30 People Reveal the Biggest Scams in History That Still Persist Today

In an age of increasing awareness and information, some scams continue to thrive, surprising even the most tech-savvy individuals. When someone posed the question on Reddit, “What’s a scam that you’re surprised people still fall for?”, the responses came pouring in, shedding light on everything from classic tricks to modern-day cons. Here are some of the most insightful—and sometimes hilarious—answers.

#1

Image source: Megnuggets, nerdy girl/Flickr (not the actual photo)

Ticketmaster.

GrumpyCoo:

Ticketmaster is one of the primary reasons I stopped going to concerts…

#2

Image source: anon, Miguelangel Miquelena/Unsplash (not the actual photo)

Paying money to the “IRS” in the form of Apple gift cards.

#3

Image source: RN-B, Getty Images/Unsplash (not the actual photo)

Chiropractors. I’ve personally cared for two patients with vertebral artery dissections from chiro adjustments. I’ve known one other outside of work.

#4

Image source: perpetual_student, Samuel Cruz/Unsplash (not the actual photo)

“Contractors” that show up to your door unsolicited telling you they’ll do work on your house for super cheap. *Especially* those “working in the area.”

Do your homework on anyone working on your house. Make sure they’re licensed, insured, permitted to work in your state etc.

#5

Image source: Inner_Map_5004, Behnam Norouzi/Unsplash (not the actual photo)

When people say invest in Cryptocurrency.

I’ll tell them let me know when you can buy anything in the store or online with it.

#6

Image source: _tanka_jahari, Stephen Phillips – Hostreviews.co.uk/Unsplash (not the actual photo)

The Nigerian prince emails.

dude_stfu:

These are intentionally ridiculous / over-the-top / filled with errors. They don’t want to go back and forth with the 99% of people who can sniff out relatively obvious bulls**t. They want that rare, vulnerable 1% who will take the bait and believe it. Phishing is a science.

#7

Image source: MartieRizer, Pixabay/Pexels (not the actual photo)

“Don’t forget tomorrow starts the new Facebook rule where they can use your photos. Don’t forget Deadline today!!! It can be used in court cases in litigation against you. Everything you’ve ever posted becomes public from today Even messages that have been deleted or the photos not allowed. It costs nothing for a simple copy and paste, better safe than sorry”.

#8

Image source: DogsAreAnimals, Emilija Launikaityte/Unsplash (not the actual photo)

Healing crystals. If anything, they’ve become even more popular recently.

Edit: Having said that, I *have* seen them be very effective as tools to effect introspection and discussion about mental health, basically operating as a fun, dialectical abstraction of psychological concepts that might be too complicated or daunting to address directly. But it’s a slippery slope to letting this abstraction become a real, significant part of how you live your life.

#9

Buying new iPhones. They’re extremely overpriced.

Image source: AngelGirlBella7

#10

Image source: Both-Holiday1489, Getty Images/Unsplash (not the actual photo)

Being green.

top 10 corporations produce 90% of the pollution. but it always falls on the citizen to be green! buy an ev you can’t afford!!

if everyone is pissing in the pool besides you, are you making a difference?

and i don’t mean to litter freely, everyone should 110% do their part. BUT. it’s crazy to think/ask citizens to completely change their routine day to day life while you still move on private jets/ motorcades.

for those of you jay don’t know. i drive a diesel F250. a new one with modern emission systems. every 5k ish miles i have to buy DEF(Diesel exhaust fluid) for my emissions right?

it comes in a 2.5 gallon plastic jug. with a plastic nosel thats wrapped in plastic in a cardboard box.. so how f*****g much am i helping?… (this is a required chemical on all diesels 2011? 2010? and newer.

#11

Image source: UnrealisticPersona, Joel Osteen/Youtube

Prosperity Gospel Preachers.

Battarray:

Specifically Joel Osteen and his ilk. They’re why we should be taxing performative mega-churches like they live off of.

#12

Image source: JoboosMojo, Karolina Grabowska/Unsplsh (not the actual photo)

Religion.

#13

Image source: CozyThynara, Peter Kalonji/Unsplash (not the actual photo)

I think unrealistic beauty standards pushed by media are the biggest scam.

