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Welcome to Stamp Out Scams!

We are a not-for-profit business committed to identifying and exposing scams and scammers from around the world.  There are no fees or charges to use this site.  Our main goal is to assist the public and reduce the number of persons and businesses victimized by scams.
Our site founder is a former financial crimes investigator and is currently a licensed California Private Investigator. He is not actively conducting private investigations, nor was this site created to advertise his investigative services. His goal in creating this site is to provide a free resource to the public for doing research relative to current and on-going scams.
His credentials as a retired financial crimes investigator, and as a licensed California P.I., are cited as reassurance to the public that this site was created and overseen by someone with the background to carry-out this effort.
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Using data to protect!
Leveraging the power of the Internet!
Unfortunately there is a proliferation of scams going on around the world.  Try doing a search on “scams” in Google and see what happens.  This simple search will likely result in 1,680,000,000 results or more.  
We use the mass amount of scam related information available via Google and numerous other sites in an attempt to identify and expose ongoing scams. 
We take the mass amount of scam data fed into our site and filter it down.  This filtering is  important so that this data becomes a more manageable and useful resource for our users.  Scam information is then searchable via any of our numerous “Scam Search” bars.  These search bars are conveniently located throughout our website, including directly below.
When you visit all the other pages on our site, starting with our “About” page, you will find a scroll at the top of these pages.  This scroll is our “Scam Ticker” and is exactly as it sounds.  It scrolls current scam data in an on-going basis.  Clicking on any of the particular ticker headlines will bring our users directly to the site providing the scam information.
OUR CORE GOALS!
Exposing scams and cons from around the world!
The time is now to take a stand against the ever-increasing level of scams in our everyday lives.  Thankfully, in this digital age, there’s not a shortage of data documenting the scams prevalent in our society.  Our goals is to present this data in an easily searchable form, without having to scour numerous search engines or websites.
On a daily basis, scam data is fed directly into our site from over 46 data sources. These scam data sources include Google, FBI, IRS, Secret Service, FTC, Twitter, BBB, AARP, SEC and numerous other important scam information sources.
None of our data is privileged government information or sourced from non-public sources.  It is readily available public information!  We make it more useful by bringing it into our site for easy search and retrieval.
Our BLOG POSTS PAGE contains scam related data from over 46 external sources.  This data contains scam data relevant to specific current and ongoing scams.  This data is specifically requested by our site because it is information that we have determined as having the highest negative impact on consumers and thereby most useful.
Scam topics fed into our blog page includes, Amazon scams, COVID-19 scams, cryptocurrency scams, dating app scams, financial scams, identity theft, Internet scams, investment scams, medicare scams, pig-butchering scams, senior scams, romance scams and a host of other prevalent and ongoing scams.
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OUR STRATEGY
Using data to combat scams!
With the abundances of devices in today’s world,  the amount of digital data available is more than any other time in history.  This data is vital in the war against scammers.   Below are three digital tools used to combat scammers.  Each of these scam data sources are fed directly into our site and searchable via our Scam Search Engine.
YouTube is an excellent tool for combating the proliferation of scams.  Please watch our scam related videos by visiting  our YouTube Page or by
 clicking below  to go directly to our  YouTube channel.
The Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) is a non-profit organization established to minimize risk and mitigate the impact of compromised identities. Click below to see if your e-mail or phone number have been breached.
Stay atop on current scams by getting scam alert notifications.  One great site to subscribe to and get scam alert notifications via e-mail.  Click below to sign-up for e-mail alerts from the FTC.  It’s a great free service with extremely useful scam related information.  
Scammers will say there’s a PROBLEM or a PRIZE.
Scammers PRESSURE you to act immediately.
Scammers PRETEND to be from an organization you know.
Scammers tell you to PAY in a specific way.

