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Our sources

Every fact in our guides comes from one of these 81 pages. Read our editorial standards for how we use them.

consumer.ftc.gov

• FTC consumer alert: Got a text about unpaid tolls? It's probably a scam (Jan 17, 2025)
  Used in: Unpaid toll text (E-ZPass, SunPass, FasTrak)
• FTC: How to recognize and report spam text messages
  Used in: Unpaid toll text (E-ZPass, SunPass, FasTrak), Package delivery text (USPS, UPS, FedEx), Fake bank fraud alert, DMV / unpaid traffic ticket text, Wrong number / "hi, how are you?" text
• FTC consumer alert: Is that unexpected text a scam? (Apr 2025)
  Used in: Package delivery text (USPS, UPS, FedEx), Wrong number / "hi, how are you?" text
• FTC: Scammers use fake emergencies to steal your money
  Used in: Grandparent / family emergency scam
• FTC consumer alert: Scammers use AI to enhance their family emergency schemes (Mar 2023)
  Used in: Grandparent / family emergency scam
• FTC: Medicare impersonators
  Used in: Medicare card or benefits scam
• FTC consumer alert: Your Medicare number is valuable. Protect it (Jun 2024)
  Used in: Medicare card or benefits scam
• FTC: How to avoid a government impersonation scam
  Used in: IRS / back taxes scam, Social Security (SSA) scam, Jury duty / warrant scam, Fake police / FBI / warrant call
• FTC consumer alert: Did you get a call or text about a suspicious purchase on Amazon? It's a scam (Mar 2024)
  Used in: Amazon impersonation / refund scam
• FTC consumer alert: Scammy texts offering "refunds" for Amazon purchases (Jul 2025)
  Used in: Amazon impersonation / refund scam
• FTC: How to spot, avoid, and report tech support scams
  Used in: Tech support pop-up / fake renewal, Geek Squad / Norton fake renewal email, Phantom hacker / "move your money" scam
• FTC consumer alert: No gift cards for tech support scammers
  Used in: Tech support pop-up / fake renewal
• FTC: What to know about romance scams
  Used in: Romance scam
• FTC Pass It On: Romance scams
  Used in: Romance scam
• FTC: What to know about cryptocurrency and scams
  Used in: Crypto / investment scam, Fund recovery / fake FBI recovery scam
• FTC: Investment scams
  Used in: Crypto / investment scam
• FTC: Fake prize, sweepstakes, and lottery scams
  Used in: Prize, lottery or sweepstakes scam
• FTC consumer alert: Don't pay for a prize (scam) (Jun 2025)
  Used in: Prize, lottery or sweepstakes scam
• FTC: How to spot, avoid, and report fake check scams
  Used in: Fake check / mystery shopper scam
• FTC consumer alert: Mystery shopping, (fake) checks, and gift cards (Apr 2024)
  Used in: Fake check / mystery shopper scam
• FTC: Scammers pretend to be your utility company
  Used in: Utility shutoff scam
• FTC consumer alert: Avoid weather-related utility scams after the recent winter storm (Jan 2026)
  Used in: Utility shutoff scam
• FTC: Avoiding and reporting gift card scams
  Used in: Utility shutoff scam, Gift card payment request
• FTC consumer alert: How to recognize a fake Geek Squad renewal scam (Oct 25, 2022)
  Used in: Geek Squad / Norton fake renewal email
• FTC consumer alert: Three ways scammers try to steal your money (Oct 2024)
  Used in: Geek Squad / Norton fake renewal email
• FTC consumer alert: Selling stuff online? Here's how to avoid a scam (Jul 27, 2022)
  Used in: Facebook Marketplace scam
• FTC consumer alert: Do you use payment apps like Venmo, CashApp, or Zelle? Read this (Aug 14, 2023)
  Used in: Zelle scam, Cash App scam
• FTC: Mobile payment apps: how to avoid a scam when you use one
  Used in: Cash App scam, PayPal invoice / money request scam
• FTC consumer alert: That text about an overdue traffic ticket is probably a scam (Jul 21, 2025)
  Used in: DMV / unpaid traffic ticket text
• FTC consumer alert: Scammers use Bitcoin ATMs to steal your money (Sep 3, 2024)
  Used in: Bitcoin / crypto ATM scam
• FTC consumer alert: Why it's not rude to ignore "hi, how are you?" text messages from strangers (Jun 3, 2024)
  Used in: Wrong number / "hi, how are you?" text
• FTC consumer alert: Task scams create the illusion of making money (Dec 12, 2024)
  Used in: Task / online job scam
• FTC consumer alert: How to avoid government grant scams that offer free money for personal expenses (Mar 5, 2026)
  Used in: Government grant / "free money" scam
• FTC consumer alert: No, HHS didn't reach out about free grant money (Mar 2023)
  Used in: Government grant / "free money" scam

