Dhan Suraksha

Scam Library

Search the scams behind most digital payment losses worldwide — how each one works, the warning signs, and the steps to take. No technical background needed.

Last reviewed 01 Aug 2026 · 21 case studies across 3 regions

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AI & Deepfake Global High risk

AI Voice Cloning "Family Emergency"

A cloned voice of your child or parent calls in distress and begs you to send money now.

Who scammers target
Parents and grandparents of teenagers and young adults
Typical reported loss
$1,000 – $15,000 per case
Why people fall for this
The voice is genuinely familiar, the story is frightening, and the caller allows no time to think or verify.

How it works

  1. 1A few seconds of someone's voice from social media is enough to train a voice clone.
  2. 2You get a call that sounds exactly like your child, grandchild or spouse, crying or panicking.
  3. 3The story is always the same shape: an accident, an arrest, a hospital, and a need for money in minutes.
  4. 4A second "official" voice — a lawyer, officer or doctor — takes over and gives you payment instructions.

Real-world example

Linda answers a call at 11pm. Her grandson's voice says he crashed a rental car and needs $9,000 for bail. A "public defender" gets on the line and tells her to buy gift cards. Her grandson was asleep at home the whole time.

  • Extreme urgency plus a demand for secrecy: "don't tell mom".
  • Payment by gift cards, wire transfer, crypto or a courier collecting cash.
  • The caller avoids answering a personal question only the real person would know.

  • Hang up and call the person back on the number you already have saved.
  • Agree a family code word in advance and ask for it on any emergency call.
  • Never send gift cards, crypto or wire transfers on the strength of a phone call.
  • Report the call to your national fraud reporting service.

What it looks like

Incoming call
Unknown caller · "Mom, please don't hang up"
"Approve the request on your app to receive the refund."
Illustration of a fake message — recreated for teaching, not a real notice.
AI & Deepfake Global High risk

Deepfake Celebrity Investment Pitch

A video of a famous investor or news anchor promotes a platform that does not exist.

Who scammers target
First-time investors and people following financial news on social media
Typical reported loss
$2,000 – $50,000 per case
Why people fall for this
A recognisable face plus polished video makes the pitch feel vetted by someone trustworthy.

How it works

  1. 1A short, well-produced video ad shows a public figure endorsing a trading platform.
  2. 2The face and voice are synthetic; the clip is stitched from real footage.
  3. 3You sign up with a small deposit and see a dashboard showing fast gains.
  4. 4An "account manager" pushes bigger deposits, then withdrawals stop working.

Real-world example

Tom sees a video of a well-known TV anchor announcing a national AI-trading programme. He deposits $250, watches it 'grow' to $3,100, deposits $20,000 more, and is then told he must pay a 15% release fee before he can withdraw.

  • A celebrity endorsement that appears only in an advert, never on their own verified channels.
  • Lip movement, blinking or audio timing that feels slightly off.
  • An assigned personal 'account manager' who calls you repeatedly.

  • Check whether the public figure has ever mentioned the platform on their verified accounts.
  • Look up the company on your national financial regulator's register before depositing.
  • Treat any request to pay a fee to unlock your own money as proof of fraud.
  • Screenshot the advert and report it to the platform hosting it.

What it looks like

Remote access app
"Guaranteed AI trading · 340% in 90 days"
DenyAllow
Illustration of a fake message — recreated for teaching, not a real notice.

Where to report, by country

Already lost money? Report it immediately — the first few hours give the best chance of freezing the funds.

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