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.
- Comparisons
Best ScamAdviser alternatives in 2026 — free, ad-free, crypto-aware tools
Honest side-by-side comparison of the seven best ScamAdviser alternatives in 2026, including which is best for crypto, which is best for developers, and which is best for one-click checks.
2026-06-07 · 8 min - Awareness
Is this link safe? The 2026 guide to checking any URL before you click
Five free ways to check whether a link is safe, what each one actually proves, and how to do all five in under 10 seconds.
2026-06-06 · 6 min - Crypto
Is Bitcoin a scam in the UAE? VARA, SCA, and 2026 reality
Bitcoin is legal in the UAE and regulated by VARA in Dubai and the SCA federally — but UAE residents lost over AED 1.6B to crypto scams in 2025. Here's the real picture.
2026-06-06 · 6 min - Crypto
Is Bitcoin a scam in Singapore? MAS, ScamShield, and 2026 reality
Bitcoin is legal in Singapore and regulated by MAS under the Payment Services Act — but Singaporeans lost S$140M to crypto scams in 2025. Here's how to verify a platform.
2026-06-06 · 6 min - Crypto
Is Bitcoin a scam in Nigeria? SEC, CBN, EFCC, and 2026 reality
Bitcoin is legal to hold in Nigeria and regulated by the SEC under the ARIP framework — but Nigerians lost over ₦230B to crypto scams in 2025. Here's the real picture.
2026-06-06 · 6 min - Crypto
Is Bitcoin a scam in the Philippines? BSP, SEC PH, and 2026 reality
Bitcoin is legal in the Philippines and regulated by the BSP as a Virtual Asset Service Provider — but Filipinos lost over ₱5B to crypto scams in 2025. Here's how to verify.
2026-06-06 · 6 min - Crypto
Is Bitcoin a scam in India? RBI, 30% tax, and 2026 reality
Bitcoin is legal to hold in India and taxed at 30% under Section 115BBH — but Indians lost over ₹2,000 crore to crypto scams in 2025. Here's how to spot a real platform.
2026-06-06 · 6 min - Crypto
Is Bitcoin a scam in Canada? CSA, CAFC, and 2026 reality
Bitcoin is legal in Canada and regulated by the CSA and FINTRAC — but Canadians lost $310M to crypto scams in 2025. Here's how to verify a platform and how to report.
2026-06-06 · 6 min - Crypto
Is Bitcoin a scam in Australia? ASIC, Scamwatch, and what Aussies lose
Bitcoin is legal in Australia and regulated by ASIC and AUSTRAC — but Australians lost $382M to crypto investment scams in 2025. Here's the real picture and how to report.
2026-06-06 · 6 min - Crypto
Is Bitcoin a scam in the UK? FCA rules, Action Fraud, and 2026 reality
Bitcoin is legal in the UK and regulated under FCA cryptoasset rules — but UK residents lost £306M to crypto fraud in 2025. Here's how to spot the scam vs the asset, and how to report.
2026-06-06 · 6 min - Crypto
How do crypto scams work? The 6 patterns behind 90% of losses in 2026
Crypto scams aren't random. Six distinct patterns account for almost all losses: pig butchering, fake brokers, drainer wallets, rug pulls, impersonation, and recovery scams. Here's how each one works.
2026-06-06 · 9 min - Crypto
Bitcoin scammer list: how to check addresses, wallets, and platforms in 2026
There's no single 'Bitcoin scammer list' — but multiple live databases track confirmed scam wallets, fake exchanges, and impersonation accounts. Here's how to actually check before sending funds.
2026-06-06 · 7 min - Crypto
Is Coinbase a scam? Why people search this and what's really going on
Coinbase is a publicly listed Nasdaq company (COIN) — not a scam. But Coinbase impersonators, fake support, and phishing clones lose users millions every month. Here's how to spot the real thing.
2026-06-06 · 6 min - Crypto
Is Crypto.com a scam? Real exchange vs the clones impersonating it
Crypto.com is a real, regulated exchange — but dozens of phishing clones impersonate it every month. Here's how to tell which one you're actually on before you deposit.
2026-06-06 · 6 min - Crypto
Is crypto a scam? What the data actually shows in 2026
Crypto isn't a scam, but the crypto industry is the highest-fraud-density industry on earth right now. Here's the data on how often you'll meet a scam, and how to avoid losing money.
2026-06-06 · 8 min - Crypto
Is Bitcoin a scam? The honest 2026 answer
Bitcoin itself isn't a scam — it's a 16-year-old open-source protocol audited by thousands. But scammers exploit it constantly. Here's how to tell the difference and protect your money.
