McAfee's Scam Detector

How to Report Phone Scams

Phone scams are among the most widespread fraud types, with scammers pretending to be from banks, government agencies, or tech companies. Reporting them is crucial in stopping future fraud.

• Document the details: Keep a record of the phone number, caller ID, and the scam attempt.
• Block the number and report it to your carrier and authorities like the FTC or FCC.

Protecting Yourself: Preventing Access to Harmful Websites

McAfee’s Scam Detector quickly blocks access to dangerous websites, preventing scams before they happen. Additional security measures include:

• Modifying your hosts file to block scam sites.
• Using browser extensions to prevent phishing attempts.
• Implementing network-level defenses like firewalls for an added layer of security.

Where to Find Support

Finding the right support can be crucial in times of need. Whether you're looking for professional advice, community groups, or online resources, knowing where to find assistance can make a significant difference.

If you’ve been targeted by a scam, help is available. Whether you need legal advice, financial recovery assistance, or online security guidance, you can find support through:

• Consumer protection agencies
• Fraud victim assistance programs
• Online communities that track scams

Visit our Support Resources Page for a full list of organizations and expert help.

How to Safeguard Your Online Privacy and Erase Personal Data

Your personal data is valuable to scammers. To reclaim control over your digital footprint, follow these steps:

• Remove your data from people-search websites that compile and sell personal information.
• Use privacy-focused browser settings to limit tracking.
• Regularly update passwords and enable multi-factor authentication.

By reducing your digital exposure, you lower the risk of being targeted.

Trending Scam Alerts & Fraud Prevention Tips

Stay up to date with the latest scams circulating online and how to avoid them.

Rising Ozempic Scams: Understanding Their Growth and Staying Protected

Due to high demand, scammers are selling fake Ozempic online or stealing personal details under the guise of pharmaceutical sales.

In 2024, McAfee researchers discovered several scams that offered bogus drugs at a discount if victims paid in cryptocurrency. Others offered them at greatly reduced prices, well under the $1,000 per dose — the legitimate drug’s cost.

Pump and Dump Crypto Scams: How to Spot Them

Pump and dump crypto scams are deceptive schemes that exploit unsuspecting investors by artificially inflating the price of a crypto asset before selling off at a profit.

It is crucial to stay vigilant by researching the project, analyzing market activity, and joining discussions on trusted platforms to mitigate potential risks.

Beware of China Domain Name Registration Scams

Many businesses are falling victim to scams related to domain name registrations in China. Scammers falsely claim that a third party is attempting to register similar domain names, pressuring businesses to secure them immediately. It's crucial to verify such claims independently before taking any action to protect your online assets.

Fake Modeling Offers: Protecting Yourself from Muse Scams

In the world of modeling, scammers often exploit aspiring models with fake offers, targeting their finances and personal information.

These scams typically involve lucrative contracts but demand upfront fees, leaving victims defrauded. It is essential to verify opportunities through credible agencies and stay informed to safeguard against these deceitful tactics.

Recognizing Fake Bank Fraud Alert Texts

Scammers mimic legitimate bank communications to trick users into revealing sensitive details.

When you get these messages, always check the sender. Is the address or phone number one that your bank uses? And note that scammers often “spoof” addresses and phone numbers — making them look legit even though they’re fake. If you’re ever unsure, don’t reply. Contact your bank directly to see if your account indeed has an issue. Also, ignore such messages on social media. Banks don’t use social media messages to contact their account holders.

Better yet, you can use McAfee’s Scam Detector to detect the sketchy links scammers use in their attacks. AI technology automatically detects scams by running URLs you get in messages. If you accidentally tap? Don’t worry. It can block risky sites if you tap on a suspicious link in texts, emails, social media, and more.

Common Amazon Gift Card Scams

Fraudsters use email, phone, and fake websites to convince victims to buy and send Amazon gift cards—which are nearly impossible to recover.

These scams tend to fall into three main categories:

• Payment scams

  Here, a gift card scam takes their classic form. A scammer asks for payment with a gift card rather than a legitimate method a victim can contest, such as a credit card. When victims realize they’ve been scammed, they have no way of getting their money back.



• Bogus balance-checking sites

  These sites promise to check the balance on gift cards. However, they are phishing sites. Entering card info into these sites gives scammers everything they need to steal the card’s balance for themselves.



• Gift card tampering

  This involves draining gift cards into stores after they’re purchased. Organized criminal rackets steal the cards from stores and then reload them on shelves—only after they’ve scratched off the barcode and written or altered them in some way. When a victim purchases and activates the card, the crooks launder the money and leave the victim with an empty card.

Why all this focus on gift cards? They truly are as good as cash. When that money is gone, it’s gone. Yet, better, it can get whisked away electronically quicker than the quickest of pickpockets.

In today’s digital age, the prevalence of online scams necessitates robust protection tools like the McAfee+ Scam Detector. Leveraging advanced AI technology, it offers effective scam detection and fraud prevention, safeguarding both individuals and businesses from a range of cyber threats.

The inclusion of tools like the Phishing Link Verification highlights the commitment to ensuring safe online interactions by analyzing and identifying potentially harmful URLs. Advanced understanding empowers users to contribute to a safer digital environment.

The rise in AI-generated content has made it difficult to determine what’s real from what’s fake. In a digital world where seeing is no longer believing, McAfee Smart AI™ is your defense against AI-generated scams and election disinformation... Read more