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Anti-Scam Test For Your Friends And Family - Helping Them Stay Safe Test Your Friends and Family to See If They Know What to Do! How Scams Work - A SCARS Insight Article Abstract Corporations test for scam susceptibility to protect their organizations; you can do the same for your friends and family. This article guides you through two tests designed to assess their awareness and response to phishing and [...]
QR Codes Are The New Phishing Attack Method - Quishing Understanding These New Phishing Scams How Scams Work - A SCARS Insight Author: • SCARS Editorial Team - Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Article Abstract The rise of QR code phishing scams, or "quishing," marks a significant evolution in cybercrime tactics, exploiting the widespread adoption of QR codes to deceive users and compromise organizational [...]
QR Code 'Quishing' Is The Latest Form Of Phishing Scams How Scammers Are Using QR Codes To Scam You! How Scams Work - A SCARS Insight QR Code and 'Quishing' Scams: What They Are, How They Work, and How to Avoid Them QR codes, or quick response codes, are two-dimensional barcodes that can be scanned by smartphones and other devices to access information or perform an action. [...]
Social Engineering Traps, Attacks, And Scams A SCARS Topic Catalog Psychology of Scams - A SCARS Insight What is Social Engineering? Social engineering is the practice of manipulating people into performing actions or divulging confidential information. It is a type of con or confidence trick for the purpose of information gathering, fraud, or system access. Social engineering attacks can be carried out online, in person, and over the phone. Social [...]
Phishing, Vishing, or Smishing Phishing Scam Types - What Is The Difference? How Scams Work - A SCARS Insight Phishing Rap - copyright Emerites NBO - used with permission Phishing Scams: How to Spot Them and What to Do - A SCARS Guide to Prevention and Recovery Phishing is a type of social engineering attack that uses fraudulent emails or text messages to trick victims [...]
Identify and Stop Scam/Spam Text Messages Staying Safe On Your Phone A SCARS Guide Text Message Scams, Phishing Messages, & Spam Texts One Of The Greatest Battlegrounds Of Today's Internet Is On Your Phone! Text and Instant messaging is a growing source of cybercrime and this means that as much as half of all are victimized. In Brazil. alone in 2020 there were more than 5 million WhatsApp victims. Of [...]
Anti-Scam FAQ: What is a social engineering attack? Answer: In a social engineering attack, an attacker uses human interaction (social skills) to obtain or compromise information about an organization or its computer systems. An attacker may seem unassuming and respectable, possibly claiming to be a new employee, repair person, or researcher and even offering credentials to support that identity. However, by asking questions, he or she may be able to piece together enough information [...]
SCARS Institute Scam Warnings - Top 20 Scams Fraud & Cybercrime Scam Warnings: The digital age has brought countless conveniences, but it has also created a playground for sophisticated and relentless fraud. From romance scams to cryptocurrency fraud, today’s scammers operate with advanced tools, global reach, and psychological precision. Their tactics continue to evolve, exploiting emotional, financial, and social vulnerabilities with alarming success. Victims span every demographic, but certain groups—such as older adults and [...]
According to Recent Research, Americans are Targeted by Scams More than Any Other Country Americans Get Twice as Many Scam Calls as Everyone Else Criminology / Scam Analysis - A SCARS Institute Insight Authors: • SCARS Institute Encyclopedia of Scams Editorial Team - Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. • Portions by Talker Research Article Abstract People now face a rising tide [...]
Fraudster Glossary - 2025 How Scams Work - Presented by the SCARS Institute Authors: • SCARS Institute Encyclopedia of Scams Editorial Team - Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. • Fraudster Glossary © 2023-2025 by Eric Huber is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Fraudster Glossary - 2025 Understanding Fraudster/Scammer Terms Term/PhraseDescriptionActual Fraudster UsageCommentary3PTThree-peatJust Popped Again Off The Same September Grub 🚨🚨 3PTBasically, it's when a [...]
