GACS Blog
Scam playbooks, verification guides, and fraud research.
Long-form, evidence-based guides written for victims, families, and investigators. Every article links to the free GACS tools that act on what you learn.
Showing 104 of 104
Scam typesFacebook Marketplace scam warning signs (2026)
The red flags that appear in the first messages — fake payments, off-platform chats, overpayment tricks — and exactly what to do at each step.
2026-09-20 · 9 min
AwarenessHow to tell if an Instagram account is a bot
No single signal proves a bot. Check the profile, content, and engagement in a fixed order — then run a free impersonation scan. Two minutes total.
2026-09-20 · 8 min- Scam types
Peptide fraud: the grey market behind the hype
Unapproved injectable peptides sold online carry unknown contents, no testing, and sellers who vanish after payment. How the fraud layer works.
2026-09-20 · 9 min 
Scam typesImpersonation: How Scammers Use Your Identity to Steal
Learn how impersonation scams target your followers, steal money, and damage trust. Get practical steps to spot fakes and protect your audience.
2026-09-02 · 9 min
Scam typesBeacons AI Scams: What’s Real and How to Stay Safe
Worried about Beacons AI scams? Learn what’s real, what’s rumor, and the exact steps to protect your money and data before you sign up.
2026-08-30 · 8 min
Scam typesAI Fraud: How Scammers Use AI to Steal — and How to Stop Them
AI fraud surged 1,210% in 2025. Learn how voice clones, deepfakes, and AI phishing work — and the exact steps to protect yourself and your family.
2026-08-30 · 9 min
Scam typesSocial Media Stalking: Signs, Laws & How to Protect Yourself
Learn the warning signs of social media stalking, what the law says, and practical steps to protect yourself and your family in 2026.
2026-08-30 · 10 min
Scam typesIs Indeed Considered Social Media? Here’s the Answer
Is Indeed considered social media? No—it’s a job search engine. Learn why the distinction matters for your job search, privacy, and scam safety.
2026-08-10 · 8 min
Scam typesWhat Is a Followers Campaign on Social Media? A 2026 Guide
Learn what a followers campaign on social media really is, how it works, what it costs, and how to avoid scams. Get real growth without buying fake followers.
2026-08-10 · 13 min
Scam typesDo Influencers Buy Followers? Yes—How to Spot Them in 2026
Do influencers buy followers? Yes, and it's widespread. Learn the red flags to spot fake followers on Instagram, TikTok, and more before you trust the numbers.
2026-08-10 · 10 min
Scam typesSocial Media Impersonators: Fraud, Followers & Click Bait on Telegram, X & Facebook
Scammers are using click bait and impersonators to commit fraud against your followers on Telegram, X, and Facebook. Learn how to stop them before they steal your reputation.
2026-08-10 · 11 min
Scam typesHow Universities Are Embedding AI Education in 2026
Universities embedding AI education now treat it as a safety skill, not just a career boost. Learn what campuses get right, what they miss, and how to protect yourself.
2026-07-07 · 11 min
CryptoPhantom Wallet Scams: How to Spot and Avoid Them in 2026
Phantom wallet scams are getting more sophisticated. Learn the 5 most common attacks, a 30-second verification trick, and what to do if you've been hit.
2026-07-07 · 8 min
CryptoCrypto Wallet Screenshot Risks: What You Expose & How to Stay Safe
A crypto wallet screenshot can leak your location, device data, and recovery phrase. Learn what’s actually exposed and how to protect your assets in 2026.
2026-07-07 · 10 min
CryptoCoinbase Wallet Screenshot: Security Risks & Safe Sharing Guide
Why does Coinbase block screenshots? Learn the real dangers of sharing a Coinbase wallet screenshot, how to spot scams, and safe ways to verify compliance.
2026-07-07 · 11 min
CryptoValentin Lopez Crypto: Arrest in $32K Cancer Fund Theft
Valentin Lopez was arrested after malware in a Steam game drained a cancer patient's crypto treatment fund. Read how the scam worked and how to stay safe.
2026-07-07 · 9 min
VerificationGACS vs ScamAdviser: which scam checker to trust in 2026
Side-by-side of GACS and ScamAdviser: data sources, wallet + phone coverage, false-positive handling, price, and when each one is the right call.
