Scam Busters

Online scams pose a bigger threat than ever. In the past few years alone, these attacks have grown in both number and complexity, with official reports indicating billions of dollars are lost annually to cyber crooks. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) reported that victims in the United States lost nearly $10 billion to…

What do Brad Pitt, Denzel Washington and George Clooney have in common? It’s not that they’re all part of the same movie cast—they’re inadvertently playing the role of their life in supplement scams. These celebrities, along with many other famous figures, are being used without their consent in AI-driven deepfake…

Phone scams have evolved significantly over the years, adapting to new technologies and exploiting human psychology to deceive victims. Scammers use various techniques to trick people into giving away money, personal information, or access to sensitive accounts. With AI and data breaches, scammers can make more convincing,…

In an effort to raise awareness and help protect our community, we are starting a new thread dedicated to reporting Facebook scams. In the digital age, social media platforms like Facebook have become an integral part of our daily lives. However, with convenience and connectivity come various threats, including numerous…

In the link below there's a Captcha and it doesn't seem right to me. I've read about Captcha scams. Can someone from Bitdefender please investigate the one below and report back if it's a scam or not? Thank you! *URL removed by @Gjoksi RULE: Posting malware samples and /or URLs is not allowed in the community! Do not post…

A Fairfax man, Sunyu Qian, has pleaded guilty to orchestrating a series of scams that defrauded victims of over $1 million. Among these fraudulent schemes, Qian used a sophisticated cyber-security gift card scam that tricked unsuspecting victims into purchasing gift cards to “resolve” fabricated subscription issues. Months…

Since this discussion is about online scams, I want to let people know about my experience and why they should ALWAYS be mindful of how they deal with people online. I work in the logistics business and we just inaugurated our office in a different country. It was imperative for us to get a local shipping provider or some…

Bitdefender Labs recently uncovered a large-scale global investment scam network operating through paid ads on Meta platforms like Facebook and Instagram. If you’ve ever seen a sponsored post claiming a celebrity discovered a “secret investment platform” or a shocking financial breakthrough, this research shows how such…

Online scams continue into 2026 and they are evolving. We’re seeing a noticeable rise in schemes that combine believable impersonation with faster payment methods and mobile-first tricks, making them harder to spot and easier to fall for. This thread pulls together the most common scam patterns showing up in early 2026,…

Just had a new phishing scam posing as aruba[dot]it. The email at first seems harmless at first, but the email shows many red flags. in the email it says "Dear Customer Hello, we inform you that the domain that resulted from this post account will expire on 10/26/2025 . Dеѕіdеrіаmо rіsоrdаrе сhе, quаlоrа іl dоmіnіо nоn…

Bitdefender has launched a bold awareness campaign called “They Wear Our Faces” to shine light on how AI-driven fraud is evolving, and how it’s turning trust into a weapon. Scammers are now cloning voices, mimicking faces, and impersonating loved ones to exploit emotional bonds and urgency. What once required complex tools…

Scams exploiting celebrity identities and reputable brands remain highly effective, particularly those leveraging influential names like Elon Musk and Leonardo DiCaprio. Recently, Bitdefender’s researchers Viorel Zăvoiu & Alina Bîzgă uncovered multiple email fraud schemes attempting to exploit these high-profile figures.…

Thailand has cut power to sections of the Myanmar border, targeting regions that house criminal enterprises masquerading as online investment hubs and call centers. The move follows mounting pressure from China, which has seen its citizens fall victim to these sophisticated scam operations in staggering numbers. The…

These spammers seem eager to be my friends, always trying to decide what's best for me without making me check anything myself. One even offered me Norton. How thoughtful! Regards

I keep getting pop-ups from a Google Rewards program scam. I have run a full Bitdefender scan, but it hasn't stopped the pop-ups. Please let me know if my security program has to be changed. Saturday, September 7, 2024 Dear Google customer: Congratulations! You are one of the 100 users we have selected. You could receive…

