Short notes built from scam alerts by government bodies. Each shows the date of the original alert and where to read it. Updated monthly; last update 2 November 2026.
Most of these are about payments and about someone pretending to be the police or a government agency. AI shows up in some of them as a tool, not as the headline.
October 2026
United States
A fake government caller says your phone number will be switched off
A caller says a phone registered in your name is being used for scams abroad, reads out a fake badge number, then passes you to a fake police officer. The caller may even tell you what to search for to 'check' the story.
What to do. Hang up. Do not use a number or search words the caller gives you; contact the agency using details you already have.
Source: Federal Trade Commission (United States) · https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2026/10/ftc-not-calling-deactivate-your-phone-number · read 2 November 2026 · Fingerprint d10d8b5eac297dc5
September 2026
Australia
Investment scams that do not look like sales pitches
Scamwatch warns that investment scams can start quietly: in a social media group, through someone you trust, or on a convincing fake news website.
What to do. Before you move money, check the offer using a source you found yourself, not the link you were sent.
Source: Scamwatch, National Anti-Scam Centre (Australia) · https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/about-us/news-and-alerts/scam-alert-investment-scams-hiding-in-plain-sight · read 2 November 2026 · Fingerprint ec32e6a468ea018f
United States
Pretending to be police or government: nearly 61,000 US complaints
The FBI's complaints centre reports nearly 61,000 complaints of law enforcement or government impersonation between January 2025 and July 2026. Most start with a phone call that demands payment.
What to do. The FBI says authorities will never phone or text to demand payment or personal information. Treat any such demand as a scam.
Source: FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (United States) · https://www.ic3.gov/PSA/2026/PSA260917 · read 2 November 2026 · Fingerprint 2268fadb5beb8d42
United States
Cloned car-dealer websites, often built with AI
Scammers copy a real car dealer's website down to the logos, listings and photos, often using AI, and ask for payment up front for a car that does not exist.
What to do. Search the dealer's name with words like 'scam' or 'review' before you pay anything.
Source: Federal Trade Commission (United States) · https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2026/09/scammers-are-spoofing-car-dealership-websites-what-you-need-know · read 2 November 2026 · Fingerprint 5198e1a84d1726a8
August 2026
Spain
Fake text messages from the social security office (Spain)
INCIBE reports a smishing (fake text message) campaign about a 'pending update' from the social security treasury. The link leads to a fake site that asks for personal and bank details.
What to do. Do not open the link. Report the message to INCIBE, block the sender and delete it.
Source: INCIBE (España) · https://www.incibe.es/ciudadania/avisos/campana-de-smishing-suplantando-la-seguridad-social · read 2 November 2026 · Fingerprint 8794c72491610eb4 · Original alert in Spanish
July 2026
Australia
Fake 'you bought this' messages that tell you to call a number
Scammers send a message saying you bought something you did not, and tell you to call a number to stop or reverse the payment. The fake purchase is often between $300 and $2,000.
What to do. Do not call the number in the message. Check your own account or card statement instead.
Source: Scamwatch, National Anti-Scam Centre (Australia) · https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/about-us/news-and-alerts/scam-alert-fake-purchase-callback-scams · read 2 November 2026 · Fingerprint d69a6d169f85511f
Spain
Emails pretending to be the police, with threats of arrest (Spain)
INCIBE reports phishing emails that pretend to come from the national police, the Guardia Civil and INCIBE itself, accusing the reader of crimes and demanding a reply within 48 hours.
What to do. Do not reply. INCIBE says no one will carry out the investigation or the threats in the email. Report it, then delete it.
Source: INCIBE (España) · https://www.incibe.es/ciudadania/avisos/suplantan-la-policia-nacional-la-guardia-civil-y-incibe-traves-de-notificaciones · read 2 November 2026 · Fingerprint b6a9cfebc3e0ca6e · Original alert in Spanish
June 2026
Australia
Tax time: fake ATO and myGov messages
Scamwatch and the Australian Taxation Office remind people to watch for calls, emails, texts and fake websites that claim to be from the ATO or myGov.
What to do. Tax agents: tell clients to go to the ATO or myGov themselves, not through a link in a message.
Source: Scamwatch, National Anti-Scam Centre (Australia) · https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/about-us/news-and-alerts/australian-taxation-office-ato-and-mygov-impersonation-scams · read 2 November 2026 · Fingerprint 1d38808986d7419d
United States
Fake landowners trying to sell vacant land
The FBI warns that criminals impersonate the owners of vacant land, contact a real estate agent and a title company, and ask for the sale money to be sent to a lawyer in another state.
What to do. Agents and conveyancers: be wary of a seller who will only use email, text or internet phone numbers and refuses to meet in person.
Source: FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (United States) · https://www.ic3.gov/PSA/2026/PSA260616 · read 2 November 2026 · Fingerprint e798ce7ae5d70ddc
United States
Couriers sent to collect cash for fake crypto investments
The FBI describes scammers who tell victims, usually older people, to hand cash to a courier to 'protect' money they put into a fake cryptocurrency platform.
What to do. Never hand cash to a person who arrives at your door for an investment. Talk to family or your bank first.
Source: FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (United States) · https://www.ic3.gov/PSA/2026/PSA260615 · read 2 November 2026 · Fingerprint 7a04d026082afd5b
May 2026
Spain
Fake text messages from the tax agency (Spain)
INCIBE detected a campaign of text messages pretending to come from the Spanish tax agency, aiming to get personal and bank details.
What to do. If you did not open the link, report the message to INCIBE, block the sender and delete it. If you gave details, call your bank and the 017 helpline.
Source: INCIBE (España) · https://www.incibe.es/ciudadania/avisos/la-agencia-tributaria-no-ha-emitido-ninguna-comunicacion-dirigida-usted · read 2 November 2026 · Fingerprint 6a8825f2d41bf4d2 · Original alert in Spanish
Written with AI from the official sources listed on this page, and checked word for word against them.