// Published Monday & Thursday · Free & Public
Scams targeting real people,
right now.
Plain-language alerts on the phone calls, texts, emails, and in-person encounters being used to steal money from people like you — no jargon, no fear-mongering, just what to watch for and what to do next.
// Latest Alerts
Vigilance Spotlight · September 10, 2026
Juice Jacking — Malware and Data Theft via Airport USB Charging Ports — TSA Advisory Still Active
Ongoing Alert — TSA Advisory — Fall Travel Season: Compromised public USB ports at airports install malware or steal credentials the moment a traveler plugs in their device. The USB connection carries both power and data — unlike wall outlets — giving an attacker a direct channel to your phone or tablet while it charges normally. The TSA has issued repeated warnings and the FBI has confirmed successful real-world attacks. Use your own charger with a wall outlet, a portable battery pack, or a USB data blocker — never plug into a public airport USB port.
Sources: TSA Advisory (Mandatory) · FBI Warning
View Full Spotlight →
Vigilance Spotlight · September 7, 2026 (Labor Day)
Fake TSA PreCheck, Global Entry & NEXUS Enrollment Sites Are Stealing Money and Passport Data from Travelers
Ongoing Alert — Elder-Targeted — BBB Documented: Scammers build fake government-lookalike websites that appear in search results when travelers look up TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or NEXUS enrollment. Victims pay the legitimate program fee plus an extra "service fee" and submit passport-level personal information — but the application is never filed and the money is gone. With Labor Day weekend bringing one of the highest-volume airport days of the year, this is the moment travelers are most likely to search for enrollment information on the spot. Official sites only: tsa.gov (PreCheck) and cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs (Global Entry/NEXUS). No legitimate third-party enrollment service charges extra fees.
Sources: BBB Scam Tracker · TSA Official Advisory
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In-Person · September 3, 2026
September 3, 2026 — In-Person Scam Watch: Sweep Conducted — No New Qualifying Findings This Week
A full sweep was conducted across all 5 mandatory sources (TSA, AAA Travel, U.S. State Department, IATA, BBB Scam Tracker). No new airport or in-person scam patterns were identified within this week's coverage window that met all inclusion criteria. Three candidates were assessed and excluded: a fake biometric boarding fee scam (secondary source only, same candidate from Aug 27 run), QR code quishing at airports (secondary source only), and a fake airline phone number scam (remote-delivered — belongs in the Monday report). No finding has been lowered in standard to fill the slot — a clean sweep with no new findings is the honest result this week.
Sources: TSA · AAA Travel · State Department · IATA · BBB Scam Tracker
View Sweep Log →
Remote · August 31, 2026
August 31, 2026 — Fake "Veterans Savings Program" Postcards Are Phishing for Your Personal and Financial Information
One High-Alert Government Impersonation Scam confirmed active nationwide (FTC alert August 24, 2026): Veterans and their spouses across the country are receiving official-looking postcards in the mail claiming they may qualify for extra monthly veterans benefits through a program called the "Veterans Savings Program." The program does not exist — it is a scammer's invention. The postcard is designed to get you to call a phone number or visit a website, where the real scam begins: collecting your personal information, Social Security number, or financial details for identity theft or fraud. The FTC confirmed reports are coming in nationwide. Verify any veterans benefits claim directly through VA.gov or the official VA benefits hotline (1-800-827-1000) — never call a number or visit a website listed on an unsolicited postcard about benefits you didn't apply for.
Sources: FTC Consumer Alert — August 24, 2026
Read Full Breakdown →
Remote · August 24, 2026
August 24, 2026 — That Random Package You Didn't Order Is a Scam — And It May Mean Someone Has Your Personal Information
One High-Alert Marketplace Scam confirmed active nationwide (FTC alert August 20, 2026): Receiving an unexpected package with cheap, random items inside — baby wipes, seeds, toothpaste — isn't good luck. It's a "brushing scam," where criminals use your name and address to fake verified product reviews. Worse, it signals your personal data has already been obtained. The FTC is warning consumers nationwide about this growing scheme. Report any unsolicited package to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, and immediately check your credit report at AnnualCreditReport.com for unauthorized accounts or activity.