Social Engineering - An Updated Overview - 2024 Social Engineering is an Approach to Psychological and Neurologic Manipulation that can be done for Good or Bad and is at the Heart of Marketing, Politics, and Crime - Especially Cybercrime, Scams, and Fraud! Psychology of Scams - A SCARS Institute Insight Authors: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D., DFin, MCPO, MAnth - Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams [...]
Scam Basics: "Hello" Text Message Scams Learning The Basics Of Online Scams Scam Basics - A SCARS Insight What Are "Hello" Text-Message Scams? A Type Of Relationship Scam Text scams, also known as SMS scams or smishing (a combination of "SMS" and "phishing"), have become increasingly prevalent in the digital age. As more people rely on their mobile devices for communication and online activities, scammers have adapted their tactics to [...]
Scam Basics: Venmo Text Scam Learning The Basics Of Online Scams Scam Basics - A SCARS Insight Venmo Text Scam This Venmo Text Scam involves a scam type known as smishing, aka phishing over SMS. In essence, this is an account takeover fraud. Beware of the latest scheme known as the Venmo Text Scam, where scammers employ deceptive tactics to trick unsuspecting users into believing their Venmo [...]
Types Of Scams - A New Taxonomy Helping To Create A Better Set Of Terms For The Types Of Scams Criminology - A SCARS Insight The SCARS Official Definition Of The Terms & Types Of Scams SCARS, as the leading provider of scam victim support and victim assistance services worldwide, has polled victims around the globe to develop a better taxonomy of the types of scams. Part of the intent [...]
FBI Releases 2020 Internet Crime Report In 2020, while the American public was focused on protecting our families from a global pandemic and helping others in need, cybercriminals took advantage of an opportunity to profit from our dependence on technology to go on an Internet crime spree. These criminals used phishing, spoofing, extortion, and various types of Internet-enabled fraud to target the most vulnerable in our society - medical workers searching for personal protective [...]
Socially Engineered / Social Engineering Scams [Updated] A SCARS™ Guide Originally published: May 2018 You have probably heard the term "Social Engineering' before, but what is it? Social Engineering Is ... Social engineering, in the context of information security, refers to the psychological manipulation of people into performing actions or divulging confidential information. It is a type of confidence trick (scam) for the purpose of information gathering, fraud, [...]
Financial Fraud: Explained A SCARS Guide Based Upon FINRA Information 2020 Edition All fraud uses deception to enrich the fraudsters. In the case of financial fraud, deception and misrepresentation are used in conjunction with financial products, investments, or personal assets such as a house. While financial fraud encompasses a wide range of illegal behavior, our focus is on frauds that primarily target individuals: Ponzi schemes, mortgage fraud, advance-fee schemes, relationship scams, and credit card theft [...]
SCARS™ Special Report: 2019 Internet Crime Report Released Data Reflects an Evolving Threat and the Importance of Reporting “Criminals are getting so sophisticated. It is getting harder and harder for victims to spot the red flags and tell real from fake.” Donna Gregory, chief, IC3 Internet-enabled crimes and scams show no signs of letting up, according to data released by the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) in its 2019 Internet Crime Report. The last calendar year saw [...]
RSN™ Guide: Online Crime Type Definitions Online Or Cybercrimes Come In Many Different Forms This is a short overview of each. 419/Overpayment: “419” refers to the section in Nigerian law regarding con artistry and fraud and is associated with requests for help facilitating the transfer of money. The sender of the “419” letter or email offers the recipient a commission or share in the profits of a transfer of money, but will first request the [...]
RSN™ Special Report: Europol Internet Organised Crime Threat Assessment (IOCTA) 2018 Europol Warns You Could Become A Cybercrime Victim From ransomware through to cryptocurrency scams, Europol says it wants to stop criminals from making you a victim. Europol has warned of 15 ways in which people can fall prey to cybercriminals as it launched a report on the dangers of the web. The report, the fifth annual Internet Organised Crime Threat Assessment (IOCTA), is being presented [...]
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