2026-07-03 · 7 min
CryptoCrypto Wallet Scam Checker: 7 Tools & Red Flags for 2026
Before you send crypto, use a wallet scam checker. See 5 tools that flag fraud, 7 red flags most checkers miss, and a 3-step process to protect your funds.
2026-06-25 · 11 min- Verification
Is This Website a Scam? Free Tools, Passkeys & 30-Sec Check
Ask “is this website a scam?” before you click. Use free tools, defeat MFA interception with FIDO2 passkeys, and follow our 30-second routine.
2026-06-24 · 10 min - Verification
WebAuthn Level 3 (2026): What's New for Passkeys
WebAuthn Level 3 (May 2026) is the passkey maturity update — Related Origin Requests, Signal API, conditional create/get, hybrid transport. Full breakdown.
2026-06-24 · 8 min - Verification
FIDO2 Passkeys Setup for Google, Apple & Microsoft (2026)
Step-by-step FIDO2 passkey setup for Google, Apple (iCloud Keychain), and Microsoft accounts in 2026 — plus how synced passkeys compare to YubiKey keys.
2026-06-24 · 7 min - Verification
WebAuthn vs FIDO2: Clear Comparison (2026)
FIDO2 is the umbrella standard; WebAuthn is the browser API. Learn the difference, CTAP's role, and why it matters for scam protection.
2026-06-24 · 8 min 
VerificationIs This Website a Scam? Free Tools & 30-Second Check (2026)
Ask 'is this website a scam' before you click. Use free tools, manual checks, and a 30-second routine to spot fake sites and government impersonation scams.
2026-06-24 · 11 min- Scam types
What are task scams? The 2026 deposit-to-unlock playbook
Task scams use micro-tasks and a fake balance, then a 'combo task' demands a crypto deposit. Spot the trap in 30 seconds.
2026-06-22 · 9 min - Scam types
How to Spot Fake Job Scams: A 2026 Verification Checklist
Job scam check: a step-by-step verification checklist to tell if a job offer is fake, spot remote-work task scams, and avoid recruitment fraud.
2026-06-21 · 9 min 
GuidesCheck if a website is a scam — 2026 verification guide
Step-by-step verification of any website in under 5 minutes: WHOIS, SSL, UI red flags, payment-rail signals, plus the 4-second automated check.
2026-06-20 · 11 min
CryptoCase study: a real pig butchering scam, week by week
A 47-day pig butchering scam reconstructed from a victim file — the psychological grooming playbook, the fake broker, and the moment $112k vanished.
2026-06-20 · 14 min- Featured · X Safety
X Safety Cheat Sheet 2026 — spot impersonators, fake giveaways & recovery scams
Single-page infographic. Daily 60-second routine, power tools, and the privacy settings every X user should flip. Free download — share on X with one click.
2026-06-10 · 3 min - Crypto
Anatomy of a pig butchering scam (real WhatsApp transcript)
Stage-by-stage breakdown of a real pig butchering scam — the opener, grooming, fake broker, drainer — with the red flags GACS would flag.
2026-06-10 · 12 min 
Weekly digestScams of the week — 8 June 2026 (weekly briefing)
This week's verified scams: 3 cloned exchanges, a TikTok 'AI trading bot' funnel, a recovery-scam ring, and a USDT-TRC20 drainer cluster.
2026-06-08 · 5 min
Case studiesTraced a $50k pig butchering scam with GACS (case study)
How we traced $50k from a victim's deposit to a Tron off-ramp in 2 hours — the exact wallets, the bridges, and what the bank did next.
2026-06-08 · 9 min- Scam types
Recovery scams: 7 red flags every 2026 victim must know
Recovery scams target people who've already lost money — promising refunds for an upfront fee. The 7 red flags and how to verify any 'recovery firm'.
2026-06-08 · 6 min - Crypto
The QuadrigaCX playbook is happening again in 2026
QuadrigaCX collapsed when its founder 'died' with the keys. Five 2026 exchanges are running the exact same playbook — here's the checklist.
