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Scam of the day – April 30, 2026 – Virginia Sheriff Warns About Dangers of Check Washing
Recently, the Dinwiddie County Virginia Sheriff’s Office warned the public about a dramatic increase in mail theft from both residential and U.S. Postal Service mailboxes and resulting check washing. Additionally, the Sheriff’s Office said, “Beyond the money, they can use bank routing/account numbers for further identity theft, such as creating counterfeit checks or opening new account.”
Scam of the day – April 29, 2026 – ADT Suffers Massive Data Breach (Again)
ADT, the country’s largest home security company in the United States became aware on April 20th that it had suffered a data breach which, according to Have I Been Pwned, a terrific website that tracks data breaches, resulted in person information of 5.5 million people being compromised. According to Have I Been Pwned, the sensitive data included email addresses, names, dates of birth, phone numbers, physical addresses and partial government0-issued IDs. This information can readily lead to identity theft. ADT also acknowledged that in some instances the last four digits of Social Security numbers were also compromised. Some people might mistakenly believe that having only the last four digits of their Social Security number in the possession of scammers does not put them in jeopardy. It most certainly does. The first three digits of your Social Security number relate to where you live and is easily determined; the second two digits are group numbers that until 2011 were based on when you obtained your Social Security number and are even available on the Social Security website for years up till 2011, but even for numbers issued after that date, there are only 99 possibilities so it is not particularly difficult for an identity thief to determine your Social Security number with just the last four digits. Armed with your Social Security number, a criminal can make you a victim of costly identity theft quite readily.
Scam of the day – April 28, 2026 – South Carolina Woman Victimized by Jury Duty Scam
I have been warning you about the jury duty scam for thirteen years, but it continues to snare many unwary victims. Recently Suzzane Wilson lost $18,000 to a jury duty scam that began with a phone call from a scammer posing as a Sheriff’s Deputy telling her that she had missed jury duty and had to pay $13,000 to avoid being arrested. She was instructed to withdraw the money from her bank and not to tell anyone why she was getting the money. She was further instructed to to to a cryptocurrency ATM to send the money to the scammer.
Scam of the day – April 27, 2026 – Target Gift Card Class Action Update
Last summer, I told you that four victims of the impersonator scam In Pennsylvania sued Target alleging that Target failed to use its own security algorithms and real-time tracking software to prevent these scams. The plaintiffs further alleged that Target benefited financially from these scams and did not take proper steps to stop it. Presently the case is still in the early stages of discovery where evidence is gathered by both sides.
Scam of the day – April 26, 2026 – Missing Dog Scam Uses AI
Today people are even more likely to post on social media about missing pets and scammers are using AI to perpetrate missing pet scams more convincingly. Recently in Deltona, Florida, Bill Cosens posted photos of his dog Archer who had been missing for a day on social media. They soon got a call that appeared to come from a local animal control shelter veterinary service telling Cosens that Archer had been hit by a car and needed emergency surgery and that the cost was $2,746 which should be paid by gift cards.. When Bill Cosens and his wife asked to come see Archer they were told there was no time for that, but the phony vet service would send a photo of Archer being prepared for surgery which they promptly received. Fortunately, the Cosens were skeptical, particularly about the vet demanding payment by gift cards which is something only scammers do and they did not fall for the scam although the AI created photo was very convincing.
Scam of the day – April 25, 2026 – Class Actions Filed Against Citizens Bank Over Data Breach
This week two separate lawsuits seeking class action status were filed against Citizens Bank alleging lax security which led to a recent data breach According to the lawsuits the ransomware group Everest claimed responsibility for a cyberattack against Citizens systems that compromised sensitive personal information of as many as millions of Citizens current and former customers. Citizens acknowledges that they suffered a data breach, but assert that their own networks were not breached and that the data breach involved a third party vendor of Citizens affecting a “limited set of information for a small number of customers.” However, the limited set of information included names and checking account numbers which when joined with the bank’s routing number which is publicly available would enable a criminal to create counterfeit checks posing a serious threat to the affected customers.