Source: FTC Consumer Alert (Aug 20, 2026)
Read Full Breakdown →
Remote · August 24, 2026
August 24, 2026 — Searching Online to Pay a Utility Bill? Scam Sites at the Top of Results Are Taking Your Payment Without Paying the Bill
One High-Alert Marketplace Scam confirmed active nationwide (FTC alert August 17, 2026): When you search online for "pay my electric bill" or similar, fake payment sites appear at the top of results — sometimes as paid ads — that look exactly like your utility company's real site. They collect your payment and bank details but never forward the money to your utility. You end up with stolen payment information, your bill still unpaid, and potentially a shutoff notice weeks later. Never use a search result to reach a bill payment page — type your utility's official web address directly into your browser, or use the address printed on your paper bill.
Source: FTC Consumer Alert (Aug 17, 2026)
Read Full Breakdown →
In-Person · August 20, 2026
August 20, 2026 — Public USB Charging Ports at Airports Can Silently Install Malware on Your Phone — TSA Warns: Use a Wall Outlet or Your Own Power Bank
One High-Alert Airport Scam confirmed active and flagged by TSA at airports nationwide: A technique called "juice jacking" allows criminals to tamper with public USB charging stations so that plugging in your phone silently installs malware or extracts passwords, contacts, and financial credentials — with no visible sign anything is happening. The TSA specifically warns against plugging directly into public USB ports at airports. Bring your own wall adapter and use a standard power outlet, or carry a portable power bank — and if a USB port is your only option, use a USB data blocker (under $15) that passes power through but physically blocks data transfer.
Sources: TSA · AAA Travel
Read Full Breakdown →
In-Person · August 20, 2026
August 20, 2026 — Fake "Evil Twin" Airport WiFi Networks Intercept Everything You Type — Passwords, Credit Cards, and Login Credentials
One High-Alert Airport Scam confirmed active and flagged by TSA at airports nationwide: Criminals set up rogue WiFi hotspots in terminals with names nearly identical to the real airport network. When you connect, they can see everything you send and receive — passwords, banking app data, and any personal information you enter — with no visible warning. Use your phone's cellular data for anything involving passwords or personal information, or enable a VPN before connecting to any public WiFi — free airport WiFi is safe for reading news, not for logging in to anything.
Sources: TSA · AAA Travel
Read Full Breakdown →
Remote · August 17, 2026
August 17, 2026 — Scammers Are Buying Lists of Prior Fraud Victims and Calling Them — Pretending to Be the FTC — to Steal Money a Second Time
One Critical-Alert Government Impersonation scam confirmed by the FTC targeting prior fraud victims nationwide: Scammers purchase databases of people who previously lost money to fraud — including your name, address, phone number, what scam you fell for, and how much you lost. They then contact you posing as the FTC, a law firm, or a consumer advocacy group and offer to recover your money for an upfront "processing fee" or "retainer." Once paid, they disappear. The FTC never charges a fee to process any refund and will never cold-call you with a recovery offer. If anyone contacts you claiming to recover your lost money for a fee, hang up immediately — it is always a scam, and the money you paid will also be lost.
Sources: FTC Consumer Alerts (Aug 3, 2026)
Read Full Breakdown →
Remote · August 17, 2026
August 17, 2026 — Fraudulent Tax Debt Relief Companies Are Charging Upfront Fees and Doing Nothing While Your IRS Debt Keeps Growing
One High-Alert Government Impersonation scam confirmed by the FTC targeting people with IRS tax debt nationwide: Dishonest tax debt relief companies promise to settle IRS debt for "pennies on the dollar" — often before reviewing your actual situation — then charge large upfront fees and do nothing. Victims are left worse off: fees lost, IRS debt unchanged, and sometimes deadlines missed that made the tax situation worse. The IRS has free relief programs you can access directly at irs.gov without hiring anyone. Before paying any company promising to settle your tax debt, call the IRS directly at 1-800-829-1040 — real IRS programs are free and require no middleman.
Sources: FTC Consumer Alerts (Aug 13, 2026)
Read Full Breakdown →
In-Person · August 13, 2026
August 13, 2026 — Fake QR Code Stickers Are Being Placed Over Real Ones at US Airports — Cases Up 146% in 2026
One High-Alert Airport scam confirmed surging across US airports and travel locations: QR code phishing ("quishing") has jumped 146% in the United States in the first half of 2026, with scammers placing counterfeit QR code stickers directly over legitimate ones at boarding pass kiosks, lounge access signs, airport cafés, and currency exchange desks. Scanning a tampered code takes you to a spoofed payment or login page designed to steal your credit card number while you are rushed and distracted. Miami, Dallas, Seattle, and Philadelphia are the top identified hotspots. Before scanning any QR code at an airport, run your finger over it first — a raised or peeling sticker is a fake; flat and flush is real.
