Welcome to the wild, wired world of 2025; where scammers wear digital suits, slide into your inbox with charm, and vanish with your money faster than you can say “forward this to IT”.
They play on trust, urgency, and that gut feeling that something might be real. And the worst part? They’re evolving faster than most people can keep up. This isn’t about fear, it’s about staying sharp, knowing what’s out there, and protecting what’s yours.
And guess what? They're not just targeting kids glued to TikTok, Boomers are the prime catch. Let’s pull back the curtain and expose the dirty tricks, clever cons, and downright diabolical scams making the rounds online right now.
1
Deepfake Voices: “Hi Mom, It’s Me...”
One rising scam in 2025 is deepfake voice phishing, where attackers use AI to mimic a loved one’s or boss’s voice to request urgent money transfers or sensitive info often sounding eerily real.
2
Card Surcharges: The Legal Scam You Didn't See Coming
Card surcharges are hidden fees added at checkout, designed to exploit customers by inflating costs without clear disclosure.
3
Robocalls from “The Government”
Robocalls impersonating agencies like the ATO or mobile providers aim to steal personal data or money through urgent, fake threats.
4
Crypto: The Wild West of Scams
Crypto’s hype masks its risks: scams, volatility, and lack of regulation make it a playground for fraud and losses.
5
Lost Pet? It Might Be an AI Scam
There’s a scam that involves people using AI to generate fake photos of lost pets to scam the owners into thinking they will return the animal after paying a finders fee.
6
Police Caller ID Spoofing in Japan
In Japan, a new scam this year is spoofing ID and numbers of local police stations.
7
QR Code Scams Are Everywhere, Even at Dinner
QR code scams have evolved too bad actors now embed malicious codes in real-world places like parking meters or restaurant menus.
8
The “Hey, You Know Me” Local Text Scam
There has been a huge number of mass texts sent out with really blank statements that could apply to anyone. These people will text in a very local area and once they have a phone number from that local area from your reply, that’s all they need to access your account.
9
The “Old Person in Trouble” Scam
They scam by using photos of elderly people: An older person closing his shop so his sell out everything with huge discounts. An older person with a shelter. Older female calling and screaming that she's in hospital/car accident.
10
Chatbot Prompt Injection: AI Gets Tricked, You Get Scammed
Another scam are prompt injection scams targeting AI users, where attackers manipulate chatbots into leaking private data or giving unsafe advice.
11
Fake CAPTCHA = Real Danger
A common scam mimics a CAPTCHA, telling users to "Press Windows + R." This opens a Run dialog, leading victims to unknowingly install remote access tools.
12
The “Massachusetts Toll” Text Scam
The "Massachusetts Toll" text scam is a widespread phishing attempt where victims receive SMS messages claiming unpaid tolls from MassDOT or a similar authority. The message includes a link to a fake payment portal designed to steal credit card information and personal data.
13
E-SIM Hijacking: Your Phone, Stolen Remotely
E-SIM hijacking is a form of mobile account takeover where an attacker transfers a victim’s phone service to a device under their control. Once completed, the victim's phone loses service, while the attacker begins intercepting SMS-based two-factor authentication codes.
14
“Gmail Is Shutting Down!” (No, It’s Not)
Another scam is random people sending out emails that Gmail will be shut down and they need to replace it.
15
CAPTCHA 2.0: Now with Operating System Commands
A deceptive technique involves a fake CAPTCHA that, when interacted with, triggers an operating system-level command, often through the browser’s address bar or a dialog prompt.
16
Tumblr’s Emotional Donation Trap
A Tumblr-specific scam involves a surge of anonymous donation requests tied to a current event or crisis. These messages typically use vague, emotionally charged language (e.g., references to "trying times") with only slight variations in wording across multiple accounts.
17
Reddit DMs = Red Flags
Never accept chat requests, private messages, invitations to chatrooms, encouragement to contact any person or group off Reddit, or emails from anyone for any reason.
18
“Send Me the Code”, Then Goodbye to Your Account
A scam occurs when the attacker requests the victim’s SMS or WhatsApp verification code. This tactic is used to hijack the victim’s account. Once access is gained, the attacker impersonates the victim (often targeting older people) and messages their contacts requesting money transfers, typically citing a fabricated emergency.
19
The "Crying Baby" SIM Swap Scam
SIM swap and port-out fraud: Scammers call, pretend they’re driving or have a crying baby to rush you. They hijack your number, grab 2FA codes, and steal everything: bank, credit cards, 401k, crypto. If it’s linked to your email, it’s compromised.
20
The Gaming Trap Scam
A lot of scams have been linked to gaming-related software, including pirated game copies, unauthorized cheat utilities, user-created modifications (mods), and maliciously crafted independent game titles.
