Grifts, Frauds, and Obvious Bullshit

A place for the fake gurus, scam artists, miracle claims, and lazy cons that deserve sunlight.

Recent Alerts

Grandparent Target List Factory

DOJ says a data broker sold 7 million elderly Americans to lottery scammers, because apparently fraud needed a mailing list department

May 31, 2026

DOJ says Troy Murray sold at least 22,000 lead lists containing personal information for more than 7 million elderly Americans to Jamaican lottery scammers.

Back Brace Scam Siren

The FTC says Medicare fraud costs about $60 billion a year, because apparently the fake back brace economy is thriving

May 29, 2026

The FTC says Medicare fraud, errors and abuse cost taxpayers about $60 billion a year, including schemes involving bogus plans, fake charges and stolen Medicare numbers.

Pig-Butchering Office Park

DOJ says 276 scam-center arrests hit crypto pig-butchering crews, because apparently romance fraud had middle management

May 28, 2026

DOJ says Dubai, Thai, Chinese and U.S. authorities disrupted at least nine scam centers and arrested at least 276 people tied to crypto investment fraud.

World Cup Ticket Roulette

New York and New Jersey are investigating FIFA tickets, because apparently stadium seats needed surge pricing and teleportation

May 28, 2026

AP says New York and New Jersey attorneys general subpoenaed FIFA over variable pricing, soaring ticket costs and redrawn stadium maps for World Cup matches.

Policyholder Yacht Machine

DOJ says an insurance mogul used policyholder money for jets and a yacht, because apparently premiums needed a marina

May 28, 2026

DOJ says Greg Lindberg was sentenced to 12 years after a scheme involving more than $2 billion in affiliated-company investments, bribery, private jets, mansions and a 200-foot yacht.

RSVP Password Trap

The FTC says fake party invites are stealing logins, because apparently even graduation season needed phishing

May 27, 2026

The FTC says fake invites may pose as well-known platforms, name someone you know as host, and ask for email credentials or a code to open event details or RSVP.

Brace Money Laundromat

DOJ says three men laundered Medicare brace money through shell companies, because apparently knee supports needed a spin cycle

May 26, 2026

DOJ says the defendants used two DME companies, offshore marketing referrals, fraudulent doctors' orders and shell companies tied to more than $6.9 million in bogus claims.

Pandemic Fraud Freezer

Labor told banks to freeze pandemic unemployment debit-card funds, because the fraud leftovers were apparently headed to lost-and-found

May 26, 2026

DOL says dormant prepaid debit-card accounts tied to pandemic unemployment fraud could be lost through unclaimed-property processes unless banks freeze them through 2026.

Federal Traffic Ticket Cosplay

NHTSA warned about fake traffic-ticket texts, because scammers apparently promoted themselves to federal speed trap

May 26, 2026

NHTSA says fake messages may use fake judges, case numbers and threats to push people into clicking links or paying by gift card, crypto, wire transfer or payment app.

Fraud Vortex Sentencing

DOJ says the Feeding Our Future boss got 500 months, because stealing child meal money apparently needed a fraud vortex

May 25, 2026

DOJ says Feeding Our Future grew from handling about $3.4 million in federal funds in 2019 to nearly $200 million in 2021 while fake meal claims and shell companies multiplied.

Text Message Scam Megaphone

The FTC says scammers now reach people by text more than any other way, because apparently every phone became a fraud mailbox

May 25, 2026

The FTC says fake package notices, loan messages, unpaid toll texts, phone calls and social-media pitches remain major scam entry points.

Autism Care Fraud Machine

DOJ says Minnesota fraud defendants billed autism care like a slot machine, because vulnerable kids were apparently a revenue model

May 24, 2026

DOJ says the Minnesota takedown includes alleged kickbacks, unnecessary autism diagnoses, services not provided and over $90 million in intended loss.

Guaranteed Crypto Gravity

DOJ says a crypto trader promised no-risk Bitcoin returns, because apparently gravity was unavailable for comment

May 24, 2026

DOJ says Rathnakishore Giri promoted himself as a Bitcoin derivatives expert, promised no-risk returns and kept soliciting crypto funds while awaiting sentencing.