ic3.gov

• FBI IC3 PSA: Smishing scam regarding debt for road toll services (Apr 12, 2024)
  Used in: Unpaid toll text (E-ZPass, SunPass, FasTrak)
• FBI IC3: Elder fraud brochure
  Used in: Tech support pop-up / fake renewal, Romance scam, Crypto / investment scam
• FBI IC3 2025 Internet Crime Report
  Used in: Romance scam, Crypto / investment scam
• FBI IC3 PSA: Cybercriminals trick victims into transferring funds to "reverse" instant payments (Apr 2022)
  Used in: Fake bank fraud alert, Zelle scam
• FBI IC3 PSA: "Phantom Hacker" scams target senior citizens (Sep 29, 2023)
  Used in: Phantom hacker / "move your money" scam
• FBI IC3 PSA: Cryptocurrency kiosk complaint data by state (May 15, 2026)
  Used in: Bitcoin / crypto ATM scam
• FBI IC3 PSA: Scammers impersonating law enforcement and government officials in fraud schemes (Sep 17, 2026)
  Used in: Fake police / FBI / warrant call
• FBI IC3 PSA: FBI warns of scammers impersonating the IC3 (Jul 20, 2026)
  Used in: Fund recovery / fake FBI recovery scam

ftc.gov

• FTC Data Spotlight: Top text scams of 2024
  Used in: Unpaid toll text (E-ZPass, SunPass, FasTrak), Wrong number / "hi, how are you?" text
• FTC press release: Bank impersonation is the most-reported text message scam (Jun 2023)
  Used in: Fake bank fraud alert
• FTC Data Spotlight: Impersonation scams: not what they used to be (Apr 2024)
  Used in: Geek Squad / Norton fake renewal email
• FTC Data Spotlight: Bitcoin ATMs: a payment portal for scammers (Sep 3, 2024)
  Used in: Bitcoin / crypto ATM scam
• FTC Data Spotlight: Paying to get paid: gamified job scams drive record losses (Dec 12, 2024)
  Used in: Task / online job scam

bbb.org

• BBB Scam Alert: Invoice scams posing as the Geek Squad or PayPal
  Used in: Geek Squad / Norton fake renewal email, PayPal invoice / money request scam
• BBB Scam Alert: Sellers beware! Fake buyers want to hijack your phone number
  Used in: Facebook Marketplace scam
• BBB Scam Alert: Text message phishing scam impersonates your state's DMV
  Used in: DMV / unpaid traffic ticket text

irs.gov

• IRS: How to know it's the IRS
  Used in: IRS / back taxes scam
• IRS: Ways to tell if the IRS is reaching out or if it's a scammer
  Used in: IRS / back taxes scam
• IRS: Report fake IRS, Treasury or tax-related emails and messages
  Used in: IRS / back taxes scam
• IRS: How taxpayers can protect themselves from gift card scams
  Used in: Gift card payment request

aarp.org

• AARP: Grandparent scams
  Used in: Grandparent / family emergency scam
• AARP: Avoid scams when using Zelle, Venmo and more
  Used in: Zelle scam
• AARP: Scammers use crypto ATMs to steal money from victims
  Used in: Bitcoin / crypto ATM scam

cash.app

• Cash App: How to spot and avoid scams (Aug 2026)
  Used in: Cash App scam
• Cash App: Cash flip scams: what you need to know (Aug 2026)
  Used in: Cash App scam
• Cash App: Security
  Used in: Cash App scam

zelle.com

• Zelle: Security tips (only send money to people you know and trust)
  Used in: Facebook Marketplace scam, Zelle scam
• Zelle: Understanding fraud and scams
  Used in: Zelle scam

medicare.gov

• Medicare.gov: Your Medicare card
  Used in: Medicare card or benefits scam
• Medicare.gov: Reporting Medicare fraud and abuse
  Used in: Medicare card or benefits scam

oig.ssa.gov

• SSA OIG: Identify the scam
  Used in: Social Security (SSA) scam
• SSA OIG: Warning issued for widespread Social Security phone scams (Jul 2025)
  Used in: Social Security (SSA) scam

paypal.com

• PayPal: What are invoice scams and money request scams on PayPal?
  Used in: PayPal invoice / money request scam
• PayPal: Common scams and how to protect yourself
  Used in: PayPal invoice / money request scam

uscourts.gov

• U.S. Courts: Juror scams
  Used in: Jury duty / warrant scam, Fake police / FBI / warrant call

amazon.com

• Amazon: Report something suspicious
  Used in: Amazon impersonation / refund scam

dmv.sc.gov

• South Carolina DMV: Consumers warned about scam texts on "traffic tickets" (Aug 8, 2025)
  Used in: DMV / unpaid traffic ticket text

dmv.virginia.gov

• Virginia DMV: Warns customers of text scam (Jun 2, 2025)
  Used in: DMV / unpaid traffic ticket text

fbi.gov

• FBI Phoenix: "The Phantom Hacker": FBI warns public of new financial scam
  Used in: Phantom hacker / "move your money" scam

fcc.gov

• FCC: 'Grandparent' scams get more sophisticated
  Used in: Grandparent / family emergency scam

federalreserve.gov

• Federal Reserve Board: Protect yourself from fraud and scams
  Used in: Phantom hacker / "move your money" scam

grants.gov

• Grants.gov: Grant-related scams
  Used in: Government grant / "free money" scam

meta.com

• Meta: Trust and safety on Facebook Marketplace
  Used in: Facebook Marketplace scam

scamreport.pch.com

• Publishers Clearing House: Scam prevention
  Used in: Prize, lottery or sweepstakes scam

ssa.gov

• SSA: Protect yourself from Social Security scams
  Used in: Social Security (SSA) scam

txdmv.gov

• Texas DMV: Don't click it. It's not a ticket! (Jul 8, 2025)
  Used in: DMV / unpaid traffic ticket text

uspis.gov

• U.S. Postal Inspection Service: Smishing / package tracking text scams
  Used in: Package delivery text (USPS, UPS, FedEx)