2026-06-08 · 8 min 
ComparisonsBest ScamAdviser alternatives in 2026 (honest review)
ScamAdviser is fine — but here are 7 free alternatives with better crypto coverage, faster lookups, and no paywalls. Side-by-side comparison.
2026-06-07 · 8 min- Crypto
Top crypto scam checkers compared (2026 honest review)
Crypto scam detector websites compared: GACS, Chainabuse, ScamSniffer, CryptoScamDB, Etherscan labels + 4 more. Coverage, speed, accuracy, free tiers.
2026-06-06 · 9 min - Crypto
Is Bitcoin a scam? The honest 2026 answer
Bitcoin itself isn't a scam — but most things sold using its name are. The clear-eyed answer, the actual risks, and how to stay safe.
2026-06-06 · 7 min - Crypto
Is crypto a scam? The honest 2026 answer
Crypto isn't a scam — but most things sold under its name are. The clear-eyed answer, the actual risks, and how to spot the scams that are.
2026-06-06 · 8 min - Crypto
Is Crypto.com a scam? 2026 review + red flags
Crypto.com is licensed in 30+ jurisdictions and isn't a scam — but here's what to check before depositing, and the clone sites pretending to be it.
2026-06-06 · 6 min - Crypto
Is Coinbase a scam? 2026 review + clone-site warning
Coinbase is a SEC-registered US exchange — not a scam. The real risks, the impersonator sites stealing logins, and how to spot the difference.
2026-06-06 · 6 min - Crypto
Bitcoin scammer list 2026: 250k+ flagged addresses
The largest public list of Bitcoin scam addresses — 250k+ wallets verified across blacklists, court records, and victim reports. Free lookup.
2026-06-06 · 7 min - Crypto
How do crypto scams work in 2026? The 9-stage playbook
Every modern crypto scam — pig butchering, drainers, recovery — runs the same 9-stage playbook. Learn it once and you'll spot the next one.
2026-06-06 · 9 min - Crypto
Is Bitcoin a scam? The UK 2026 answer + FCA guide
Bitcoin isn't a scam in the UK — but most UK 'Bitcoin' brokers are. The FCA register check, the warnings list, and how to deposit safely.
2026-06-06 · 6 min - Crypto
Is Bitcoin a scam? The Australia 2026 answer + ASIC guide
Bitcoin isn't a scam in Australia — but most AU 'Bitcoin' brokers are. The ASIC register check, the warnings list, and how to deposit safely.
2026-06-06 · 6 min - Crypto
Is Bitcoin a scam? The Canada 2026 answer + CSA guide
Bitcoin isn't a scam in Canada — but most CA 'Bitcoin' brokers are. The CSA register check, the warnings list, and how to deposit safely.
2026-06-06 · 6 min - Crypto
Is Bitcoin a scam? The India 2026 answer + RBI guide
Bitcoin isn't a scam in India — but most IN 'Bitcoin' brokers are. The legal status, the platforms to avoid, and how to deposit safely.
2026-06-06 · 6 min - Crypto
Is Bitcoin a scam? The PH 2026 answer + BSP guide
Bitcoin isn't a scam in the Philippines — but most PH 'Bitcoin' brokers are. The BSP-licensed VASP list and how to deposit safely.
2026-06-06 · 6 min - Crypto
Is Bitcoin a scam? The Nigeria 2026 answer + SEC guide
Bitcoin isn't a scam in Nigeria — but most NG 'Bitcoin' brokers are. The SEC VASP rules, the platforms to avoid, and how to deposit safely.
2026-06-06 · 6 min - Crypto
Is Bitcoin a scam? The Singapore 2026 answer + MAS guide
Bitcoin isn't a scam in Singapore — but most SG 'Bitcoin' brokers are. The MAS DPT licence check and how to deposit safely.
2026-06-06 · 6 min - Crypto
Is Bitcoin a scam? The UAE 2026 answer + VARA guide
Bitcoin isn't a scam in the UAE — but most UAE 'Bitcoin' brokers are. The VARA / SCA licence check and how to deposit safely.
2026-06-06 · 6 min - Awareness
Is this link safe? The 2026 link-checker guide
Paste any link and get the verdict — WHOIS, SSL, phishing-feed lookup, content signal — in 4 seconds. Free, no signup, instant.