Scam of the day – April 24, 2026 – Amazon Recall Scam
Whatever is popular with the public is popular with scammers which is why it is not surprising that scammers are sending out text messages that appear to come from Amazon informing their targeted victims that there is a recall of a product that the targeted victim purchased through Amazon Prime. The text message looks legitimate and may even appear to come from a legitimate Amazon telephone number, but it is a simple matter for a scammer to “spoof” a legitimate number to make it appear that the call is originating from Amazon while actually coming from the scammer. The bogus text message informing you of the product recall provides a link that will take you to what appears to be the Amazon website and prompts you to provide your account information and your password. Using AI it is simple for a scammer to create a very legitimate appearing counterfeit Amazon website.
Scam of the day – April 23, 2026 – Comcast Settles Data Breach Class Action
A class action against Comcast alleging negligence in protecting the personal information of its customers was filed shortly after the data breach and the case has now settled with Comcast agreeing to pay $117.5 million. As is common in such settlements, Comcast did not admit liability. Class members can receive reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses and lost time. Alternatively, class members can choose a cash payment of $50. In addition to the cash payments, Comcast is also offering class members three years of credit monitoring, dark web monitoring, authentication alerts, high-risk transaction monitoring, identity theft insurance and monthly credit score tracking. The deadline for filing a claim is August 14, 2026.
Scam of the day – April 22, 2026 – Cryptocurrency Scams Surging
The recent released FBI annual Internet Crime Report for 2025 highlights that cryptocurrency scams were responsible for half of all cybercrime losses last year with losses topping $11 billion.
Scam of the day – April 21, 2026 – Evite Online Invitation Scam
Evite is a popular online invitation platform that allows users to create, send, and manage digital invitations for events such as parties, weddings, meetings, and other gatherings. It’s widely used because it simplifies the process of inviting guests and tracking RSVPs. Evite is trusted and familiar to many users, making it an effective disguise for phishing scams. Because people often receive Evite invitations from friends or colleagues, they may click links without suspicion—especially if the invitation appears to be for a social or professional event. If you click on links in a scam evite invitation you may end up downloading dangerous keystroke logging malware that can steal sensitive personal data such as passwords or account information from your phone or computer that will result in your becoming a victim of identity theft.
Scam of the day – April 20, 2026 – Credit Card Declined Scam
In the past, the scammers would lure you into providing your credit card or debit card (which you should never use for purchases because the law does not protect you as much from fraudulent use) and then use your card to make purchases or if you provided your debit card, they will then access your bank account. Now, however, the scammer are getting greedy. When you attempt to use your credit card on their phony website you will be told that your card has been declined and so you need to use a second card. Once you do, you have now turned over two credit cards to the scammer to use for fraudulent purchases in your name.
Scam of the day – April 19, 2026 – Beware of Evil Twins
Whether we are at the airport, a hotel, a shopping mall, a coffee shop or almost anywhere else, you will usually find free public Wi-Fi service offered so that we can use our cell phones, laptops or tablets to connect to the Internet. However with this convenience can come danger. Too many people assume that the Wi-Fi that they are using is secure and this is not always the case. In fact, often an identity thief will go to the same coffee shop or other venue and set up his or her own Wi-Fi which is what you may unwittingly be tapping into when you think you are connecting to the Wi-Fi of the particular coffee shop or other place you find yourself at. Technologically, it is easy to set up a phony Wi-Fi that can steal data from your cell phone, laptop or tablet and use that information to make you a victim of identity theft. Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody issued a warning about these scammer-created phony Wi-Fi networks which she calls “Evil twins.”
Scam of the day – April 18, 2026 – NY Attorney General Lawsuit Against Zelle Update
In the Scam of the day for August 16, 2025 I told you about the lawsuit NY Attorney General Letitia James brought against Zelle, the service created by major banks in 2017 that enables people to quickly and easily send money from their bank accounts to other Zelle platform users. Unfortunately, as I have often reported to you, Zelle has been a favorite method for scammers to lure their victims into paying them through a variety of scams. According to Attorney General James, Zelle lacks important verification steps that would help prevent fraud such that scammers can sign up for Zelle using misleading email addresses that make them appear to be legitimate businesses or government agencies. In the lawsuit, James points out the example of someone posing as a Con Edison employee threatening to turn off electricity unless money was sent by Zelle to the scammer who was able to use the name “Coned Billing” for the account.