2026-06-06 · 7 min - Crypto
Top crypto scam checkers compared: GACS vs Scamadviser vs VirusTotal (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of the three most-used scam checkers for crypto users — wallet address verification, pig-butchering detection, tracking, and pricing.
2026-06-06 · 9 min - Awareness
How to check if a website is a scam — the 60-second checklist
Eight checks anyone can run in under a minute to decide if a website is safe to buy from, log into, or send money to — plus the one tool that does them all for free.
2026-06-05 · 7 min - Crypto
How banks detect and block pig-butchering scam payments in 2026
The forensic and behavioural signals fraud teams at retail banks use to flag pig-butchering transfers before they leave — plus what victims and professionals can do to trigger a recall.
2026-06-04 · 12 min - Investigations
Inside the wallets: how we traced $40M through 14 pig-butchering deposit funnels
An investigation into the on-chain plumbing behind a single pig-butchering operation. 14 deposit wallets, 4 consolidation addresses, two OTC desks, and the laundering path that takes funds from a victim's deposit to physical gold in Dubai in under 30 days.
2026-05-29 · 12 min - Industry
Why we built GACS — and how it's quietly saving people from scammers every day
The story behind GACS: why the modern scam economy outgrew old tools, what our free scanner actually checks, and how every public report makes the next person safer.
2026-05-28 · 6 min - Exchange reviews
Is eToro safe in 2026? What you actually pay for
eToro is regulated in most of the West, copy-trading is its core product, and the spread is the price. We cover the regulatory picture, the real risks of copy trading, the withdrawal experience, and who eToro is and isn't right for.
2026-05-28 · 7 min - Exchange reviews
Is KuCoin safe in 2026? Post-settlement honest review
KuCoin settled with the U.S. DOJ in 2025 and overhauled compliance. We cover what changed, the regulatory map by country, the recurring user complaints, and who should still trust the platform.
2026-05-28 · 8 min - Exchange reviews
Is Bitget safe in 2026? The honest review
Bitget grew fast on copy-trading and aggressive listings. We cover the regulatory picture, the protection fund, the recurring complaints, and whether new users should trust it for serious money.
2026-05-28 · 7 min - Exchange reviews
Is MEXC safe in 2026? What new users need to know
MEXC offers thousands of pairs and no KYC for small accounts — both are double-edged. Here is the honest 2026 picture: who it serves, who it doesn't, what the withdrawal complaints actually mean, and the safer alternatives.
2026-05-28 · 7 min - Exchange reviews
Is Bybit safe in 2026? Honest review for new users
Bybit just survived the largest crypto exchange hack in history. We walk through what actually happened, what was reimbursed, the regulatory status by country, and whether new users should trust the platform.
2026-05-28 · 8 min - Country guides
How to report a crypto scam in India (2026 step-by-step)
NCRP, 1930 helpline, your bank's account-freeze request, SEBI/RBI escalation, and the §57 tax claim. Every Indian route to recovery, in working order.
2026-05-27 · 7 min - Country guides
How to report a crypto scam in Singapore (2026 step-by-step)
ScamShield, the SPF Anti-Scam Centre, MAS Investor Alert List, your bank's kill-switch, and the IRAS deduction claim. Every Singapore route to recovery in priority order.
2026-05-27 · 6 min - Country guides
How to report a crypto scam in France (2026 step-by-step)
Pharos, THESEE, AMF's liste noire, your banque's chargeback, and the BIC tax claim. Every French route to recovery, in priority order.
2026-05-27 · 7 min - Country guides
How to report a crypto scam in Germany (2026 step-by-step)
BKA, BaFin's unauthorised-business warning list, your Landeskriminalamt, and the §23 EStG capital-loss claim. Every German route to recovery, in working order.
2026-05-27 · 7 min - Country guides
How to report a crypto scam in Australia (2026 step-by-step)
Scamwatch, ReportCyber, the AFCA bank dispute, ASIC's MoneySmart investor warnings, and the ATO capital-loss claim. Every Australian route to recovery in priority order.
2026-05-27 · 7 min - Country guides
How to report a crypto scam in Canada (2026 step-by-step)
CAFC, your provincial securities commission, the receiving exchange, and the CRA capital-loss claim. Every Canadian route to recovery, with the 72-hour window that matters most.
2026-05-27 · 7 min - Country guides
How to report a crypto scam in the UK (2026 step-by-step)
Action Fraud, your bank's Contingent Reimbursement Model claim, the FCA warning list, and the HMRC capital-loss write-off. Every UK route to recovery, in order.
