Red Flag.
Add to Discord Check for scams now

This week's scams

Fake ads and lookalike websites lead this week, from investments to insurance and cars.

Rebuilt every morning from 10 public sources (94 warnings and reports from the last three weeks). Updated 9 Oct 2026, 07:00 UK time.

  1. Still goingUK

    Investment ads from firms on the FCA warning list

    Adverts for investment firms that the regulator has already warned about are appearing on social media and in search engine results. They look like normal ads, so people click through and hand over money to unauthorised firms.

    Who it targets:
    People searching for or scrolling past investment offers online
    How to spot it:
    The firm is on the FCA warning list or missing from the FCA register.
  2. Still goingUK

    Pushy paid debt advice

    People looking for help with debt are steered towards fee-paying debt solutions that may not suit them, often through high pressure tactics, even though free debt advice is available to everyone.

    Who it targets:
    People in debt looking for advice online
    How to spot it:
    Being pushed to pay for debt help when free advice exists.
  3. Still goingUS

    Fake QR codes on parking meters

    Scammers stick their own QR code over the real one on parking meters. Scanning it takes you to a fake payment page that takes your money and card details.

    Who it targets:
    Drivers paying for parking by phone
    How to spot it:
    A QR sticker placed over another code or looking tampered with.
  4. RisingUS

    Health insurance Open Enrollment scams

    Health insurance scams pick up during Open Enrollment for Medicare and the Marketplace. Scammers and dishonest businesses use online search results to lure people looking for a new plan.

    Who it targets:
    People shopping for Medicare or Marketplace health plans
    How to spot it:
    A search result that is not the official Medicare or Marketplace site.
  5. Still goingUS

    Spoofed car dealership websites

    Scammers copy real car dealership websites. Buyers deal with the fake site online, then turn up at the real dealership and find out the deal does not exist.

    Who it targets:
    People shopping for a car online
    How to spot it:
    The dealership cannot confirm your deal when you call its known number.
  6. Still goingUS

    Fake bank fraud team call

    People are reporting calls from callers pretending to be their bank's fraud department, who use a story about suspicious activity to get them to move or hand over money.

    Who it targets:
    Bank customers
    How to spot it:
    A caller from 'fraud' asking you to move money or share codes.
  7. Still goingglobal

    Booking.com phishing messages

    People are reporting phishing messages linked to Booking.com reservations that try to get guests to hand over details or payment outside the normal booking process.

    Who it targets:
    Travellers with hotel bookings
    How to spot it:
    A booking message asking you to re-enter card details via a link.

Sources: FTC Consumer Alerts, FTC press releases, FBI IC3, NCSC, FCA, GOV.UK, Which?, Europol, CISA, r/Scams.