In 2025 people lost $2.1 billion to online scammers. That's 34% more than in 2024. We break down 100+ active scam schemes with real cases, verification tools, and protection methods.
Main protection rules: 1) Never pay prepayment to strangers, 2) Verify the seller before the deal, 3) Don't click external links, 4) Use the guarantor for deals from $100, 5) Save all evidence. If you see 3+ red flags — stop communicating. Official deal guarantor: @GARANT_S_bot on Telegram.
80% of victims fall for these schemes
Answer 7 questions to find out your deal's risk level
If you see 3+ signs — stop communicating
"Transfer $5 for delivery", "reserve the item with a deposit"
"Arrange delivery via this link", "pay here"
"Another buyer is waiting", "decide now"
Account created less than a month ago, no history
iPhone 15 for $300, a car at 30% of market price
"Camera is broken", "inconvenient to talk"
"Enter your card data to receive the money"
"Urgently need money for surgery", "I'm moving"
Never calls, never sends voice messages
"Don't want to pay the fee", "it's complicated"
Step-by-step action plan to recover your money
Write to marketplace, social media, or platform support. Attach the evidence. Sometimes this helps block the scammer and return the money.
Go to the nearest police station and file a report for fraud (in Russia — Article 159 of the Criminal Code). You can file online via the government services portal. Attach all evidence.
If you paid by card — call the bank within 24 hours. Request a chargeback. Recovery chance: 30-50% for cards, 3-5% for transfers.
File a complaint via the consumer protection agency (Rospotrebnadzor in Russia). This is especially effective against fraudulent online stores.
Write a review about the scammer on platforms, social media, and forums. This protects others and may help find other victims for a class action.
| Payment method | Recovery chance | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Card (first 24 hours) | 30-50% | Call the bank, chargeback |
| Marketplace Delivery | 80-90% | Complaint to marketplace support |
| Instant bank transfer | 3-5% | Police report |
| Cash | 5-10% | Police report, witnesses |
| Cryptocurrency | 0% | Only through court (hard) |
| Via guarantor @GARANT_S_bot | 100% | Money is locked until acceptance |
Main signs of a scammer:
If you see 3+ signs — stop communicating.
Step-by-step action plan:
Recovery chances: 30-50% for cards in the first 24 hours, 3-10% for transfers, 0% for cryptocurrency.
Safe buying rules:
Official guarantor: The @GARANT_S_bot on Telegram. 28,500+ deals, 0% scam.
Where to file complaints:
Depends on the payment method:
Conclusion: Better to prevent than to recover. Use the guarantor for any deals.
28,500+ people have already protected their deals via the guarantor. Join them.