Sources: AAA (Official) · Travel Security Alert, Aug 8, 2026 · FBI · FTC
Read Full Breakdown →
Latest · July 30, 2026
July 30, 2026 — Scammers Are Impersonating the FBI Itself — Using AI-Generated Videos — to Re-Scam People Who Already Lost Money
One Critical-Alert Government Impersonation scam confirmed active nationwide, specifically targeting prior fraud victims: The FBI updated its official warning about criminals impersonating the FBI's own Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) using AI-generated deepfake videos of fake senior FBI leaders to convince people they can help recover money already lost to scams. They reach victims through social media groups for fraud survivors, messaging apps, and spoofed websites that look exactly like the real ic3.gov — then collect personal information or additional money, turning a prior loss into a second one. Adults 60 and older are the primary target. The single most important thing to know: the real IC3 will never contact you through social media, messaging apps, phone, or email — if anyone claiming to be the FBI reaches out to help recover lost money, it is a scam; report it only at ic3.gov, typed directly into your browser.
Sources: FBI IC3 (Official PSA, July 30, 2026) · Malwarebytes · The Cyber Express
Read Full Breakdown →
Latest · August 10, 2026
August 10, 2026 — That 50%-Off Designer Bag in Your Social Media Feed Is Probably a Scam
One High-Alert Marketplace scam confirmed active across major social media platforms: The FTC is warning that scammers are paying to place convincing-looking ads directly inside social media feeds — for designer goods and other high-demand items at steep discounts — that look identical to promotions from legitimate retailers. Social media platforms don't consistently verify advertisers before their ads appear, so an ad looking real and appearing in your feed is not evidence that it is real. The link leads to a fake storefront; entering payment details delivers your card number directly to the scammer. The rule that protects you: never buy from a retailer you discovered through a social media ad without independently searching for the brand directly in your browser first — the ad appearing in your feed is not proof of legitimacy.
Sources: FTC Consumer Alerts (Official, August 10, 2026)
Read Full Breakdown →
Leading This Week
AI-Generated Scams
The fastest-growing scam category — and the hardest to spot. Here's how AI tools are being used to deceive, and what makes each type recognizable.
Voice Cloning Calls
A few seconds of audio is enough to clone a real person's voice convincingly — used most often in fake "family emergency" calls.
Watch coverage →Deepfake Video Endorsements
Fabricated videos of celebrities or trusted figures "endorsing" investment platforms or products that don't exist.
Watch coverage →AI Romance Chatbots
Automated chat systems sustain dozens of "relationships" at once, building trust over weeks before requesting money.
Watch coverage →Fake AI Investment Bots
"Guaranteed return" trading bots marketed with AI branding to appear sophisticated — most are pure fabrication.
Watch coverage →AI Job Interview Bots
Fake recruiters use AI-generated job postings and automated "interviews" to harvest personal and banking information.
Watch coverage →Cloned Agency Voices
AI-generated voices impersonating banks, the IRS, or government agencies in automated scam call campaigns.
Watch coverage →Full Example
What a Category Page Looks Like
Each scam type expands into this format — what it is, how it works, red flags, and what to do next.
📱
The "Missed Delivery" Text Scam
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What It Is
A text message claiming a package couldn't be delivered, with a link to "reschedule" or pay a small redelivery fee. The link leads to a fake site designed to steal card details.
How It Works
The link opens a convincing but fake shipping-company page. Entering payment details to cover the "fee" hands your card number directly to the scammer, who often makes additional unauthorized charges within hours.
Red Flags
- You weren't expecting a package
- The link doesn't match the carrier's real website
- A "fee" is required to receive something already paid for
What To Do
- Don't tap the link — check tracking directly on the carrier's site
- Delete the text and block the number
- If you tapped it and entered card info, contact your bank immediately
Coming Soon
See exactly how these scams unfold — safely, and legally.
A recurring feature walking through real scam mechanics in a controlled, legal format — no real victims, no real scammers contacted. Format and cadence still being finalized.
If It Happens to You
Where to Report a Scam
These are the official channels — bookmark this section.
FTC
Report fraud directly to the Federal Trade Commission.
reportfraud.ftc.gov
FBI IC3
The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
ic3.gov
AARP Fraud Watch
Free helpline staffed by trained fraud specialists.
877-908-3360
National Elder Fraud Hotline
DOJ-run support line for older adults and families.
833-372-8311
// About This Page
Scams are getting smarter. So can you.
Plain-language alerts on the scams targeting real people right now — from AI-cloned voices to fake romance profiles. No jargon. No fear-mongering. Just what to watch for and what to do.