THE SCAMMER PLAYBOOK

Recognizing these four common steps of scammers can help you from being victimized.
 Throughout history, scammers have relied on a fairly standard playbook.  These plays have occurred throughout scammer history, and continue today.  Unfortunately, in this digital age, scams are much easier to implement and much more plentiful.  So due diligence is more important than any other time in history.
Even modern-day scams use some of the same techniques they have used throughout history.  Four of these scammer playbook calls are listed here.  These techniques are now usually accompanied by modern-day payment technologies like Zelle, Venmo and Cryptocurrency.
SCAMMER ROADMAP
Famous Scams In History
1899 – Selling of the Brooklyn Bridge
The naive and gullible have long been taunted with the phrase, "If you believe that, I've got a bridge to sell you." The statement is actually an homage to the long line of con artists who began "selling" the Brooklyn Bridge almost as soon as it was completed in 1883.
1920 – Charles Ponzi creates the “Ponzi Scheme”
Scams that use payments from new "investors" to satisfy promises made to previous victims—are known as Ponzi schemes. The most famous con artist in modern history, Charles Ponzi raked in $15 million over the course of 18. Ponzi was just shuffling money from one person to the next while keeping most for himself.
Jacob Baker Estate Con – 1936
In December 1936, 28 people were indicted in what was then the biggest mail fraud scheme in history. Swindlers collected $3 million from 3,000 people who paid to stake their claims in a large estate. In reality, there was no Jacob Baker, and no such estate ever existed.
1969 – Catch Me If You Can
Frank Abagnale Jr., targeted individuals and small businesses as easy scamming targets. He was quite successful at it until he was finally arrested. After spending time in prison, Abagnale turned his scam skills into doing good. He is now one of the world's most respected authorities on the subjects of forgery, embezzlement and secure documents.
1973 – The Dale: A Scam On 3 Wheels
In the 1970s, during the height of the gas crisis, a con artist named Geraldine Elizabeth Carmichael created the 20th Century Motor Car Corporation and unveiled the "Dale." Claiming 70 mpg, the futuristic-looking, three-wheeled car quickly attracted $30 million in investment and $3 million in advance sales. Turned out that there were no manufacturing plants, no research-and-development facilities, no production plans, and no car.
1986 – ZZZZ Best Cleaners
ZZZZ Best Cleaners founder Barry Minkow took his carpet-cleaning company public, and the firm was quickly valued at more than $300 million. Just seven months later, it was revealed that ZZZZ Best Cleaners was actually a front for a Ponzi scheme. The company went bankrupt, its assets were liquidated and Minkow was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
2002 – Reed Slatkin
In 2002, Reed Slatkin pleaded guilty to 15 counts related to a Ponzi scheme he ran for 15 years that snared 800 wealthy investors who dumped nearly $600 million into the scam. The co-founder of EarthLink and an ordained Scientology minister, Slatkin had high-level contacts in both Hollywood and the tech world. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison.
2008 – Bernie Madoff
In 2008, a little less than 90 years after Charles Ponzi became famous for the swindle that bears his name, Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme was exposed. Unbelievably, he was once considered to be one of the world's greatest investors. In 2009, Madoff pleaded guilty to engineering the biggest Ponzi scheme in history. His scam amounted to $19 billion, much of which represented the life savings of his close friends and family members.
2015 Elizabeth Holmes
Holmes is an American former biotechnology entrepreneur convicted of criminal fraud. In 2003, Holmes founded and was the chief executive officer (CEO) of Theranos, a now-defunct health technology company that soared in valuation after the company claimed to have revolutionized blood testing. Unfortunately the company was built on a bed of lies and deception. Ultimately the blood testing technology was exposed as nothing but a huge scam.
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SCAMMER HALL OF FAME
“I can see a scammer from a mile away!”
Have you or someone else you know every utter the line “I can see a scammer from a mile away.”  Well, meet some famous All-Stars from the Scammer Hall of Fame.  Each of them looks perfectly normal!  Yet, combined they have scammed millions of dollars around the world.  Along the way, they managed to have fooled some very intelligent people.   
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Billy McFarland
Concert Promoter/Con Artist
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Christopher Rocancourt
French Nobleman/Con Artist
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Hargobind Punjabi Tahilramani
Movie Promoter/Con Artist
Anna Sorokin picture from Stamp Out Scams
Anna Sorokin
Philantrophist/Con Artist
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  • Fraud
  • Identity Theft
  • Other Scams
THE SCAMMER PIE CHART
Tracking how scams statistics are broken down
In 2021, the Consumer Sentinel Network took in over 5.7 million reports, an increase from 2020.   As represented in the pie chart, Fraud accounted for 49% of the reports, Identity theft accounted for 25% and Other Crimes accounted for 27%.

In 2021, people reported losing over $5.8 billion to fraud.  An increase of $2.4 billion over 2020.  The FTC received 395,848 reports from people who said their information was misused to apply for a government benefit such as unemployment insurance.

Other scams include credit cards, debt collection, bank and lenders, cyber threats, computer equipment and software.