2026-05-27 · 7 min - Country guides
How to report a crypto scam in the United States (2026 step-by-step)
Every U.S. agency that matters, the exact order to file in, the 24-hour window that decides recovery, and the tax write-off most victims miss. For victims in all 50 states.
2026-05-27 · 8 min - Reporting
Report a scam globally in 2026: every official agency by country
Reporting a scam to the right agency can freeze funds, unlock chargebacks, and protect the next victim. Here's the official global directory.
2026-05-27 · 5 min - Verification
Is this website a scam? The 10-point checklist that takes 90 seconds
Before you buy, register, or deposit on any unknown site, run this free 10-point checklist. It catches over 90% of scam shops, fake brokers, and phishing clones.
2026-05-27 · 5 min - Tools
Build any Excel formula with AI: fraud trackers, budgets, and recovery ledgers in seconds
How to use the free GACS Excel AI Builder to generate working .xlsx files — with real formulas, not hardcoded numbers — for fraud loss tracking, crypto tax, monthly budgets, and 12-month cashflow projections.
2026-05-26 · 6 min - Families
The Elder Fraud Playbook: a free printable guide to protect your parents
The 8 scams that target seniors most, the exact words to say on the phone, who to call after money moves, and a one-page fridge card. Free, printable, no signup.
2026-05-26 · 7 min - Research
State of Crypto Scams 2026: 250,000 entities, $75B stolen, 14 patterns that explain almost everything
GACS's annual data report on the global crypto-scam economy. Drawn from a 250,000-entity public blacklist, victim reports across 40+ countries, and on-chain tracing of the largest pig-butchering deposit funnels. The numbers, the methods, and what works.
2026-05-26 · 18 min - Scam types
Romance scam red flags in 2026: the 12-question safety checklist
Romance scams now blend AI-deepfaked video, stolen photos, and pig-butchering investment funnels. Run this 12-question checklist on anyone you've never met in person.
2026-05-26 · 6 min - Recovery
How to recover money from a crypto scam (and avoid recovery scams)
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 - Recovery
Recovering from a scam: a 30-day mental and financial plan
Most scam-victim advice stops at 'report it.' This is the 30-day playbook for the part nobody talks about — sleep, shame, family, money, and rebuilding trust after the worst week of your life.
2026-05-25 · 10 min - Verification
How to check if a crypto wallet address is safe (free tools, 2026)
Before you send a single sat, paste the address into these free checks. We walk through on-chain risk scoring, sanctions screening, and the GACS blacklist — the same stack compliance teams pay $40k/yr for, free.
2026-05-25 · 7 min - Scam types
WhatsApp investment group scam: the 2026 playbook
WhatsApp 'mentor' groups have replaced Telegram as the #1 funnel for pig-butchering victims. Here's the exact 14-day script scammers run, the cast of fake characters, and how to exfiltrate safely.
2026-05-25 · 8 min - AI threats
Deepfake video call scams: how to spot a fake face in real time
AI face-swap is now indistinguishable on a phone screen. Here are the live tests that still work in 2026 to expose a deepfake on a video call.
2026-05-25 · 6 min - Scam types
'Hi, is this Sarah?' — why wrong-number texts are a $10B scam
The friendly wrong-number text is the entry point to pig butchering. Here's exactly how it works, why you should never reply, and what to do if you already did.
2026-05-25 · 4 min - Reporting
How to report a scam in the UAE (2026 step-by-step)
The fastest 2026 workflow for reporting a scam in the UAE — official agencies, helplines, bank-recall steps, and the GACS reporting flow that warns the next victim.
2026-05-25 · 7 min - Reporting
How to report a scam in South Africa (2026 step-by-step)
The fastest 2026 workflow for reporting a scam in South Africa — official agencies, helplines, bank-recall steps, and the GACS reporting flow that warns the next victim.
2026-05-25 · 7 min - Reporting
How to report a scam in Nigeria (2026 step-by-step)
The fastest 2026 workflow for reporting a scam in Nigeria — official agencies, helplines, bank-recall steps, and the GACS reporting flow that warns the next victim.
2026-05-25 · 7 min - Reporting
How to report a scam in the Philippines (2026 step-by-step)
The fastest 2026 workflow for reporting a scam in the Philippines — official agencies, helplines, bank-recall steps, and the GACS reporting flow that warns the next victim.
2026-05-25 · 7 min - Reporting
How to report a scam in Singapore (2026 step-by-step)
The fastest 2026 workflow for reporting a scam in Singapore — official agencies, helplines, bank-recall steps, and the GACS reporting flow that warns the next victim.
2026-05-25 · 7 min - Reporting
How to report a scam in India (2026 step-by-step)
The fastest 2026 workflow for reporting a scam in India — official agencies, helplines, bank-recall steps, and the GACS reporting flow that warns the next victim.
