From K-beauty products to Social Security benefits and everyday Amazon purchases, scammers are exploiting trusted names to steal your money and sensitive information. These ongoing schemes are all designed to look legitimate while putting your finances – and in some cases your life – at risk.
- K-Beauty Knockoff Scams: The growing popularity of K-beauty has made it a prime target for fraudsters selling fake or non-existent products. Experts warn that apart from losing money, fake skin care can be dangerous to your health. “There are a lot of problems with fake products right now in Korean beauty,” said Leo Park of the Seoul Beauty Club, who named Medicube, Anua and Beauty of Joseon as three brands that fraudsters often try to imitate. Leo recommends that consumers “buy from places from Korea,” but adds that “If you want to buy from Amazon, make sure you only buy from an authorized page.”
- Phishing of your SSN: If you happen to receive an email from the Social Security Administration asking you to “update” or “update” your information, be careful. There has been an increase in fake emails that contain logos and formatting from the Social Security Administration to look legitimate. In fact, links to them lead to sites designed to steal Social Security numbers, bank details or login information. Remember that the SSA generally does not send unsolicited emails asking for your personal information.
- Prime Time for Fraud: Fraudsters get into Amazon customers through three common schemes, according to IT Asset Management Group experts. The first membership scams start with an unexpected phone call, text or email saying there’s a problem with your account, prompting you to click a link or share bank details. Then there are fake order confirmation scams, where you’ll get emails about a payment failure or delivery problem and be directed to websites designed to steal your information. Finally, fake listing scams feature fraudsters who create stores that offer popular items at unusually low prices, only for buyers to receive counterfeit goods – or nothing at all.
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The most common types of scams you should be aware of
Fraudsters are always upping their game, coming up with new and (their) fun ways to trick their targets. AI-powered scams are one example of this: technology is used to reach large numbers of people with increasingly convincing schemes.
But some tricks never go out of style. Most scams fall into a few common patterns, and the old ones are still the biggest threat today – they’ve just evolved to better suit today’s digital environment.
- Fraudster scams: Fraudsters often pose as trusted figures such as government agencies, banks, employers and even friends or family to pressure victims into sending money or sharing personal information.
- Phishing and fraud: These scams use emails, texts or phone calls that appear to be from legitimate organizations. The goal is to trick you into clicking a malicious link, downloading malware or providing sensitive information.
- Online shopping scams: Fraudsters can create fake online stores or listings with hard-to-find items at unusually low prices. After paying for an article, what you end up getting may be fake – or it may never arrive in the first place.
- Investment scams: This type of scam often comes with promises of high returns from crypto, forex or other “exclusive” opportunities. Many involve long-term fix-it schemes, where victims are encouraged to invest more money over time before losing it all.
- Scams in love: Some fraudsters try to get into your pocket by heart. They build relationships with you on dating apps or social media, then convince you to give up money and assets by creating contingency or investment opportunities.
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What to do if you are a victim – or the victim of a scam
No one is immune to fraud or embezzlement, but a few consistent practices can reduce their risk and the damage they cause.
First, be suspicious of unsolicited messages, especially those that create fear or urgency. This could look like an email from your bank threatening to close your account, a text from an online marketplace saying you’ll lose your rebate or a call from the IRS saying they’ll report you to the authorities unless you “act now.”
Scammers like to use this type of language because it sets up the target immediately, expecting the prospect to move you into action.
Suffice it to say, always verify any requests from the organization by checking their official phone numbers, email or website. And don’t click on any links, download email attachments or reply to messages you suspect are fraudulent. A legitimate organization will not pressure you into immediate action or secrecy.
Now, if you’ve already sent financial information or money to someone you suspect is a scammer, you’ll need to skip it. Contact your bank, credit card company or payment platform immediately and try to stop or reverse the transaction. Be sure to change any passwords and enable multi-factor authentication to protect your accounts as well.
Reporting a scam can also help protect others. You can file a report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at and local authorities at the nearest police department or sheriff’s office. Victims of identity theft should also consider temporarily freezing their credit.
Finally, review your financial statements and credit reports regularly, keep your software up to date and limit how much personal information you share online. Fraudsters often rely on publicly available information to make their schemes more believable.