Ghost Telemedicine Factory

DOJ says a $2 billion telemedicine fraud ring used ghost visits and Moscow billers, because apparently health care needed a heist desk

May 24, 2026

DOJ says the scheme used aliases, encrypted chats, shell companies, call centers, ghost telemedicine visits and remote pharmacy billing.

Robocall Provider Bouncer

The FCC wants phone companies to know their upstream providers, because apparently scam calls had a velvet rope

May 22, 2026

The FCC says its May 20 proposal would tighten provider vetting, raise call-authentication standards and close STIR/SHAKEN loopholes.

Chargeback Laundromat Alert

The FTC says a payment processor helped scammers dodge fraud alarms, because apparently chargebacks needed witness protection

May 22, 2026

The FTC says Cliq and two executives violated a 2015 court order by helping risky merchants avoid fraud monitoring and underwriting rules.

Autism Billing Fire Alarm

DOJ says Minnesota Medicaid fraud hit $90 million, because apparently care programs came with a billing pinata

May 21, 2026

DOJ says 15 defendants were charged in Minnesota Medicaid and benefits fraud cases involving more than $90 million in alleged intended loss.

Guru Funnel Warning Label

The FTC warned about business-coaching scams, because "proven system" still means magic beans with a webinar

May 21, 2026

The FTC says business-coaching pitches promising quick money, guaranteed income or huge returns for little work are likely scam funnels.

Cancel Button Treasure Map

Shutterstock will pay $35 million over subscription traps, because apparently stock photos came with escape-room billing

May 20, 2026

The FTC says Shutterstock buried renewal and cancellation terms, charged consumers without proper consent, and made some cancellations complicated.

School Wi-Fi Fraud Detector

The FCC is probing potential E-Rate fraud in Minnesota, because even school internet money needs a scam smoke alarm

May 19, 2026

The FCC says it opened a Minnesota E-Rate inquiry with three letters to educational institutions over potential misuse of school connectivity funds.

Brace Yourself Billing

DOJ says a health software boss ran a billion-dollar Medicare fraud machine, because fake doctor orders are apparently a business model now

May 18, 2026

DOJ says HealthSplash founder Brett Blackman was convicted over a scheme using foreign call centers, bogus telemedicine orders and unnecessary medical equipment billing.

Luxury MLM Yard Sale

The FTC says IM Mastery ringleaders must surrender mansions, cars, watches, and a yacht, because apparently forex guru cosplay had inventory

May 17, 2026

The FTC says IM Mastery Academy defendants will surrender nearly $90 million in assets after a scheme that allegedly used baseless earnings claims and social-media luxury flexing.

Scam Ad Toll Booth

Santa Clara County sued Meta over scam ads, because apparently Facebook fraud came with a revenue lane

May 17, 2026

Reuters says Santa Clara County accused Meta of tolerating fraudulent ads, citing leaked documents and alleging as much as $7 billion in annual revenue from high-risk scam ads.

Tariff Refund Hot Potato

Consumers sued Amazon over tariff costs, because apparently illegal tariffs became a customer-service scavenger hunt

May 16, 2026

Reuters says consumers allege Amazon collected hundreds of millions through tariff-linked higher prices but has not sought refunds from the government or passed relief back to shoppers.

Fraud Buffet Second Helping

DOJ announced another $1 billion fraud crackdown, because apparently the fraud buffet has unlimited refills

May 15, 2026

DOJ says the latest batch included a health-care software platform tied to more than $1 billion in unnecessary equipment billing, benefit fraud, tax fraud and CDC grant allegations.

Subscription Roach Motel

Shutterstock will pay $35 million after the FTC said canceling was a maze, because apparently stock photos came with a trap door

May 15, 2026

The FTC says Shutterstock failed to clearly disclose renewal terms, charged consumers without informed consent, and made cancellation harder than it needed to be.

