What people keep running into with scams
Complaints tagged scams, each raised by more than one person. One-off posts are not included.
15 recurring problems · 150 people · 23 forums we read
Raised more than once
Most people first.
- 48How to handle a bad contractor who won't fix poor workPaying before inspecting leaves homeowners with little leverage when contractors deliver subpar or unauthorized work. Without a clear path to recourse or refunds for shoddy repairs, people are left feeling cheated and stuck with expensive, unsightly results.
- 30Why are contractor and window replacement quotes so absurdly high?Aggressive sales representatives heavily inflate price estimates, such as quoting $146,000 for a handful of doors and windows, under the assumption that homeowners do not know what the work should actually cost. This makes homeowners feel taken advantage of and leads them to actively discourage others from using those companies.
- 18How to stop fraudulent chargebacks on online storesUnscrupulous buyers are claiming they never authorized purchases or executing triangulation scams, leaving store owners terrified that every new order is fake. This constant threat of fraudulent chargebacks puts merchant income at risk and forces some sellers to abandon entire sales platforms just to survive.
- 13Why does visiting Egypt feel like constant scams and harassment?Every person you encounter — from airport staff and ticket sellers to street vendors — treats you as a target for invented fees, currency manipulation, and aggressive harassment. This constant hostility turns a vacation into a defensive battle, preventing you from ever feeling safe or simply enjoying the destination.
- 6Getting weird scam letters or emails from banks I don't usePeople are receiving physical letters and emails from unfamiliar financial companies and banks claiming missed payments or unknown inquiries using outdated personal information. This causes immediate panic and forces people to spend hours trying to figure out if their information has been compromised or if it is just a phishing scam.
- 6Do I have to return an accidental double payment?Administrative errors can result in funds being accidentally deposited or refunded twice into your account. Legally, you generally cannot keep money that does not belong to you, and failing to address the overage can prevent you from resolving the underlying transaction or clearing your balance.
- 5Why do sellers cancel orders and ask you to buy off-platform?Sellers cancel completed orders to avoid paying marketplace advertising fees, forcing buyers to restart purchases on external websites. This practice disrupts time-sensitive plans like weddings and birthdays, leaving buyers without their items and forcing them to scramble for alternatives.
- 5Seller gave me a fake tracking number with a thank you cardOnline sellers use dummy items like thank-you cards to mark orders as delivered and manipulate their shipping metrics. Once the carrier marks the letter as delivered, platforms automatically close the refund window, preventing buyers from getting their money back.
- 4Why do I have to pay a fee to get my earnings?Platforms and clients frequently demand upfront payments, lodgement fees, or transfer charges before releasing earned funds, forcing workers to pay just to access their own money. This unexpected cost makes people feel like they are being scammed and prevents them from withdrawing their money smoothly.
- 4How do I spot scams as a new seller on online marketplaces?Scammers deliberately target first-time sellers because their excitement and unfamiliarity with the platform make them vulnerable to manipulation. This destroys new sellers' trust and makes them feel foolish, which ultimately stops them from continuing to share and sell their work online.
- 3How do I turn trapped crypto into real money after a scam?People falling for node trading or investment scams often find thousands of pounds trapped in a wallet that cannot be changed into a recognized cryptocurrency to cash out into a bank account. This leaves victims stranded with faked balances they cannot access or convert.
- 2Is this remote job offer from a big company a scam?Unusually rapid hiring processes and requests for bizarre introductory tasks — like visiting a car dealership for a nominal fee — are typical red flags of recruitment fraud. These odd requirements leave candidates suspicious and unable to verify if the outreach is legitimate, preventing them from safely moving forward with the employment opportunity.
- 2How do I get my money back from an online coach scam?Online coaches make false promises on social media to take your money and then ignore emails or disappear entirely when you ask for help. This leaves you wondering if you've been scammed and unsure how to recover your funds when they refuse to refund you.
- 2What to do when a bank scam leaves you with zero moneyComplex fraud and mail theft can instantly wipe out a checking account balance, leaving victims with negative funds and facing immediate homelessness. Navigating slow bank and police investigations prevents victims from paying basic living expenses while they wait for resolution.
- 2How to build credit and deal with debt collectors for an apartmentUnpaid old debt and aggressive collection notices make people fear that opening a new line of credit will instantly ruin their credit history. This uncertainty stops them from safely establishing credit, which is necessary to secure a new apartment while trying to pay off the balance.
Comes up alongside
Topics that keep appearing on the same problems — not topics with similar names.