2026-06-06 · 6 min - Awareness
Check if a website is a scam — 2026 verification guide
Step-by-step verification of any website in under 5 minutes: WHOIS, SSL, UI red flags, payment-rail signals, plus the 4-second automated check.
2026-06-05 · 7 min - Crypto
How banks detect pig butchering payments (2026 inside view)
What banks actually look for to flag pig-butchering wires — the 7 signals, the 24-hour recall window, and how to trigger a manual review.
2026-06-04 · 12 min - Investigations
Tracing $4M of pig butchering wallets: a live investigation
We traced $4M across BSC, Tron, and Ethereum from victim deposits to off-ramp — the wallets, the bridges, and the cash-out exchanges.
2026-05-29 · 12 min 
Exchange reviewsIs Bybit safe in 2026? Full review + red flags
Bybit review with licence checks, withdrawal record, and the red flags every trader should run before depositing in 2026.
2026-05-28 · 8 min- Exchange reviews
Is MEXC safe in 2026? Full review + red flags
MEXC review with licence checks, withdrawal record, and the red flags every trader should run before depositing in 2026.
2026-05-28 · 7 min - Exchange reviews
Is Bitget safe in 2026? Full review + red flags
Bitget review with licence checks, withdrawal record, and the red flags every trader should run before depositing in 2026.
2026-05-28 · 7 min - Exchange reviews
Is KuCoin safe in 2026? Full review + red flags
KuCoin review with licence checks, withdrawal record, and the red flags every trader should run before depositing in 2026.
2026-05-28 · 8 min - Exchange reviews
Is eToro safe in 2026? Full review + red flags
eToro review with licence checks, withdrawal record, copy-trading risks, and the red flags every trader should run before depositing.
2026-05-28 · 7 min 
IndustryWhy we built GACS: the global anti-crime & safety
After a friend lost $50k to a pig-butchering scam in 2024, we built the public scam database we wished had existed. The mission, the team, the next step.
2026-05-28 · 6 min- Verification
Is this website a scam? 10-point check in 90 seconds
Before you buy, register, or deposit on any unknown site, run this free 10-point checklist — catches 90% of scams, fake brokers, and phishing.
2026-05-27 · 5 min 
ReportingReport a scam globally 2026: every official agency
Reporting a scam to the right agency can freeze funds, unlock chargebacks, and protect the next victim. The official global directory.
2026-05-27 · 5 min
Country guidesReport a crypto scam in the US — 2026 step-by-step
Every US agency that matters and the exact order to file with — FBI IC3, FTC, FinCEN, SEC, your bank, and the receiving exchange.
2026-05-27 · 8 min- Country guides
Report a crypto scam in the UK — 2026 step-by-step
Every UK agency that matters and the exact order to file with — Report Fraud, FCA, your bank, and the receiving exchange's compliance team.
2026-05-27 · 7 min - Country guides
Report a crypto scam in Canada — 2026 step-by-step
Every Canadian agency that matters and the exact order to file with — CAFC, RCMP, your bank, and the receiving exchange's compliance team.
2026-05-27 · 7 min - Country guides
Report a crypto scam in Australia — 2026 step-by-step
Every Australian agency that matters and the exact order — Scamwatch, ACCC, AFP, your bank, and the receiving exchange's compliance team.
2026-05-27 · 7 min - Country guides
Report a crypto scam in Germany — 2026 step-by-step
Every German agency that matters and the exact order — BaFin, BKA, your bank, and the receiving exchange's compliance team.
2026-05-27 · 7 min - Country guides
Report a crypto scam in France — 2026 step-by-step
Every French agency that matters and the exact order — AMF, Pharos, your bank, and the receiving exchange's compliance team.
2026-05-27 · 7 min - Country guides
Report a crypto scam in Singapore — 2026 step-by-step
Every Singapore agency that matters and the exact order — SPF, MAS, ScamShield, your bank, and the receiving exchange's compliance team.
2026-05-27 · 6 min - Country guides
Report a crypto scam in India — 2026 step-by-step
Every Indian agency that matters and the exact order — cybercrime.gov.in, 1930 helpline, RBI, your bank, and the receiving exchange.