Local Plumber Multiverse Scam

The FTC says a home-repair outfit created thousands of fake local listings, because apparently your “nearby plumber” was a call-center mirage

May 14, 2026

The FTC says Premium Home Service created thousands of fake local home-repair listings and fabricated five-star reviews to make consumers think they were hiring nearby reputable businesses.

Homework Platform Phishing Season

The FTC warned Canvas users that scammers follow hacks, because apparently school data breaches come with a souvenir phishing booth

May 12, 2026

The FTC says students and parents should avoid unexpected Canvas-hack texts or emails and contact schools or Instructure through known-good channels instead.

Crypto Pyramid Refund Window

DOJ opened a $400 million AirBit Club victim fund, because fake crypto mining finally met a very real clawback bucket

May 12, 2026

DOJ says more than $400 million in forfeited assets is available for AirBit Club victims after promoters sold fake crypto-mining returns that never existed.

Scam Champion Belt Retained

Imposter scams were No. 1 for the ninth straight year, because apparently fraud has a dynasty now

May 11, 2026

The FTC says imposter scams stayed No. 1 for the ninth straight year, topping 1 million reports in 2025 as reported losses rose nearly 20% to $3.5 billion.

Fraud Buffet With Federal Receipts

DOJ rolled out nearly $1 billion in fraud cases, because apparently every benefits program came with a complimentary crowbar

May 9, 2026

DOJ says recent enforcement actions covered nearly $1 billion in alleged or proven fraud across health care, public benefits, Treasury checks, tax schemes, and financial fraud.

Orthotic Brace Grift Bowl

DOJ says a former NFL player got 16 years for a $197 million brace scam, because apparently Medicare fraud needed a depth chart

May 8, 2026

DOJ says Joel Rufus French used overseas call centers, sham doctor orders, kickbacks, and hidden DME companies to bill Medicare and CHAMPVA for unnecessary braces.

Work From Home, Pyongyang Edition

DOJ says two Americans hosted laptops for fake remote workers tied to North Korea, because apparently the office is now a sanctions tunnel

May 8, 2026

DOJ says two U.S. nationals helped DPRK IT workers appear to work from American homes, generating more than $1.2 million and affecting nearly 70 companies.

Unpaid Toll Romance Industrial Complex

The FTC says imposter scams hit $3.5 billion, because apparently fake toll collectors and fake soulmates both found quarterly growth

May 7, 2026

FTC data says imposter scams stayed No. 1 for a ninth year, boosted by bogus overdue-toll texts and rising romance-scam losses.

Scam Compound World Tour

DOJ says a global scam-center takedown led to 276 arrests, because apparently fraud now needs international zoning enforcement

May 6, 2026

DOJ says Dubai, Thai, Chinese, FBI and U.S. prosecutors helped dismantle at least nine scam centers used in crypto pig-butchering schemes targeting Americans.

Reply YES To Regret

The FTC says fake recruiters now just want you to text YES, because apparently job hunting needed a trap door with emojis

May 4, 2026

The FTC says fake recruiters are posing as real companies, dangling remote jobs, and using a simple YES reply to start fake-check and task-scam funnels.

Spigot Full Of Hundred-Dollar Bills

The FTC says MLM recruiters promised a 'buttload' of money while 79% earned nothing, because apparently the income disclosure was the jump scare

April 28, 2026

The FTC says senior LifeWave participants made big earnings claims even though the company's own 2024 disclosure said 79% of active participants earned no commissions.

The Algorithm Wants Your Wallet

The FTC says social media scams cost people $2.1 billion in 2025, because apparently the feed is now a shopping mall run by raccoons

April 28, 2026

FTC data says social media was the costliest scam contact method in 2025, with $2.1 billion in reported losses and Facebook leading the platform list.

Insurance Cosplay Department

The FTC says a health-plan scheme impersonated government and big insurers, because apparently fake bureaucracy now sells fake peace of mind

April 27, 2026

The FTC says consumers paid millions in supposed premiums after an operation allegedly impersonated government and major insurers to sell coverage that was not what people sought.