Scam of the day – April 17, 2026 – Free Piano Scam
Cybersecurity company Proofpoint discovered a scam in which people receive emails offering a free piano which is available often purportedly due to a death in the family or because the owner of the piano is graduating. The scam has largely targeted students and professors at colleges and universities. Often in the email, the scammer poses a someone from the same college or university as that of the targeted victim. In order to receive the free piano, all the targeted victim has to do is contact the moving company that presently has the piano to arrange for delivery. Delivery options in some of the emails have ranged from two day delivery for $915 to ten day delivery for $595. However, in order to have the delivery made, the targeted scam victim is required to pay the moving company in full for the cost of delivery.
Scam of the day – April 16, 2026 – iCloud Storage Phishing Scam
Many people have gotten legitimate messages from Apple telling them that their iCloud storage under their present plan is full. If your iCloud storage is full you can still save your photos and videos to your iPhone or iPad and documents you create will stay on your device, but these photos, videos and documents won’t upload to your iCloud account. Scammers are taking advantage of confusion as to what it means to have your iCloud account full by sending text messages like the one shown below that your iCloud account has been blocked and that your photos, videos and documents may be deleted unless you upgrade your account immediately. Clicking on the link in the text message to upgrade storage brings you to an AI created and legitimate appearing Apple website where you are prompted to provide credit card information which, if provided will lead to identity theft and credit card fraud.
Scam of the day – April 15, 2026 – Booking.com Data Breach
The latest problem is a data breach which Booking.com confirmed earlier this week in an email to its users informing them that it had suffered a data breach in which booking details, names, emails, addresses, phone numbers and any other information Booking.com users may have shared with any hotel booked through Booking.com was compromised. Scammers are using this information to contact Booking.com customers posing as Booking.com or a hotel with which the customers has made a reservation through Booking.com and under a variety of pretenses asks for credit card information related to an upcoming hotel stay. The phone calls, text messages or phishing emails will look entirely legitimate and refer to specifics as to actual reservations, making the scam more believable.
Scam of the day – April 14, 2026 – Phony Customer Service Number Scam
Now scammers are manipulating AI to have their phony customer service numbers appear in Google’s AI Overviews and OpenAI’s ChatGPT. People unfortunately believe that AI is totally trustworthy and call those numbers only to be scammed. AI harvests its information from the Internet and savvy scammers will insert their phony customer service number on online review sites, message boards and numerous websites. The more places the phony numbers appear, the more likely AI will pick them up and suggest them to you when you do an AI search.
Scam of the day – April 13, 2026 – Avis Data Breach Class Action Settlement
In August of 2024, the rental car company Avis suffered a data breach in which personal and financial information of 299,000 of its customers was compromised. The compromised information included names, mailing addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, birth dates, driver’s license numbers and credit card information. This information put Avis’ customers in danger of identity theft and other scams. A class action was filed in September of 2024 alleging that Avis was negligent in failing to implement reasonable security measures. and now that lawsuit has been settled with class members eligible to receive up to $5,000 for documented, unreimbursed losses suffered as a result of the data breach. Class members who did not experience out-of-pocket losses will also receive cash payments from the settlement. The amount of the payments will depend upon on the number of class members making claims. The settlement is scheduled for a final approving hearing before a judge who must approve the settlement On July 28, 2026.
Scam of the day – April 12, 2026 – Apple Pay Scam Alerts
One particularly effective scam starts with your receiving a text message that appears to come from Apple such as “Apple Pay pre-authorization charge of $143.95 was detected. Account locked. Call Apple Support now: 1-800-***-***. ( I have removed the scammers phone number.) Anyone responding to the text message by calling the phone number will reach a legitimate sounding scammer who may ask for your name and recent transaction amounts purportedly to verify your identity. They may also ask for device information, verification codes along with bank account or credit card data. Once that information has been turned over to the scammer, they can then use your account to make purchases. In some instances the phony text alert may provide a link to take you to a phony AI created Apple login page where you will also be prompted to provide information that will lead to identity theft or, in a worst case scenario, merely by clicking on the link you will download dangerous malware that will lead to your becoming a victim of identity theft.
Scam of the day – April 11, 2026 – Iran War Charity Scams
Scammers are contacting people by phone, text messages, emails and through social media posing as charities helping injured American soldiers, Iranian civilians or refugees. seeking donations to their phony charities. Often the emotional pleas for donations are accompanied by shocking photographs or videos created by AI In many instances the scammers request payments by cryptocurrencies, gift cards or wired funds.