2026-05-27 · 7 min - Recovery
Recover money from a crypto scam (without getting scammed)
Realistic recovery options after a crypto scam — what works, what doesn't, and how to spot the 'recovery experts' who are themselves the scam.
2026-05-26 · 8 min - Scam types
Romance scam red flags 2026: 12-question safety check
Romance scams now blend AI-deepfaked video, stolen photos, and pig butchering. Run this 12-question check on anyone you've never met in person.
2026-05-26 · 6 min 
ResearchState of Crypto Scams 2026: 228 entities mapped
First GACS data report: 228 verified scam entities by category, severity, chain, and source — where crypto fraud actually lives in 2026.
2026-05-26 · 18 min
FamiliesElder fraud playbook: protect your parents in 2026
Elder fraud cost US victims $3.4B in 2024. The 8 scams targeting your parents and the 30-minute family checklist that stops most of them.
2026-05-26 · 7 min- Tools
Build any Excel formula with AI (free, no signup)
Type what you want in plain English, get the exact Excel or Google Sheets formula back. Free, no signup, with 12 worked fraud-audit examples.
2026-05-26 · 6 min - Crypto
State of Crypto Scams 2026: 228 entities mapped
First GACS data report: 228 verified scam entities by category, severity, chain, and source — where crypto fraud actually lives in 2026.
2026-05-25 · 10 min - Crypto
Pig butchering 2026: 16 wallets, 88 fake sites mapped
A GACS investigation mapping the wallets, phishing fronts, and evidence behind the 2026 pig-butchering cluster — every entity linked.
2026-05-25 · 9 min - Reporting
How to report a scam in the US (2026 step-by-step)
Fastest 2026 workflow to report a scam in the US: FTC, IC3, FBI, banks, and the GACS report flow that warns the next victim.
2026-05-25 · 7 min - Reporting
How to report a scam in the UK (2026 step-by-step)
Fastest 2026 workflow to report a scam in the UK: Report Fraud, FCA, bank-recall steps, and the GACS report flow that warns the next victim.
2026-05-25 · 7 min - Reporting
Report a scam in Canada — 2026 step-by-step
Report a scammer in Canada — CAFC, RCMP, and bank-recall steps that actually recover money, plus the free GACS report flow that warns the next victim.
2026-05-25 · 7 min - Reporting
Report a scam in Australia — 2026 step-by-step
Fastest 2026 workflow to report a scam in Australia: Scamwatch, ACCC, bank-recall steps, and the GACS report flow that warns the next victim.
2026-05-25 · 7 min - Reporting
Report a scam in India — 2026 step-by-step
Fastest 2026 workflow to report a scam in India: cybercrime.gov.in, 1930 helpline, bank-recall steps, and the GACS report flow.
2026-05-25 · 7 min - Reporting
Report a scam in Singapore — 2026 step-by-step
Fastest 2026 workflow to report a scam in Singapore: ScamShield, SPF, bank-recall steps, and the GACS report flow that warns the next victim.
2026-05-25 · 7 min - Reporting
Report a scam in the Philippines — 2026 step-by-step
Fastest 2026 workflow to report a scam in the Philippines: PNP-ACG, NBI, bank-recall steps, and the GACS report flow.
2026-05-25 · 7 min - Reporting
Report a scam in Nigeria — 2026 step-by-step
Fastest 2026 workflow to report a scam in Nigeria: EFCC, NPF Cybercrime, bank-recall steps, and the GACS report flow.
2026-05-25 · 7 min - Reporting
Report a scam in South Africa — 2026 step-by-step
Fastest 2026 workflow to report a scam in South Africa: SAPS, SAFPS, bank-recall steps, and the GACS report flow that warns the next victim.
2026-05-25 · 7 min - Reporting
Report a scam in the UAE — 2026 step-by-step
Fastest 2026 workflow to report a scam in the UAE: eCrime, Aman, bank-recall steps, and the GACS report flow that warns the next victim.
2026-05-25 · 7 min - Scam types
'Hi, is this Sarah?' — the $10B wrong-number text scam
The friendly wrong-number text is the entry point to pig butchering. How it works, why you should never reply, and what to do if you did.