#14

Image source: Dapper-Condition6041, Annie Spratt/Unsplash (not the actual photo)

Organic food in the U.S.

The regulations have been so watered down as to be meaningless….

Leading_Preparation6:

Happy to see this. It was my thesis topic and it’s definitely not what people think it is. Buy the “cheaper” version or grow your own because the USDA organic label means next to nothing.

#15

Image source: Jumpy_Cobbler7783, Bailey Burton/Unsplash (not the actual photo)

The Mormon “Church” – check out the r/exmormon subreddit for more details.

It is a real estate and securities hedge fund masquerading as a church in order to maintain tax exemption.

#16

Image source: CurvyFlowerzx, Mahrous Houses/Unsplash (not the actual photo)

Printer ink. My printer cost $50 but replacing all the cartridges costs $75. Make it make sense.

#17

Image source: Confident-Guess4638, Curated Lifestyle/Unsplash (not the actual photo)

Multi level marketing schemes. We have literally so much information now about how they are predatory. It’s disgusting how a lot of them target low income mothers who feel guilty about spending time away from home to work and earn a living.

life-love:

Not gonna lie, I attended one of those pyramid scheme meetings at my friend’s insistence and man it was filled with low-income people and the whole thing was clearly targeted at them. Felt really bad seeing how they were being sold dreams of earning a lot of money and stuff. Such a scam.

#18

Image source: charlesthefish, Sincerely Media/Unsplash (not the actual photo)

My stepfather texted me a year ago saying “your mom and I won a lottery, we just need to go to the store to get some cards to pay for the taxes”. Like cmon man, I know you are smarter than this. Thankfully enough all I had to do is ask him why would they make you use gift cards to pay taxes instead of just paying the IRS? He immediately connected the dots.

#19

Image source: Desirable-Sweetheart, Ave Calvar/Unsplash (not the actual photo)

Health insurance in America. Paying $400 monthly only to still have a $5000 deductible and argue with insurance companies about ‘in-network’ doctors. It’s basically paying for the privilege of paying more.

#20

Image source: dwsinpdx , Joshua Santos/Pexels (not the actual photo)

Scientology.

#21

Image source: pinkxsorbet, Kateryna Hliznitsova/Unsplash (not the actual photo)

Funerals, weddings, and pretty much every other thing we blindly accept have to be insanely expensive without even thinking about it.

#22

Image source: FletchWazzle, Lala Azizli/Unsplash (not the actual photo)

Tipping and tip workers, tip shame, tip expectations.

THE_Lena:

This! Their income should be paid by their employer not the customer.

#23

Image source: Squishymalloe, Curated Lifestyle/Unsplash (not the actual photo)

“Detoxing” your gut/armpits/body. Your body does it for you if you’re a healthy individual. Most of the bacteria in your gut is beneficial and necessary.

#24

Image source: mtv1243

The wealth is going to “trickle down”.

#25

Image source: KathAlMyPal, Getty Images/Unsplash (not the actual photo)

“Grandma? I’m calling from the police/hospital. Can you send me money?

#26

Image source: bought_high_sold_low, Getty Images/Unsplash (not the actual photo)

Having to pay for daily parking at your place of employment.

#27

Image source: lysistrata3000, Austin Distel/Unsplash (not the actual photo)

Fake, RICH celebrities on Facebook begging for money.

cbostwick94:

The number of times “Vin Diesel” has confessed his love to my mother on Facebook is wild. Man has a LOT of accounts

#28

Image source: Belial_plz, Firmbee.com/Unsplash (not the actual photo)

The email/text “this is the United Postal Service, your package has been delayed, we need you to verify name, address, and card information for delivery” gotten those dozens of times when I don’t have any packages on the way, but a ton of friends have fallen for it.

#29

Image source: Major-Check-1953, Kaboompics.com/Pexels (not the actual photo)

Payday loans. The interest rates are atrocious. They prey on the poor.

#30

Image source: KazakiriKaoru, Eduardo Francisco Vazquez Murillo/Flickr (not the actual photo)

Amway, Herbalife and any pseudo-pharma-sounding c**p.