SCAMMERS
Dad Learns His Photos Are Being Used to Sell ‘Happy Ending’ Massages on Grindr
“Thankfully it doesn’t affect the business, and my wife didn’t really care,” the licensed physiotherapist in Long Island told VICE News.
The Trusted Yelp ‘Elite’ Reviewers Who Sell Their Reviews for Cash
Yelp “Elite” reviewers are verified members of the site who are supposed to be more trustworthy than ordinary users. Some of them are selling their reviews to businesses around the country.
People Are Getting Scam Texts From … Themselves
A seemingly widespread scam tries to get people to click on a phishing link contained in a text that appears to come from a target’s own number.
The Short, Strange, Very Predictable Story of Caroline Calloway’s Snake Oil
As the controversial online personality says she’s leaving New York, complaints about Calloway's latest business venture pursue her out the door.
Received Some Random Cryptocurrency? It Might Be a Phishing Scam.
Scammers are using a novel approach to trick victims into giving up their cryptocurrency.
The Virtual Phone Farms Scammers Use to Set Up Fake Accounts
Many sites force users to verify their identity with a phone number. Scammers turn to services like 5SIM where they can rent a phone number for pennies.
FTC Says It Will Fine Companies Using Fake Reviews
The FTC sent a notice to hundreds of companies, including AT&T, Dunkin' Donuts, Hulu, and Macy's.
I Bought a Fake COVID-19 Vaccine Card on Etsy
The ease of purchasing or fabricating vaccine cards may complicate the roll-out of vaccine verification efforts.
'It's a Crazy Issue' – The Bizarre World of Scam Audiobooks
On sites like Amazon, there are thousands of books seemingly written by bots – and many of those are used to dupe audiobook narrators.
The 'Hollywood Con Queen' Who Scammed Aspiring Stars Out of Hundreds of Thousands
We spoke to Josh Dean, co-host of a podcast about one of the most over-the-top con artists in modern history.
Miami Man Allegedly Used Fraudulent $3.9 Million PPP Loan to Buy a Lamborghini
Nearly all the reviews for 29-year-old David Hines' businesses described "bait-and-switch practices and other deceitful activities."
Exclusive: Scammers Are Flooding Depop and Hacking Users
A VICE UK investigation reveals that fraudsters are taking over accounts to flog Nintendo Switches, Animal Crossing consoles and AirPods to unsuspecting buyers – only to disappear once payment is made.