With only three matches left before the World Cup, fraudsters continue to make money from soccer through fake predictions and betting sites. Despite promising to reward fans for choosing winners, what they deliver is usually worthless crypto tokens – or nothing at all.
Cybersecurity firm Malwarebytes investigated one such site specifically. It found that the site matched several well-known scam patterns involving fake tickets, matched bets and fan-branded meme coins. Fixed-game betting scams claim to use a “prediction algorithm” or insider knowledge that a game is rigged, while meme coin schemes involve insiders who falsely inflate the price of a token before selling their assets, leaving its value close to zero.
These sites tend to follow one of several playbooks. Others use a “pump and dump” system, where early adopters receive payments to build trust before creators cash out and the token collapses. Some simply take your deposit and stop responding when it’s time to pay. Malwarebyte has also flagged copycat token names designed to be mistaken for legitimate cryptocurrencies, as well as commercial activity intended to make a dead token appear to be working.
Because these scams work by convincing users to voluntarily send crypto, the usual advice to protect your information – such as never sharing your recovery phrase – won’t help much.
It is best to avoid any site that requires crypto as payment and instead stick to well-known, established betting sites such as DraftKings, BetMGM and bet365. But if you are going to use a crypto site, check how many crypto wallets actually hold the advertised World Cup token. Fewer owners despite “heavy trading volume” is a clear red flag. Then ask yourself what would happen if that money doesn’t come back. If the answer makes you uncomfortable, the answer is simple: don’t use it.
Some current scams to watch out for
Unclaimed wills
The Federal Trade Commission has once again warned consumers about letters claiming that those who receive them are entitled to a portion of the life insurance policy of a deceased stranger, a scam the agency says is resurfacing. Under the guise of a “lawyer,” the scammer claims that a client with the same last name has died and left behind a policy worth millions. Then, they promise to split the profit between you, the charity and the law firm as long as you respond quickly and keep it confidential.
It is a typical case, where the Better Business Bureau has followed its examples across the US. In one case, the fraudster claimed that “Mrs. Maria” who shared the recipient’s last name had died due to complications of COVID-19 and left a death payable account worth about 10.8 million dollars, with the letter suggesting a family split of 90/10 between the recipients. Other victims who reported similar letters to the BBB Scam Tracker described almost identical locations, only the fictitious victim’s name and numbers were changed to match the recipient.
If you receive one of these letters, do not respond, even out of curiosity. The FTC says the safest move is to throw it away, share the warning with family members who might receive the same letter and file a report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Digital imprisonment
A New England college professor lost nearly $500,000 this spring after fraudsters convinced him he was being investigated for money laundering, according to a report. San Francisco Chronicle. The scheme, known as “digital imprisonment,” involves fraudsters impersonating law enforcement or government officials and sequestering victims until they hand over their savings.
The professor, who was told that a bank in New Delhi needed to audit his finances, complied by transferring almost all of his savings to a crypto app after being warned that he could not talk to friends or family about the alleged investigation. Experts who spoke to the Chronicle called it one of the most sophisticated scams they’ve ever seen, largely because it relies on constant fear over months instead of one high-pressure phone call.
Although this type of scam remains very common in other parts of the world, it is happening more often in the U.S. The FBI’s 2025 Internet Crime Complaint Center report shows a significant increase in complaints involving government impersonation – from 17,367 in 2024 to 32,424 in 2025 – and threats of violence. Remember that no real law enforcement agent will ever order you to stay on a video call, cut off contact with family, or wire money to “clear your name.” If you receive a call like this, hang up and confirm directly with the agency in question.
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The most common types of scams you should be aware of
Fraudsters are always upping their game, coming up with new and (their) fun ways to trick their targets. AI-powered scams are one example of this; technology is used to reach a large number of people with increasingly convincing techniques
But some tricks never go out of style. Most scams fall into a few common patterns, and many long-standing schemes are still a threat today. They have recently evolved to better fit today’s digital landscape
- Fraudster scams: Fraudsters often pose as trusted figures such as government agencies, banks, employers and even friends or family to pressure victims into sending money or sharing personal information.
- Phishing and fraud: These scams use emails, texts or phone calls that appear to be from legitimate organizations. The goal is to trick you into clicking a malicious link, downloading malware or providing sensitive information
- Online shopping scams: Fraudsters can create fake online stores or listings with hard-to-find items at unusually low prices. After paying for an article, what you end up getting may be fake – or it may never arrive in the first place
- Investment scams: This type of scam often comes with promises of high returns from crypto, forex or other “exclusive” opportunities. Many involve long-term make-up schemes where victims are encouraged to invest more money over time before losing it all
- Scams in love:Some scammers try to get into your pocket by heart. They build relationships with you on dating apps or social media, then convince you to give up money and assets by creating contingency or investment opportunities.
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What to do if you are a victim – or the victim of a scam
No one is immune to fraud or embezzlement, but a few consistent practices can reduce their risk and the damage they cause.
First, be suspicious of unsolicited messages, especially those that create fear or urgency. This could look like an email from your bank threatening to close your account, a text from an online marketplace saying you’ll lose your rebate or a call from the IRS saying they’ll report you to the authorities unless you “act now.”
Scammers like to use this type of language because it puts you in a position, which they expect will move you to action.
Always verify any requests from the organization by checking official phone numbers, email or website. And don’t click on any links, download email attachments or reply to messages you suspect are fraudulent. A legitimate organization will not pressure you into immediate action or secrecy
Now, if you’ve already sent financial information or money to someone you suspect is a scammer, you’ll need to take a few steps to protect your data and possibly get your money back. Contact your bank, credit card company or payment platform immediately and try to stop or reverse the transaction. Be sure to change any passwords and enable multi-factor authentication to protect your accounts as well.
Reporting a scam can also help protect others. You can file a report with the Federal Trade Commission and local authorities at the nearest police department or sheriff’s office. Victims of identity theft should also consider temporarily freezing their credit
Finally, review your financial statements and credit reports regularly, keep your software up to date and limit how much personal information you share online. Fraudsters often rely on publicly available information to make their schemes more believable