Scam of the day – April 10, 2026 – Investment Scams Are Surging
Investment scams have always been with us, but according to the Federal Trade Commission, they accounted for $8,648,617,756 of losses last year which was double the amount of the previous year and almost triple the amount of the next highest category of scams
Scam of the day – April 9, 2026 – Social Security Administration Warns About Increase in Social Security Imposter Scams
Recently, the Social Security Administration (SSA) issued a warning about a dramatic increase in scammers posing as SSA employees in emails that falsely claim to provide access to the recipient’s Social Security Statement. Clicking on links in the email often lead to identity theft.
Scam of the day – April 8, 2026 – Melania Trump Nigerian Email Scam
Common variations of the scam include the movement of embezzled funds by corrupt officials, a dying man who wants to make charitable gifts, a minor bank official trying to move the money of deceased foreigners out of his bank without the government taking it or, as in this case, funds derived from a non-existent United Nations program. As illustrated by the email copied below, the Nigerian Email Scam often has nothing to do with Nigeria, but merely is a scam where you are promised a large amount of free money based on a ridiculous premise.
Scam of the day – April 7, 2026 – Bank Imposter Debit Card Scam
The scam starts when you get a phone call that appears to come from your bank informing you that there has been fraudulent activity on your debit card. Using a technique called “spoofing” the scammers are able to manipulate your Caller ID so that it indicates that your bank is calling you. The scammer then goes on to tell you that you need to cut up your card, but keep the chip from the card to be picked up by a bank employee. The phony bank employee then shows up to pick up the chip and using social engineering lures the victim into providing his or her PIN.
Once the scammer has your PIN and the chip, he or she can create a debit card and go to any ATM and empty your bank account.
Scam of the day – April 6, 2026 – Jamaica Lottery Scammer Sentenced to Prison
I have been reporting to you since 2012 about the infamous Jamaican lottery scam through which many Americans, mostly elderly, have been scammed out of money after being told that they have won the non-existent Jamaican lottery. The scam begins when the victim receives a telephone call informing them that they have won this non-existent lottery that they never entered and are then pressured to pay “fees” and “taxes” before their winnings can be sent to them. This scam has been going on since the 1990s.
Recently, Tavoy Frarquharson was sentenced to up to 40 months in prison after being convicted of conspiracy to commit mail fraud. Between 2020 and 2024 Farquharson contacted his victims by phone and mail informing them that they had won the phony lottery. Many of his victims lost their entire life savings.
Scam of the day – April 5, 2026 – Nike Data Breach Class Action Filed
A Nike data breach that occurred around January 21, 2026 has resulted in a lawsuit being filed by Maria Gomez of California who is seeking class action status to represent all of the victims of the data breach. The lawsuit claims that while Nike became aware of the data breach around January 21st, it did not notify its affected customers until February 25, 2026. The lawsuit alleges the stolen data included names, email addresses, billing addresses, phone numbers and credit and debit card information. Nike has said that complete card details were not compromised.
Scam of the day – April 4, 2026 – AAA Emergency Roadside Kit Text Message Scam
Scammers are sending out massive numbers of smishing (the term for phishing by text) text messages that contain language such as “Congratulations! As a valued AAA member, you qualify for a FREE emergency roadside kit. Click to claim.” If you click on the link provided in the email it will take you to a phony, but legitimate appearing AAA website, most likely created by AI, where you will be prompted to provide personal information that, if provided, will lead to your becoming a victim of identity theft. Making the matter worse, in some versions of this scam you will also be asked to provide credit card information to cover shipping or a handling charge or even for verification purposes. And to make matters even more worse, merely clicking on the link in the text message may download malware that can steal information from your phone including passwords to sensitive accounts.
Scam of the day – April 3, 2026 – Virtual Kidnapping Scams Increasing
I have been warning you about phony kidnapping scams, also known as virtual kidnapping, for fourteen years and according to the FBI, the scam is increasing in frequency. Generally, the scam starts with a telephone call informing the person answering the phone that a child or other relative has been kidnapped and if the person receiving the call does not respond by wiring money right away, the relative will be killed. As with so many scams, we are often our own worst enemy and this scam is no exception. In many instances, the scammers gather personal information about the intended scam victims from information that the intended victims or members of their families post on social media. Armed with personal information gathered from social media, a scammer can describe the supposed kidnapped victim or provide personal information that would make it appear that indeed they actually do have the person in their custody.