2026-05-25 · 4 min 
AI threatsDeepfake video call scams: 5 live tests that still work
Real-time face-swap is undetectable to the eye in 2026. Five live tests — head turn, hand pass, nose press, side-channel code — still expose it.
2026-05-25 · 6 min- Scam types
WhatsApp investment group scam: the 2026 playbook
WhatsApp 'mentor' groups have replaced Telegram as the #1 pig-butchering funnel. The 14-day script, the fake cast, and how to exfiltrate safely.
2026-05-25 · 8 min - Verification
Check if a crypto wallet address is safe — free 2026 tools
Before you send a single sat, run the address through these free checks: on-chain risk scoring, sanctions screening, and the GACS blacklist.
2026-05-25 · 7 min - Recovery
Recovering from a scam: a 30-day mental & money plan
Most scam advice stops at 'report it.' This is the 30-day playbook for the part nobody talks about — sleep, shame, family, money, rebuilding trust.
2026-05-25 · 10 min - Crypto
USDT TRC20 scam wallets: check an address in 30s
USDT on Tron is the #1 laundering rail for crypto scams. Check any TRC20 wallet for fraud history in 30 seconds — free, no signup.
2026-05-24 · 5 min - Scam types
Telegram investment group scams: 2026 anatomy
VIP signal groups, 'mentor' bots, and copy-trading channels are a multi-billion-dollar scam funnel. How it works and how to spot it.
2026-05-24 · 7 min - Scam types
Rug pull explained: spot one before your wallet drains
Rug pulls drained $2.8B from retail wallets in 2025. The anatomy, the on-chain tells you can verify in 60s, and the free checks that catch 9 in 10.
2026-05-24 · 9 min - AI scams
AI voice cloning scams: when your child isn't your child
Voice-cloning scams now need 3 seconds of audio to impersonate loved ones. The 2026 scam, the family safe-word protocol, and the first 60 seconds.
2026-05-24 · 8 min - Verification
Real Binance or Coinbase? Spot clone exchanges in 2026
Cloned exchange sites are the #1 traffic source for crypto fraud. The four-layer check that proves a Binance, Coinbase, Kraken, or OKX site is real.
2026-05-24 · 7 min - Scam types
What is pig butchering? The 2026 playbook explained
Pig butchering has stolen $75B since 2020. The exact 7-stage playbook, the red flags, and how to escape before the final 'tax' trap.
2026-05-23 · 8 min - Verification
Spot a fake trading platform in under 2 minutes
Fake brokers trap victims with polished UIs and fake KYC. The 9 instant tells, plus a free 4-layer verification tool.
2026-05-22 · 6 min - Crypto
Crypto wallet scams: 12 red flags + free address check
Wallet drainers, fake airdrops, address poisoning — the 2026 crypto-theft toolkit. 12 red flags and a free wallet checker.
2026-05-21 · 7 min - Scam types
Romance scam warning signs: 2026 dating-app checklist
Romance-investment scams cost victims $42,000 on average. The warning signs, the exact scripts, and how to verify any match.
2026-05-20 · 6 min - Reporting
Report a crypto scam: the global step-by-step guide
The exact order to report a crypto scam — bank, exchange, police, national agency — to maximise the chance of freezing or recovering funds.
2026-05-19 · 5 min - Industry
AI search & scam detection in 2026: how AI picks sources
Google, ChatGPT, and Perplexity now drive 40% of scam-related search. How they pick sources — and why structured public blacklists win.
2026-05-18 · 7 min - Scam types
Recovery scams: why 1-in-3 fraud victims get hit twice
Once you're a fraud victim, your details are sold to recovery-scam rings. How the second scam works and how to spot it before you pay again.
2026-05-17 · 5 min - Verification
Is this domain a scam? 30-second check for any link
A 30-second routine you can run on any suspicious link — WHOIS, certificate, and the GACS blacklist. Free, no signup, instant verdict.
2026-05-16 · 4 min
Authoritative sources
Independent primary sources used to check and corroborate the guidance on this page.
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)Official US channel for reporting internet-enabled fraud and cybercrime.
US Federal Trade Commission — ReportFraudConsumer fraud reporting and published enforcement data.
UK Report FraudUK national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime.
Canadian Anti-Fraud CentreCanada's central repository for fraud reports and scam alerts.