Tech Dictionary

419 Scam (Nigerian Prince) Scams

A type of advance-fee fraud in which the victim is promised a significant share of a large sum of money, in return for a small up-front payment

Advance Fee Fraud Scams

A form of fraud and one of the most common types of confidence trick. The scam typically involves promising the victim a significant share of a large sum of money, in return for a small up-front payment

Astroturfing Scams

The practice of masking the sponsors of a message or organization (e.g., political, advertising, religious or public relations) to make it appear as though it originates from and is supported by grassroots participants

Bait and Switch Scams

A fraudulent sales technique used by retail stores. The retailer lures customers in with an advertisement for a low-priced item, then claims the item is unavailable and attempts to sell them a higher-priced item

Blackmail Scams

The action, treated as a criminal offense, of demanding money from a person in return for not revealing compromising or injurious information about that person

Booster Bag Scams

A handmade bag used to shoplift, typically lined with aluminium foil to block security tags from being detected

Catfishing Scams

The process of luring someone into a relationship by means of a fictional online persona

Check Kiting Scams

A form of check fraud, involving taking advantage of the float to make use of non-existent funds in a checking account

Check Washing Scams

The process of erasing details from a check to allow them to be rewritten, usually for criminal purposes

Chop Shop Scams

A place where stolen automobiles are disassembled to be sold as parts

Click Farm Scams

A form of click fraud, where a large group of low-paid workers are hired to click on paid advertising links for the click fraudster

Counterfeiting Scams

To make an exact imitation of something valuable or important with the intention to deceive or defraud

Credit Card Skimming Scams

A type of credit card theft where crooks use a small device to steal credit card information in an otherwise legitimate credit or debit card transaction

Dark Pattern Scams

A user interface that has been carefully crafted to trick users into doing things, such as buying insurance with their purchase or signing up for recurring bills

Deepfake Scams

Synthetic media in which a person in an existing image or video is replaced with someone else's likeness

Distraction Theft Scams

A theft which takes place when the victim is distracted by a conversation or an event

Drop Scams

A location where stolen goods or illegal items are left for another person to pick up

Dump Scams

A slang term for a collection of stolen data, such as credit card numbers

Dusting Attack Scams

A type of malicious activity where hackers and scammers try to break the privacy of Bitcoin and cryptocurrency users by sending tiny amounts of coins to their personal wallets

Embezzlement Scams

Theft or misappropriation of funds placed in one's trust or belonging to one's employer

Extortion Scams

The practice of obtaining something, especially money, through force or threats

Fence Scams

A person who deals in stolen goods

Forgery Scams

The action of forging or producing a copy of a document, signature, banknote, or work of art

Front Running Scams

The practice by market makers of dealing on advance information provided by their clients

Graft Scams

A form of political corruption, being the unscrupulous use of a politician's authority for personal gain