Social Media Scams
Snapchat Scam UK: Fake Messages & Impersonation
Snapchat scams range from fake account-verification messages to romance fraud and money-flipping schemes. How to spot them and report them in the UK.
Scam guides
Browse all published guides by scam type, payment method, platform, or impersonation pattern.
Latest guides
Fraud & Impersonation
beatthescam.com Impersonation Scams: Fake Consumer Protection Sites
Learn how scammers impersonate consumer protection websites to steal money and data. This guide helps you spot fake beatthescam.com clones and stay safe.
Social Media Scams
YouTube Crypto Scam UK: How to Spot Fake Investment Channels
YouTube crypto scams use hijacked channels, deepfakes and fake investment sites. Learn safer checks, UK reporting routes and what to do after paying.
Social Media Scams
Instagram Fake Giveaway Scam UK: How to Spot and Report It
Instagram fake giveaway scams trick users into sharing personal details or paying 'entry fees'. How to spot one, verify a real giveaway, and report it.
Social Media Scams
WhatsApp Stranger Scam UK: How to Spot and Stop It
A stranger messaged you on WhatsApp? Learn the warning signs, how to verify who they are, protect your accounts, recover money and report the scam.
Romance & Dating Scams
Facebook Dating Scam UK: How to Spot Fake Profiles and Protect Yourself
Facebook dating scams use fake profiles to build trust, then ask for money. Learn the warning signs, how to verify a profile, and how to report it.
Romance & Dating Scams
Hinge Romance Scam UK: Warning Signs and What to Do
Learn the warning signs of a Hinge romance scam, what online checks can prove, how UK bank reimbursement works and where to report it.
Travel Scams
Cruise Scam UK: Spot Fake Deals and Book Safely
Cruise scams use fake deals, "free cruise" prizes and bogus booking sites to take your money. How to spot one, book safely and get your money back.
Travel Scams
Holiday Club Scam UK: How to Spot and Avoid Timeshare Fraud
Holiday club scams push discounted-travel memberships in high-pressure presentations, locking you into costly contracts. How to spot one and get out.
Travel Scams
Timeshare Scam UK: How to Spot and Avoid Holiday Property Traps
Timeshare scams promise cheap holidays and investment returns, then trap you in contracts with escalating fees. The warning signs and how to get help.
Travel Scams
Fake Travel Agent Scams UK: How to Spot Booking Fraud
Booking a cheap holiday, flight or villa from an agent you don't know? How to spot a fake travel agent, verify ABTA/ATOL, and protect your money.
Travel Scams
Booking.com Scam UK: Spot a Fake Payment Message
A message uses real booking details and demands payment or card information. Compare it with the confirmation and contact Booking.com directly.
Government Impersonation
Companies House Scam Letter UK: Spot a Fake Fee Demand
Fake Companies House letters demand invented registration or filing fees. Check the official register and current fees before paying or scanning a QR code.
Government Impersonation
HMRC Self Assessment Scam UK: Fake Refund & Tax Bill Texts
Fake HMRC messages spike around Self Assessment deadlines, claiming a refund or overdue bill. HMRC never asks you to 'confirm' bank details by text.
Government Impersonation
Benefits Fraud Text Scam UK: Spot a Fake DWP Text
Fake DWP texts use benefit reviews or payments to steal personal and bank details. Do not use the link; check through your official benefit account.
Government Impersonation
Council Housing Scam UK: Spot a Fake Housing Offer
A criminal claims they can sell a council home, priority or a guaranteed place. Apply and verify offers through the local council's official channels.
Government Impersonation
Student Finance Scam UK: Spot a Fake SLC Message
Fake Student Finance messages ask for personal, login or bank details. Check your online account directly and report suspicious contact.
Email Scams
Sextortion Email Scam UK: How to Respond Safely
Sextortion scam emails claim to have compromising footage and demand payment. Learn how to respond, report the email and secure your accounts.
Email Scams
Email Account Takeover UK: Recover and Lock It Down
Recover a compromised email account, remove forwarding rules and reused credentials, and use a passkey or two-step verification to secure it.
Email Scams
CEO Fraud Email Scam UK: Spot a Fake Boss Request
A message appears to come from a senior colleague and requests an urgent payment or sensitive data. Verify it through a separate trusted channel.
Fraud & Impersonation
Conveyancing Fraud UK: Stop “Friday Afternoon Fraud”
Criminals alter conveyancing emails and redirect completion money. Establish bank details early and verify any change through a trusted channel.
Fraud & Impersonation
Deed Fraud: Protect Property in England and Wales
Criminals may impersonate an owner to sell or mortgage a property. HM Land Registry offers alerts and title restrictions in England and Wales.
Fraud & Impersonation
Identity Theft UK: Warning Signs & What to Do
Noticed an unrecognised account or a sudden credit-file surprise? Here's how identity theft actually happens in the UK, and what to do about it first.
Investment & Finance Scams
Ponzi Scheme UK Warning: Spot the Recruitment Pattern
A Ponzi scheme pays early investors using later investors' money, not real profit, and cannot be sustained indefinitely. Here's what to watch for.
Investment & Finance Scams
Share Fraud UK: Spot a 'Boiler Room' Cold Call
Cold-called about shares with a free research report thrown in? The FCA's name for this is a 'boiler room' — check before you invest.
Investment & Finance Scams
Recovery Room Scam UK: A Second Scam After the First
Contacted by someone claiming to be the FCA, police, or a solicitor offering to recover money you've already lost? That contact is the scam.
Payment Scams
Wedding Photographer Scam UK: Verify Before You Book
A portfolio and social profile can be copied. Verify the photographer, contract and payment recipient, and understand card protection before paying.
Payment Scams
Wedding Venue Deposit Scam UK: Verify Before Paying
Verify a venue and any changed bank details through contact information found independently. Card and bank-transfer protections depend on how the loss occurred.
Text Message Scams
Parcel Scam Texts Around Bank Holidays & Christmas
A 'missed delivery' text arrives after a public holiday or during the Christmas rush? Real delays can make fake parcel texts seem plausible.
Phone Scams
Amazon Scam Phone Calls UK: How to Spot a Fake Amazon Call
Got an unexpected automated 'Amazon' call about an order or account? Treat it as unverified. Here is how to check it safely and stop a phone scam.
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