# AdUncovered > Research findings before you decide. ## Posts - [Digital Arrest Scams: 6 Steps If Fake Police Video-Call You](https://aduncovered.com/digital-arrest-scam/): In a digital arrest scam, a caller says your identity is linked to a serious crime. - [Business Email Compromise: How Fake Invoices Redirect Payments and How to Stop It](https://aduncovered.com/business-email-compromise/): A supplier emails to say its bank details have changed. A manager asks for an urgent confidential transfer. - [Municipal Scams in South Africa: Fake Disconnections, Jobs and Homes](https://aduncovered.com/municipal-scams-south-africa/): A message says your electricity will be cut off unless you pay now. - [MFA for Business Email: 5 Sign-In Options Ranked, From Passkeys to SMS](https://aduncovered.com/mfa-business-email/): A one-person business or small business still has valuable accounts. - [Your Store Account Is a Wallet. Lock It Before Black Friday.](https://aduncovered.com/black-friday-account-takeover/): Thieves don't need a fake site. They use your real store account and saved cards. A one-hour lockdown before Black Friday. - [“Vote for Mia”: How a Harmless WhatsApp Voting Request Can Hand Criminals Control of Your Account](https://aduncovered.com/whatsapp-voting-scam-vote-for-mia/): The WhatsApp voting scam asks you to vote for “Mia” and quietly links a criminal’s device to your account. How it works and 5 steps if you clicked. - [Latest Scams in 2026: 16 Scams Ranked by How Much Harm They Do](https://aduncovered.com/latest-scams-in-2026/): There is no complete live list of “all” scams: scammers change scripts quickly, reuse old schemes, and many incidents go unreported. - [Sextortion: What to Do Right Now and Where to Get Help](https://aduncovered.com/sextortion-what-to-do/): Being blackmailed with intimate images? A calm, step-by-step guide: what to do in the first hour, how to get images taken down, where to report in your country, and why telling one person breaks the blackmailer's power. - [Parcel Mule Job Scams: When a Work-From-Home Job Uses Your Address for Crime](https://aduncovered.com/parcel-mule-scam/): A remote job receiving and forwarding parcels? It is probably a parcel mule (reshipping) scam. The red flags, the legal and identity risks, and what to do if you already sent your ID and bank details. - [Free Cyber Helpline in South Africa: 6 Things to Know](https://aduncovered.com/cyber-helpline-south-africa/): If you have been scammed, hacked, threatened or impersonated online, working out what to do next can feel overwhelming. - [SARS Refund Scams: How to Spot Fake Refund, Debt and Summons Messages](https://aduncovered.com/sars-refund-scam/): A SARS refund scam starts with good news: a message claiming that SARS owes you a refund. That can be tempting. - [Dark Web Data Scams: How to Protect Yourself](https://aduncovered.com/dark-web-data-scams/): A scammer calls claiming to be a police officer. They know your full name, where you live, and perhaps even the name of your bank. - ["Keep It a Secret": Scams Targeting Older South Africans and How to Stop Them](https://aduncovered.com/scams-targeting-older-south-africans/): Scammers target older South Africans who are alone and ask them to keep it a secret. Real stories, the scripts they use, and a checklist to stay safe. - [Scam and fraud terms and definitions](https://aduncovered.com/scam-and-fraud-terms-and-definitions/): This glossary groups alternative names under the same or closely related schemes. - [How to Check if a Business Is Legit in South Africa: Free Tools and Questions to Ask](https://aduncovered.com/check-if-a-business-is-legit-south-africa/): Most scams don’t need a fake company. They borrow a real one. - ["Hi Mum, this is my new number": the WhatsApp scams built on trust](https://aduncovered.com/whatsapp-scam-hi-mum-new-number/): A WhatsApp scam can start with one six-digit code or a "Hi Mum, new number" message. How both work, what is coming in 2027, and the simple habits that protect your family. - [Recovery Scams: Spot Fake Refund Promises](https://aduncovered.com/recovery-scams/): You lost money. Now someone claims they can get it back, for another fee. Learn how recovery scams use details of your original loss to gain trust, impersonate lawyers and officials, and demand further payments. Discover what to verify and how to pursue legitimate help. - [Deepfake Scams in South Africa: Don’t Trust the Face, Check the Business](https://aduncovered.com/deepfake-scams-south-africa/): The video looks real. - [Fake Online Reviews: Who Writes Them and How to Spot Them Before Black Friday](https://aduncovered.com/fake-online-reviews/): Before Black Friday, most of us do the same thing: we scroll down to the stars. - [How to Report a Scam in South Africa: Who to Contact and What Works](https://aduncovered.com/how-to-report-a-scam-in-south-africa/): Most guides on how to report a scam in South Africa, or where to report fraud, give you a list of phone numbers. This one is different. - [Fake