Scam of the day – April 2, 2026 – Veterans Savings Program Scam
North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson is warning veterans about a scam targeting veterans not just in North Carolina, but around the country. The scam is presently being circulated through postcards or letters, but is also being done through phone calls including automated robocalls as well as emails and text messages in which the scammer poses as a an agent of the VA, Social Security, CHAMPVA or TRICARE offering enrollment in what the scammer calls the Veterans Savings Program. The scammers claim that through the program the veterans can receive monthly payments of $200 or more, free or discounted dental insurance coverage and special savings benefits unavailable to the general public. The veteran is prompted to call a provided number to enroll.
Scam of the day – April 1, 2026 – Watch Out For Scammers Posing as Airline Customer Service Representatives
Weary travelers are always looking for help and assistance from their airline. Often the inconvenienced travelers will turn to social media for help and scammers who monitor social media for posts from disgruntled travelers respond posing as airline customer service representatives. The scammers lure their targeted victims into clicking on links to go to phony airline websites where they are manipulated into providing personal information that can be used to make them victims of identity theft. Scammers are using AI to make these phony websites appear very legitimate and convincing.
Scam of the day – March 31, 2026 – New Variation on Sextortion Scam
In the most recent version of this scam, people around the country are receiving such sextortion emails with some new twists. First, the email contains a photograph of your home with a threat to contact you at your home, referring to your home’s address if you don’t pay the demanded Bitcoin ransom. Second, the email refers to a type of Spyware called Pegasus that can steal information from you computer without being discovered. In fact, Pegasus spyware does exist, but it is used only by government agencies.
Scam of the day – March 30, 2026 – CAPTCHA Tests Being Used By Scammers
Scammer are setting up legitimate appearing websites with fake CAPTCHA tests that require you to click on a box to solve a simple test, but when you follow the instructions, you end up downloading dangerous malware.
Scam of the day – March 29, 2026 – Alleged Grandparent Scammer Arrested
In the Scam of the day for March 6, 2025 I told you that twenty-five Canadians were arrested and charged with operating the grandparent scam through a call center in Canada where they contacted elderly victims in 40 American states between 2021 and 2024 during which time they stole $21 million from their victims. The scammers posed as either the targeted victims’ grandchild or an attorney representing the grandchild asking for money to be paid for bail. The scammers sent couriers posing as bail bondsmen to collect the cash and told the elderly victims that there was a gag order that prevented the victims from discussing the phony charges.
Scam of the day – March 28, 2026 – Iran War Scams: How Imposter Bank Alerts Are Tricking Victims and Stealing Identities
Learn how scammers are exploiting the Iran war with fake bank alerts, identity‑theft tricks, and cryptocurrency ATM scams, plus key tips to protect your accounts.
Scam of the day – March 27, 2026 – Hawaii Flood Charity Scams
Natural disasters such as wildfires, hurricanes and earthquakes are common occurrences. The devastating floods recently in Hawaii has caused severe damage estimated at a billion dollars according to Hawaii officials. It has also displaced many people whose homes were ruined. Natural disasters, such as floods, hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes and earthquakes bring out the best in people who want to donate to charities to help the victims. Unfortunately natural disasters also bring out the worst in scammers who are quick to take advantage of the generosity of people by contacting them posing as charities, but instead of collecting funds to help the victims of these natural disasters, these scam artists steal the money for themselves under false pretenses.
Scam of the day – March 26, 2026 – TD Canada Trust Impersonation Scam: Fake Inheritance Emails Target Victims
Scammers are impersonating TD Canada Trust with fake inheritance emails claiming you’re heir to millions. Learn the red flags and how to avoid identity theft.
Scam of the day – March 25, 2026 – Deadline Approaching For Victims of Bitcoin ATM Scams in Maine
Most of the scams using cryptocurrency ATMs involve imposter scams where the scammer poses as either a law enforcement officer, government official or someone providing tech support for a non-existent problem. What many of these imposter scams have in common is that they scare the targeted victim with a story about an emergency that requires them to take cash from their bank account and use a QR code provided by the scammer to deposit the money into the account of the scammer at a cryptocurrency ATM under the guise of protecting the funds. In other versions of the scams, victims are told they must make a payment through a cryptocurrency ATM to avoid prosecution for missing jury duty or some other pretense.