War Zone Crypto Toll Booth

Scammers are reportedly selling fake safe passage through Hormuz for crypto, because even maritime crisis now has phishing DLC

April 26, 2026

Reuters reports a maritime risk firm warned shipping companies about fraudulent crypto messages promising safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz.

Scam Compound Industrial Park

Treasury sanctioned a Cambodian senator over alleged scam compounds, because apparently fraud now has office parks and political protection

April 25, 2026

Treasury says Kok An and a network of 28 people and entities helped run scam centers that stole from Americans through crypto-investment and romance-style fraud.

Crypto Grift Ouroboros

A crypto billionaire is suing Trump's family crypto venture over frozen tokens, because apparently the snake oil has started suing the bottle

April 25, 2026

Reuters, CBS, and The Guardian report Justin Sun alleges World Liberty Financial froze his token holdings, with CBS putting the claimed value as high as $1 billion.

Counterfeit Courtroom Energy

The FTC says fake traffic-hearing texts with QR codes are spiking, because scammers figured out that counterfeit bureaucracy fits perfectly on a phone

April 22, 2026

The FTC says scammers are sending fake hearing notices with QR codes, fake case numbers, and pressure tactics designed to steal money, data, or both.

Junk Fee Cleanup

StubHub buyers are getting refunds after the FTC went after hidden ticket fees, because apparently the revolutionary business model of "surprise, it costs way more now" finally met resistance

April 21, 2026

An FTC consumer update says some StubHub buyers may get money back after allegations that mandatory fees were hidden until late checkout, which is scam-adjacent behavior in a corporate blazer.

QR Code Bureaucracy Cosplay

The FTC had to warn people about fake traffic-court texts with QR codes, because apparently scammers discovered that official-looking paperwork still works great on a phone screen

April 21, 2026

The FTC says the texts use fake case numbers, seals, and threats about court consequences to push people into scanning a QR code and handing over money or personal data.

Guaranteed Returns Fantasy

The FTC had to remind people that strangers promising huge investment returns on social media are probably scammers, because apparently even fake wealth now comes with coaching

April 20, 2026

The agency says people reported more than $7.9 billion in losses to investment scams in 2025, with scammers using WhatsApp, social media, and fake proof of profits to sell fantasy portfolios.

Debt Relief Grift

The FTC says a student-loan relief operation pretended to be tied to the government and collected millions, because apparently scam math still begins with "what if we cold-call desperate people"

April 20, 2026

The FTC says the operation posed as the Department of Education or real loan servicers, promised debt relief that did not exist, and collected at least $8.8 million in illegal upfront fees.

AI Fraud

Federal prosecutors say an AI company faked “virtually all” its customers and revenue, because apparently the hottest AI product was still just lying

April 19, 2026

Reuters reports former iLearningEngines executives were charged after prosecutors said the company fabricated customer relationships and at least 90% of its 2023 revenue.

AI Fraud

An "AI company" allegedly faked almost all its revenue, which is a pretty clean summary of the fraud economy

April 18, 2026

Prosecutors say iLearningEngines fabricated customers and at least 90% of its reported revenue, proving that slapping AI on a fraud pitch still works on too many adults.

Phishing Scam

The FTC is warning people about fake "your reward points expire today" texts because apparently this works

April 17, 2026

Scammers are borrowing the language of loyalty programs, adding panic, and counting on you to tap before thinking.

QR Code Scam

The FTC had to tell people that random QR-code texts about traffic court are fake

April 17, 2026

Fake hearing notices, official-looking seals, and a QR code to "pay now". Modern fraud is just bureaucracy cosplay with better mobile design.

Boss Impersonation

No, your boss does not need you to buy gift cards right now

March 30, 2026

Someone impersonates your boss, creates fake urgency, tells you to go buy gift cards. This works by short-circuiting common sense.

AI Deepfakes

Deepfake fraud went industrial in 2026, which is a sentence that should bother everybody

March 29, 2026

Voice cloning and video deepfakes now let scammers convincingly impersonate real people. Operating on an industrial scale means a production line of theft.