Flight Tickets: Check Your Flight Home to South Africa Is Real](https://aduncovered.com/fake-flight-tickets-flying-home-south-africa/): For many South Africans living abroad, December means one thing: going home. - [Romance Scammer Checklist: For You, and for Someone You Love](https://aduncovered.com/romance-scammer-checklist/): A gentle romance scammer checklist in two parts: for the person in the relationship, and for worried family and friends. What to check, what to say, and what to do next. - [Fake CAPTCHA Scam: How to Protect Yourself and What to Do After](https://aduncovered.com/fake-captcha-scam/): A fake "I'm not a robot" check tells you to press Windows + R and paste. Doing so installs software that steals passwords and banking details. How to protect yourself and what to do if you already did it. - [Holiday Accommodation Scams in South Africa: Check Before You Pay](https://aduncovered.com/holiday-accommodation-scams-south-africa/): The bags are in the boot, the children are asleep in the back and the sea is finally in sight. - [Festive Season Scams in South Africa: 11 to Watch in 2026](https://aduncovered.com/festive-season-scams-in-south-africa/): December in South Africa means year-end functions, bonuses, school holidays, the long drive to the coast and parcels arriving almost daily. - [Dating App Scams: 10 Red Flags Before They Ask for Money](https://aduncovered.com/dating-app-scams/): A dating app is a reasonable place to look for love. - [Banking Scams in South Africa and How to Protect Your Money](https://aduncovered.com/banking-scams-in-south-africa/): Imagine this hypothetical situation: someone calls to warn that money is being stolen from your account. - [The Invoice Was Genuine. The Bank Account Wasn’t.](https://aduncovered.com/invoice-fraud-changed-banking-details/): The invoice looked genuine, but the payment went to a scammer. Learn how invoice fraud redirects supplier payments, salaries and property transfers, how to verify banking details, and what to do if you have paid. The original debt may still remain. - [Visa and Immigration Scams Targeting South Africans](https://aduncovered.com/immigration-scams-south-africans/): You Paid for a New Life Abroad. Was the Opportunity Real? - [Flight Ticket Scams: What UK Travellers Should Check Before Paying](https://aduncovered.com/flight-ticket-scams-uk/): A cheap fare, polished itinerary or protection logo is not enough on its own. These 10 checks help UK travellers examine the seller, booking and terms before paying. - [Rental Scams: Fake Listings and Deposit Traps](https://aduncovered.com/rental-scams-deposit-traps/): You found the right home and paid the deposit. But was the person authorised to let it? Learn how rental scams use copied listings, fake agents and urgent fee demands, what to verify before paying, and what to do if you have already been targeted. - [Bank Impersonation Scams: Fake Fraud Department Calls](https://aduncovered.com/bank-impersonation-scams/): They sound like your bank and say your money is at risk. Learn how fake fraud departments trick you into transfers, transaction approvals or device access, how to verify the warning independently, and what to do if you have already acted. - [Scam Techniques Explained: How to Protect Yourself](https://aduncovered.com/scam-techniques/): Scam techniques often work together: a fraudulent message can lead to a telephone call, a fake login page, an account takeover and finally a payment. - [Fake Investments: Trading App Scams and Warning Signs](https://aduncovered.com/fake-investments-trading-apps/): Your Profits Look Real. Can You Withdraw Them? - [Job Scams: Spot Fake Offers and Online Task Traps](https://aduncovered.com/job-scams-online-task-scams/): A promising job offer. A small payout. Then a demand for money. Learn how fake recruitment and online task scams work, what to verify before sharing documents or paying, and what to do if you have already been targeted. - [Romance Scams: When You Want to Believe](https://aduncovered.com/romance-scams/): Romance scams can escalate from affection to investment fraud, withdrawal fees, money laundering and threats. Learn the warning signs, why scammers choose their targets, and what to do if you have already paid. - [Car Towing Scams: Hidden Fees, Missing Parts and Unsafe Repairs](https://aduncovered.com/car-towing-scams/): After the Tow: Will You Get Your Car Back, and Will It Be Safe? - [Social Media Shopping Scams: 10 Patterns to Check Before You Pay](https://aduncovered.com/social-media-scams/): Social-media scam deals can look convincing while hiding cloned stores, fake endorsements, subscription traps and payment risks. Learn what to check before you click or pay. - [Is This Online Store Legit? 