Scam of the day – March 24, 2026 – New PayPal Phishing Scam Uses Fake DocuSign Alerts to Steal Your Data
A new phishing scam uses fake DocuSign and PayPal alerts to trick users into clicking malware‑laden links or sharing personal data. Learn how to spot and avoid it.
Scam of the day – March 23, 2026 -Why Your Cell Phone Number Puts You at Risk — And How to Protect Yourself from Identity Theft
Your cell phone number reveals more than you think. Learn how identity thieves use it to steal accounts, commit SIM swaps, and how to protect yourself.
Scam of the day – March 22, 2026 – Why iPhone Theft Is Exploding: The $30 Billion Black Market Threat and How to Protect Yourself
iPhone theft fuels a $30B black market, and 40% of victims face identity theft. Learn essential steps to secure your device, data, and Apple Wallet.”
Scam of the day – March 21, 2026 – Nationwide Fake Traffic Violation Scam: How Imposter Scammers Use Phony Notices to Steal Your Money
Learn how scammers use phony traffic violation notices, QR codes, and impersonation tactics to demand fraudulent payments. Discover key red flags and tips to stay safe.
Scam of the day – March 20, 2026 – Scammers Sending Out Phony Data Breach Notices
Taking advantage of public awareness of data breaches and the dangers they pose, scammers are sending out emails and text messages posing as companies with which we do business containing phony notices of data breaches with links or QR codes that take you to sites where you are prompted to provide personal information that would lead to your becoming a victim of identity theft.
Scam of the day – March 19, 2026 – Police Issue Warning About Fraud Recovery Scams
Recently the Maui Police Department issued a warning about a scam that I have been warning you about for years. It involves scammers targeting people who have already been the victim of scams posing as either investigators, government agencies or law firms telling the scam victims that they can can recover the funds lost in the original scam. They demand an upfront fee and then disappear. Scammers often keep detailed records of their victims and sell these lists, often referred to as “sucker lists” to other scammers on the Dark Web, that part of the Internet where scammers sell their goods and services. Scammers also get the names of scam victims through monitoring consumer complaint websites or social media.
Scam of the day – March 18, 2026 – USPS Change‑of‑Address Scams: How Criminals Redirect Your Mail and Steal Your Identity
Criminals can redirect your mail without ever touching your mailbox by exploiting USPS change‑of‑address loopholes. Learn how the scam works and how to protect yourself.
Scam of the day – March 17, 2026 – E‑ZPass Toll Scam Alerts: Smishing Fraud Continues to Target Drivers
E‑ZPass scams are surging as criminals send fake unpaid toll texts to steal credit card details. Learn how smishing works and how to protect yourself from toll fraud.
Scam of the day – March 16, 2026 – New Imposter Scam Targets Building Permits: How Criminals Exploit City and County Records
The FBI warns of a new imposter scam where criminals pose as city or county officials to demand payments for building permits. Learn how to spot and avoid these fake emails.
Scam of the day – March 15, 2026 – St. Patrick’s Day Scams to Avoid: Fake Tickets, Fake Charities, and Lottery Cons
St. Patrick’s Day brings celebrations—and scams. Learn how to avoid fake tickets, phony charities, and lottery hoaxes with simple steps to stay safe this holiday.
Scam of the day – March 14, 2026 – Gas Pump Skimmers Surge as Many Stations Still Lack EMV Chip Readers
Despite EMV deadlines, many gas pumps still lack chip readers, fueling a surge in skimming fraud. Learn how skimmers work and how to protect your credit and debit cards.
Scam of the day – March 13, 2026 – Smishing Scams Surge: How Fake Bank Text Messages Put Your Accounts at Risk
Smishing scams are skyrocketing, with fake bank text messages—especially TD Bank impersonations—tricking consumers into revealing login credentials. Learn how to stay safe.
Scam of the day – March 12, 2026 – Phony Government Grant Scams Surge: How to Spot Facebook Fraudsters
The Federal Trade Commission is warning the public about an increase of phony grant scams. Recently there have been an increase in scams involving scammers convincing their victims that they are eligible for large government grants if they merely pay a processing fee. The federal government does not charge fees for applying for grants.