The utility shutoff threat.
A caller claiming to be from your power, gas, or water company says your service will be cut off within the hour unless you pay immediately.
Archive
Channel: Phone
The Medicare card renewal call.
A call claiming to be from Medicare saying you need a new card and they need to verify your number and other personal details to send it.
The IRS or tax-debt threat call.
A recorded or live call claiming you owe back taxes and a warrant is being issued unless you pay immediately, usually with gift cards or a wire.
Tech support pop-up that locks your screen.
A loud pop-up on a website claims your computer is infected and tells you to call a number for Microsoft or Apple to fix it.
Refund-and-overpayment scam.
A caller says they're refunding you money, 'accidentally' sends too much, and asks you to send the difference back.
Your-grandchild-is-in-jail variant: the bail courier.
After a grandchild-imposter call, a courier shows up at the house to pick up cash for bail.
A caller claiming to be your grandchild in jail.
Cloned voice, hurried tone, asks for bail money on gift cards. The script is the same on every call.