2. If the fake page imitates the real site closely enough, it counts as official
3. Security update emails like this are normal and safe

On a rental site, you find a nicely located three-room apartment, 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.

1. Meet the owner in person, see the apartment, check their papers and the property deed, and sign a lease
2. If the owner accepts a bank transfer, that makes it legitimate
3. Rock-bottom prices like this are common, so there's no need to check anything

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.

1. If it's guaranteed, that makes it legitimate
2. No crypto platform can guarantee steady returns. The guarantee is bait - the money either disappears or gets frozen once the deadline passes
3. Crypto platforms that offer a guarantee are regulated and trustworthy

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.

1. Customs fees are normal and should be paid to the carrier
2. If the email looks official, it must be
3. Real customs fees are paid in person at delivery, never through an email link. This is a fake-fee scam

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.

1. It's legitimate, since there's a proper administrative structure behind it
2. It's a sophisticated pyramid scheme: only the earliest members gain; new members' money funds the earlier ones, not any real credit
3. It's a genuine cooperative system, as long as the bylaws are written down properly

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.

1. It's a great opportunity, since experts are sharing their tips
2. If a tip were genuinely that profitable and exclusive, nobody would sell access to it for a small fee in a group chat. That's a con artist's move
3. If people really made 30%, the advice must be legitimate

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.

1. If it says “60% off,” that must be true
2. Compare it to the price a few days earlier (search for the item before the sale) and check whether other sites are running a similar promo
3. It has to be a scam, since real promos are never this big

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.”

1. A raise must be genuine if it's coming from your employer
2. It's a great opportunity to earn in crypto
3. No real company pays salaries in cryptocurrency - it's unstable and doesn't meet legal payroll requirements

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.

1. No, it must be a scam because the return is too low
2. Yes, but you should still verify the fund's real identity, its registered address, its certifications, and compare its fees before signing anything
3. Yes, since it's regulated, it's automatically safe

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.”

1. The page said “verification in progress,” so you should just wait it out
2. It arrived as an email rather than a text message
3. You just handed your login details to a fake page. No real bank would ever ask for this by email, even on a page that looks convincing

An ad offers a studio apartment in a lesser-known part of town, well outside the center. 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.

1. No, but you should verify things: meet the owner, see the place, ask for the property deed, and confirm the rental is legitimate
2. Yes, it's a scam simply because the price is abnormally low
3. No, the explanations given are clear enough to just trust

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.”

1. 10% sounds huge, but the conditions shrink the real benefit drastically - most buyers will never see anything close to the advertised 10%
2. It's a genuine opportunity, since the cashback does technically exist
3. Conditions written in small print don't carry any legal weight

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.”

1. If all the paperwork looks in order, it must be real
2. Registration fees get paid AFTER an estate is settled, never before. That's a scam signal even when everything else checks out
3. Real notaries sometimes ask for a deposit to open a file

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.

1. If it's officially registered, there's no risk at all
2. A written guarantee is always legally binding no matter what
3. No annuity can truly be guaranteed; if the company collapses or turns out to be a scam, the guarantee disappears with it. Being legally registered doesn't prove financial soundness

You bought something online. An email announces: “Refund approved. Download your payment confirmation to finalize 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.

1. It's normal to need an extra confirmation step
2. The combined process - an email followed by a call demanding personal data - is suspicious. No platform needs TWO separate steps for a simple refund
3. If the page looks secure and the call seems official, it really must be the platform

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.

1. It's a scam, because the return is too low to be worth it
2. There's no way to decide without checking the company itself - its registration, its certifications, and requesting official documentation. Only verification counts here, not trust in a friend
3. If your friend really got the money back, it must be legal