2026-05-25 · 7 min - Reporting
How to report a scam in Australia (2026 step-by-step)
The fastest 2026 workflow for reporting a scam in Australia — official agencies, helplines, bank-recall steps, and the GACS reporting flow that warns the next victim.
2026-05-25 · 7 min - Reporting
How to report a scam in Canada (2026 step-by-step)
The fastest 2026 workflow for reporting a scam in Canada — official agencies, helplines, bank-recall steps, and the GACS reporting flow that warns the next victim.
2026-05-25 · 7 min - Reporting
How to report a scam in the United Kingdom (2026 step-by-step)
The fastest 2026 workflow for reporting a scam in the United Kingdom — official agencies, helplines, bank-recall steps, and the GACS reporting flow that warns the next victim.
2026-05-25 · 7 min - Reporting
How to report a scam in the United States (2026 step-by-step)
The fastest 2026 workflow for reporting a scam in the United States — official agencies, helplines, bank-recall steps, and the GACS reporting flow that warns the next victim.
2026-05-25 · 7 min - Crypto
Pig butchering data 2026: 16 mapped wallets, 88 fake sites, one playbook
A GACS investigation mapping the wallets, phishing fronts, and evidence timeline behind the 2026 pig-butchering cluster — with every entity linked and shareable.
2026-05-25 · 9 min - Crypto
State of Crypto Scams 2026: what 228 mapped entities reveal
The first GACS data report. We aggregate every entity our Risk & Recon engine triaged — by category, severity, chain, and source — to map where crypto fraud actually lives in 2026.
2026-05-25 · 10 min - Verification
Is this Binance / Coinbase site real? Spotting clone exchanges in 2026
Cloned exchange sites are now the #1 traffic source for crypto fraud. Learn the four-layer check that proves a Binance, Coinbase, Kraken, or OKX site is the real one before you log in or deposit.
2026-05-24 · 7 min - AI scams
AI voice cloning scams: when your child calls and it isn't them
Voice-cloning scams now need just 3 seconds of audio to impersonate your loved ones. Here's how the scam works in 2026, the safe-word protocol every family needs, and what to do in the first 60 seconds of a suspect call.
2026-05-24 · 8 min - Scam types
Rug pull explained: how to spot one before your wallet is drained
Rug pulls drained over $2.8B from retail wallets in 2025 alone. Here's the anatomy of a rug, the on-chain tells you can verify in 60 seconds, and the free checks that catch 9 in 10 before you ape in.
2026-05-24 · 9 min - Scam types
Telegram investment group scams: the 2026 anatomy
VIP signal groups, 'mentor' bots, and copy-trading channels on Telegram are now a multi-billion-dollar scam funnel. Here's how the funnel works and how to spot it.
2026-05-24 · 7 min - Crypto
USDT TRC20 scam wallets: how to check an address before you send
USDT on Tron is the #1 laundering rail for crypto scams. Learn how to check any TRC20 wallet for fraud history in 30 seconds — free, no signup.
2026-05-24 · 5 min - Scam types
What is a pig butchering scam? The 2026 playbook explained
Pig butchering scams have stolen over $75B since 2020. We break down the exact 7-stage playbook, the red flags, and how to escape before the final 'tax' trap.
2026-05-23 · 8 min - Verification
How to spot a fake trading platform in under 2 minutes
Fake brokers and cloned exchanges trap victims with polished UIs and fake KYC. Here are the 9 instant tells, plus a free 4-layer verification tool.
2026-05-22 · 6 min - Crypto
Crypto wallet scams: 12 red flags and how to check any address
Wallet drainers, fake airdrops, address-poisoning — the modern crypto-theft toolkit. Learn the 12 red flags and use the free wallet checker.
2026-05-21 · 7 min - Scam types
Romance scam warning signs: the 2026 checklist for every dating app
Romance-investment scams cost victims an average of $42,000. Here are the warning signs, the exact scripts to expect, and how to verify any match.
2026-05-20 · 6 min - Reporting
How to 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 and scam detection in 2026: how Google, ChatGPT, and Perplexity decide what's safe
AI answer engines now drive 40% of scam-related search traffic. Here's 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 scammed twice
Once you're a fraud victim, your contact details are sold to recovery-scam rings. Here's how the second scam works and how to spot it.
2026-05-17 · 5 min - Verification
Is this domain a scam? The 30-second check every link deserves
A 30-second routine you can run on any suspicious link — combining WHOIS, certificate, and the GACS blacklist. Free, no signup.
2026-05-16 · 4 min