The cyber-crime landscape has rapidly evolved over the past two decades. Easy internet access, widespread smartphone use, advanced technologies, and human vulnerability have made it easier for cybercriminals to target victims globally. While initially centered on financial fraud and ransomware, cybercriminals are now…

Hello, we rely a lot on data and numbers to create and research the best technologies for scam prevention, but in real life, one of the most valuable insights comes from real people and their experiences. So, if you have ever been scammed ( almost scammed) or you know someone who is a victim, please share your experiences…

Bitdefender Labs recently spotted a series of suspicious shopping ads on Snapchat promoting newly registered websites offering massive discounts on products ranging from shoes and handbags to electric bikes and bonsai trees. If you've ever stopped scrolling because an ad promised 80% off or a deal that looked too good to…

Bitdefender Labs recently investigated an eight-month campaign that used SpaceX, Elon Musk, artificial intelligence, and investment hype to lure potential investors through SMS messages, social media ads, emails, webinars, and phone calls. If you've ever seen an ad promising exclusive access to a major IPO, an AI-powered…

I just spotted this one landing in inboxes, and it’s a perfect example of how scammers are pivoting to target AI users. They’re banking on the "fear of losing access" to GPT-5 or your custom workflows to make you act without thinking. Red Flag Why it’s suspicious The Sender Address The email came from infos@bwb-bonn.de.…

https://www.facebook.com/ads/library/?active_status=active&ad_type=all&country=ALL&is_targeted_country=false&media_type=all&q=solana%200.05%20SOL&search_type=keyword_unordered&sort_data[mode]=total_impressions&sort_data[direction]=desc

There’s been a lot of buzz around this question lately: Can you get scammed just by replying “STOP” to a text message? Short answer? Yes — you can. Not because typing STOP instantly gives scammers access to your bank account. But because in many cases, it confirms exactly what they want to know: that your phone number is…

Hey everyone! I’m Alina, part of the Bitdefender team. I spend a lot of my time digging into online scams (even talking to scammers sometimes), and reporting on the latest tricks used to fool netizens. After a while, you start to notice patterns… and also how quickly these scams spread once they start working. That’s why I…

I've been using a software program for a few months now, it's a newer program for analyzing poker players. For updates I would be notified, then go to the site and upload the update, no problems. They have changed the way they update, now when you open the program, it automatically updates the program from the web site.…

A new wave of scams is hitting WhatsApp, and it’s surprisingly simple: someone tells you to “add this number” on WhatsApp. That’s it. No shady links, no infected files - just a phone number and a request. But what seems like harmless curiosity can easily lead to your personal data being stolen, your account hijacked, or…

⚠️ A sophisticated phishing scam is targeting Facebook Business accounts, disguising itself as an urgent warning from Meta regarding branding and advertising policy violations. How the scam operates Victims receive convincing emails appearing to originate from Meta, with alarming subject lines like: “Your page’s visual…

Hello, For information, I share with you the phishing attempt with a fake email from Amazon regarding the "Amazon Prime Family" subscription that I received today. As you can see from the first screenshot the email address is suspicious. Regarding the second screenshot I have hidden my personal information (email and bank…

A sophisticated phishing scam is targeting Gmail users worldwide, and it’s particularly dangerous because the emails appear to come directly from Google. This scam bypasses traditional security filters and can trick even vigilant users into handing over sensitive information. What’s Happening? Cybercriminals are sending…

Job scams are spreading faster than ever, targeting job seekers eager for new opportunities. Knowing how to spot these scams protects not only your wallet but your identity as well. Here are the key signs you're dealing with a fake job offer: First, be wary if you're contacted out of the blue. Scammers often claim they…

Hello, I hope this is the right section for this post: This evening, I stumbled into a mass of identically looking posts on X/Twitter aiming at German users when relatives clicked on the bait image. So far, Bitdefender has not flagged anything nefarious, and I have also had the browser delete related cookies (Firefox…