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Exposing scammers visually!
Exposing the face of scammers through YouTube.
We want to beat the scammers at their own game and expose them for the cons that they are.  Thankfully, YouTube offers a perfect vehicle for exposing scammers and their scams.  On our YouTube channel we breakdown scams and other scam related information into a understandable, but comprehensive format.
Other YouTubers are also striking out and exposing scams.  Be sure and visit our YouTube Channel and all the other scam related scam channels to learn more.
ScamTV
Stamp Out Scams has designated their YouTube Channel as ScamTV. We truly believe it is must watch TV if you are looking to avoid scams and scammers.
Scammer’s Revolt
YouTuber who is known for calling tech support, refund, and tax revenue scammers and messing around with them. He typically uses the aliases “Rodger” or “Dave” when providing mock information. It is "scamtastic fun."
Kitboga
Another fantastic YouTube channel where scammers get their payback. Watch and cheer on the "good guys."
Scambaiter
Scambaiting videos where they destroy scammers and their operations. This is done after hacking the scammer's computer. Lot's of hacking fun!
SCAM CAROUSEL
POPULAR ON-GOING SCAMS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT 
Cars are not the only thing that goes “Fast and Furious.”  New scams generate at the same speed.  They come at a “Fast and Furious” pace.  
Here at Stamp Out Scams, one of our goals is to highlight and expose the latest scams.  Each of the scams identified is also a clickable link for additional details about the scam.
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Local Tax Impostors
Scammers are impersonating state, county and municipal law enforcement and tax collection agencies to get you to share sensitive personal information or….
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Cryptocurrency ATM Payments
Those ATMs cropping up in convenience stores, gas stations and big retailers are scammers’ newest payment method. Pretending to be government officials….
For rent sign Stamp Out Scams
Rental Assistance Cons
With billions of dollars in rental assistance flowing to states, a federal agency warned this week that scammers are using texts to deceive renters and prey on people in need…
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Google Voice Scam
The scammers contact you and say they want to buy the item you’re selling….
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Fake-Job Frauds
Scammers harvest contact info and personal details from résumés posted on legit job websites like Indeed, Monster and CareerBuilder….
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Fake Amazon Employee
One-third of business-impostor fraud complaints involve scammers claiming they’re from Amazon, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reports….
Gift Cards icon from Stamp Out Scams
Favor for a Friend Gift Cards

You receive an email from a friend asking for a quick favor. She’s having trouble with a credit card or store account and, annoyingly, can’t buy a gift card…

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P2P Payment Requests
Scammers are increasingly demanding payment via money-transfer apps like Venmo, Zelle and Cash App. It’s so convenient — you pay in seconds from…
Zelle logo from Stamp Out Scams
Zelle Scam
Zelle scams are becoming more and more prevalent.  It is important that consumers understand how the Zelle scam works…
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Frequently Asked Questions
Get all the important answers here!
As the creator of this website, I can state emphatically that I put it together to help people avoid scams.  Having spent 25 years in law enforcement, I saw my share of victimization.  So this website helps me do my part, even after my law enforcement career has ended.
There is no charge or any fees to use this website.  Stamp Out Scams is a non-profit organization committed to exposing and identifying on-goirg scams.
This site is overseen my a licensed California Private Investigator (CA PI License # 27495).  While the sites founder is not a practicing investigator, he has over 25 years investigating financial crimes as a special agent with the federal government.
Our site has scam feeds from numerous sources including AARP, BBB, FBI, Google Alerts, Blog Posts, Scam Videos, Stamp Out Scams YouTube channel and numerous other sources.  This data is fed seamlessly into our site on a daily basis.  So scam data accessed via our site is as current as possible.
No!  While StampOutScams produces their own videos, our SCAMTV page has a mix of videos produced by numerous other external sources.  While they are not produced exclusively for StampOutScams, we include them our site because they have relevant and important scam information.  These videos should be exposed to as broad an audience as possible so the scams can also be exposed.
This “Scam Search” bar is an important tool for our website.  Since we have scam feeds from numerous sources (AARP, BBB, FBI, IRS, SEC, Blog Posts, etc.), our search tool will scan those feeds and postings for scam related information.  Currently there are over 45 data sources fed daily into our site.
Our Scam Search Engine is very simple to use.  If you’re looking for information relative to a particular scam, for example “Romance Scams,” simply type that term in any of our search bars.  The rest of the work is done behind the scenes.  Any data relative to “Romance Scams” that has been fed into our site will be included in your search results.
SCAMMER & SCAMS
Blog Postings
Directly below are blog postings from both internal and external sources.   External postings are from external sources, such as Google Alerts, BBB, AARP, IRS, FBI, SEC and numerous other sources.  This information is all scam related.  None of this data contains confidential government information.  All of the data is readily available public information.  It is fed directly into our site so users can access this scam data via our Scam Search Engine bars.  These search engine bars are located throughout our site, including directly above.  Our goal in sourcing all this data into our site is to serve as a one-stop data source.
No need to hunt through all our blog postings for information relative to a particular scam or go to multiple search engines.  It is as easy as typing in your search term, such as “pig-butchering scam” and you get results instantly from data sources fed directly into our site.
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