How to Spot a Scam
In-depth guides on the 8 most common financial scam types. Each guide covers what it is, how it works, warning signs, what to do, and a full FAQ.
Pig Butchering
Long-con romance and investment fraud where victims are "fattened up" emotionally before being financially slaughtered.
Romance Scam
Fraudsters build fake romantic relationships online to extract money, gifts, or personal information from victims.
Rug Pull
Crypto developers abandon a project and run with investor funds after artificially inflating the token price.
Ponzi Scheme
Returns paid to earlier investors using capital from newer investors — not from legitimate profits.
Pump & Dump
Coordinated campaigns to artificially inflate an asset price before insiders sell, leaving retail investors with losses.
Recovery Scam
Fraudsters target previous scam victims, posing as recovery specialists who can retrieve lost funds — for an upfront fee.
Fake Broker
Unlicensed platforms impersonating regulated brokers, accepting deposits but refusing withdrawals.
Crypto Phishing
Fake websites, emails, and messages designed to steal wallet credentials, seed phrases, and private keys.
Clone Firm Fraud
Fraudsters impersonate FCA-authorised firms using real registration numbers and stolen branding to steal investor funds.
If you think you're currently being scammed
Stop all communication immediately. Do not send any more money. Do not share personal documents. Contact your bank and report to your national regulator.