12 Checks Before You Buy](https://aduncovered.com/online-store-check/): Is This Online Store Legit? - [What to Do Immediately After Being Scammed](https://aduncovered.com/what-to-do-immediately-after-being-scammed/): Discover what to do immediately after being scammed. Follow practical steps to stop further losses, contact your bank, secure compromised accounts, preserve evidence and report the fraud. - [Black Friday Scams 2026: Spot Fake Shops and Deals](https://aduncovered.com/black-friday-scams-2026/): Black Friday deals can be genuine, but fraudsters also use fake shops, cloned adverts, false urgency and phishing messages to rush shoppers into paying. Learn what to check before you buy on 27 November 2026. - [Christmas Scams: 12 Festive-Season Traps and Why They Work](https://aduncovered.com/christmas-scams-festive-season/): Christmas scams are usually familiar fraud methods adapted to seasonal behaviour. Criminals do not need to invent a completely new story. - [Old Scams, New Technology: How Fraud Methods Have Evolved](https://aduncovered.com/old-scams-new-technology/): Old scams have not disappeared. They are familiar confidence tricks delivered through better technology. - [How Scam Networks Operate: Known Hubs, Methods and Specialisations](https://aduncovered.com/how-scam-networks-operate/): How scam networks operate has changed: many modern online scams are now organised like businesses. - [Global Online Scam Trends in 2026: What to Expect in 2027](https://aduncovered.com/global-online-scam-trends-in-2026-what-to-expect-in-2027/): Online scams are becoming more polished, personalised and difficult to recognise. Explore the major scam trends seen in 2026 and the methods expected to shape online fraud in 2027. ## Pages - [Latest scam guides](https://aduncovered.com/latest-scam-guides/) - [Home](https://aduncovered.com/): Paste a shop or advert link for a free first check. Need more? - [Frequently asked questions](https://aduncovered.com/faqs/): These AdUncovered FAQs answer the questions people ask before they check a seller: what the Free Quick Check and the paid reports cover, what to send us, how quickly reports arrive, how payment and refunds work, and what we can’t do. - [How AdUncovered works](https://aduncovered.com/how-it-works/): AdUncovered’s online seller research looks at the seller and the offer behind an advert, shop, listing or account, before you buy or after you’ve paid. - [Scam Research Articles](https://aduncovered.com/scam-research/): Practical, source-linked guides to the scams people meet online, in South Africa and around the world, and what to check before you pay. - [About AdUncovered](https://aduncovered.com/about-aduncovered/): AdUncovered helps you check an online seller, advert or offer before you pay, or after you've paid and something doesn't feel right. - [Comprehensive Report: Research a Seller Before or After You Pay](https://aduncovered.com/comprehensive-report/): Suspect a scam, fraud or false advertising? Facing a bigger purchase, a seller with several websites, or an order that never arrived? - [Quick Report: Research an Online Seller Before You Pay](https://aduncovered.com/quick-report/): Worried an online offer could be a scam, fraud or false advertising? - [Quick Check: Free Website Scam Check](https://aduncovered.com/quick-check/): Not sure about an online shop or advert? Paste its link below for a free, quick website scam check. - [Contact](https://aduncovered.com/contact/): Need help with a report, payment, delivery or privacy request? - [Refund Policy](https://aduncovered.com/refund-policy/): This policy applies to AdUncovered Quick Reports and Comprehensive Reports purchased through aduncovered.com. - [Privacy Policy](https://aduncovered.com/privacy-policy-2/): AdUncovered is operated by Sweet Muse (Pty) Ltd, registration number 2025/325070/07. - [Terms of Service](https://aduncovered.com/terms-of-service/): These Terms of Service govern your registration for and use of AdUncovered’s free Quick Check service, and your purchase and use of its paid Quick Report and Comprehensive Report services. - [My account](https://aduncovered.com/my-account/) - [Checkout](https://aduncovered.com/checkout/) - [Cart](https://aduncovered.com/cart/): Reports start from our report options page, not the cart. - [Shop](https://aduncovered.com/shop/) ## Products - [Comprehensive Report](https://aduncovered.com/product/aduncovered-comprehensive-report/): Deeper research into an online seller, their offer and, if you’ve already paid, what happened. Up to ten public links, typically the past three years, plus an older-history check when recent information is thin. Private, source-linked PDF. No file uploads. Source-linked findings, not a verdict. - [AdUncovered Quick Report](https://aduncovered.com/product/aduncovered-quick-report/): Research one online seller and one advertised offer before you pay. You get a private PDF showing what public sources say about the seller and the offer, every finding linked to its source, and what couldn’t be confirmed. Up to five public links, typically the past year. No file uploads. Source-linked findings, not a verdict. ## Optional - [Agent (MCP protocol)](websites-agents.hostinger.com/aduncovered.com/mcp) [comment]: # (Generated by Hostinger Tools Plugin)