Top 10 World’s Biggest & Most Controversial Scams in 2022

As we move into the 21st century, scammers are getting increasingly creative—and consequently, more successful. That’s why it’s important to stay ahead of the curve and be aware of the most current scams out there. Today, we share with you our list of the Top 10 World’s Biggest and Most Controversial Scams in 2022.

Many scams have been perpetrated worldwide, and it can be hard to track them all.

So, here is our research-based list of the Top 10 World’s Biggest and Most Controversial Scams in 2022:

TOP 10: The Crypto Ponzi Scheme (May 2022)

May 2022 is considered a black day for terra and its sister coin, luna holders. Before the crash, the price of the Luna coin was $84 per coin; As of November 2022, it is $0.0002324. which clearly shows the loss of coin holders. Kwon Do Hyung launched the coin in April 2019. After that, it showed great profit to investors in the year 2021. When people’s interest developed in the coin, it crashed to its bottom.

The South Korean owner, Kwon Do Hyung, was accused by millions of people across the globe. Also, there were 8 confirmed suicides reported due to crashes.

TOP 9: Ofgem Scam (June 2022)

The energy regulator, Ofgem from the UK, officially announced the scam. People received an email from a similar version of Ofgem. They are requesting to enter their bank details so that customers can have a £400 energy rebate from the government. For a cost of £400, millions were stolen by the scammers.

Later on, Ofgem mentioned that they never ask for credentials on websites and that it is truly confidential information, so one must take good care of it. This is not the first time that people have been scammed through emails.

TOP 8: Car Insurance Scam (January 2022)

Some drivers need to find vehicle insurance to get their hands full of money. In the last 12 months, the Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB) has identified more than 55,000 fraudulent motor insurance applications – up from 21,000 in the previous year. This sharp increase is likely due to the growth of ghost-broking scams on social media.

Ghost brokers advertise fake or highly discounted motor insurance policies on social media and other online platforms. When unsuspecting consumers take up these offers, they often find that the policies are invalid or do not cover them adequately. This leaves them without a vehicle and at risk of criminal charges. Not only do ghost brokers leave their victims penniless and vulnerable, but they also pose a cyber security threat to the economy.

These fraudsters often collect sensitive personal and financial information from their victims, which can be used to commit identity theft or other crimes. The IFB is urging consumers to be alert to this growing scam and only to buy motor insurance from reputable sources. If you think you have been a victim of ghost broking, you can report it to Action Fraud.

TOP 7: Pension Scam (April 2022)

This is a new scam that has been popping up recently. A pension scam is a type of investment fraud that involves promising potential victims high returns on their investments in order to get them to hand over their savings. Pension scams are becoming increasingly common as more people seek ways to secure their financial future. The first case of a pension scam was reported in April 2022. Later on, over 200 more were reported in the same year.

Unfortunately, these scams can be complicated to spot, as the criminals behind them are often very convincing. There are a few key things to look out for if you think you may be targeted by a pension scam. Firstly, anyone promising guaranteed or exceptionally high returns on your investment should be treated with suspicion.

Secondly, anyone pressuring you to make a decision about your pension pot should also be avoided. A fraudster was accused of a pension scam in September 2022 and sentenced to 10 years of prison.  Unfortunately, these scams can have devastating consequences, both financially and emotionally.

TOP 6: Okta Attack (March 2022)

The systems of big organizations were hacked in March 2022. The scam started with a message to employees from Cloudflare to update their system. They provided a link in the message to use for updating. Through this, the scammers were able to hack their safe credentials.

Big companies such as Twilio, Mailchimp, etc., were targeted in the scam. Several of their employees lost their data as well as bank balances. By August 2022, they hit about 130 organizations with their faces behind the mask. This phishing scam ruined the earnings of several people across the globe.

TOP 5: Google Voice Scam (July 2022)

A new Google Voice Scam is making the rounds, and it’s pretty convincing. The scam was first reported in July 2022. The scammer pretends to be from Google Support and tells the victim that their account has been hacked. They then say they can help fix the problem if the victim provides them with their login information.

Of course, once the scammer has the victim’s login information, they can do whatever they want with the account. This scam is especially dangerous because it’s so convincing. Don’t give out personal information if you get a call or email like this. Hang up or delete the message immediately.

TOP 4: COVID Scam (January 2022)

If you are aged between 35 to 50, then you are most likely to be targeted for a COVID Scam. The scam was first reported in January 2022. till then, over 700,000 Americans lost their money in it. The scam begins with an email that you will receive. By following the provided link, you will be directed to an interface where you have to share your credentials, as you are eligible for an amount from the COVID recovery funds.

Once you enter your precious information, you will immediately lose all your money from your account. This is really sad to hear that people used scams to earn well in such miserable days of COVID.

TOP 3: Amazon Scam (April 2022)

Internet users in New Delhi, India, are being targeted by cybercriminals with a new scam circulating online. The scam, which is purportedly an “Amazon International Women’s Day 2022 Giveaway,” offers victims the chance to win a $500 Amazon gift card. However, the scam is actually a phishing scheme designed to steal personal and financial information from unsuspecting victims.

The WhatsApp message, which has been circulating since March 8th, claims to be from Amazon and states that the company is celebrating International Women’s Day by giving away 500 $100 Amazon gift cards. The message contains a link that takes victims to a fake website that looks identical to the actual Amazon website. However, the website is actually a phishing site designed to steal personal and financial information from unsuspecting victims.

If you receive this message, do not click on the link! Delete it immediately, and do not provide any personal or financial information to the scammers. If you have already clicked on the link and entered your information, be sure to contact your bank or credit card company immediately and let them know that you may have been a victim of fraud.

TOP 2: Crypto ATM’s Scam (January 2022)

As the popularity of cryptocurrencies grows, so does the number of related scams. In January, the U.S. The Federal Trade Commission sent out a warning regarding crypto ATM scams. The FBI has noted that scammers have increasingly directed their victims to transfer funds via crypto ATMs.

One common scam involves someone posing as an Amazon customer service representative. The scammer will contact the victim and claim that there is a problem with their account or order and that they need to transfer funds via a crypto ATM in order to resolve the issue. The victim is then given instructions on how to do this and told not to tell anyone about the transaction.

Of course, once the funds are transferred, the scammer disappears, and the victim is left out of pocket. This type of scam is likely to become more common in the coming year, so it’s essential to be aware of it and take steps to protect yourself. If you’re ever contacted by someone claiming to be from Amazon (or any other company), never give out your personal or financial information without verifying who they are first.

TOP 1: Employment Scam (March 2022)

In March 2022, scammers used a new way to scam people across the globe. After the pandemic attack, there has been massive reported unemployment, which keeps people looking for a new jobs eagerly. And this was the gateway for scammers. You might receive a job confirmation email from a renowned company with a link to fill out a form with the essentials. Once you fill it out, they will use all your information in their means.

Due to this, the Employment Scam, made known to the world in March 2022, is the biggest and most controversial scam in 2022.

What are the World’s Biggest and Most Controversial Scams in 2022?

In conclusion, these are some of the world’s biggest and most controversial scams. While there are many other scams, these are some of the most notable ones. It’s important to be aware of these scams to avoid them.

For a quick recap, here’s our list of the Top 10 World’s Biggest and Most Controversial Scams in 2022:

1. Employment Scam (March 2022)
2. Crypto ATM’s Scam (January 2022)
3. Amazon Scam (April 2022)
4. COVID Scam (January 2022)
5. Google Voice Scam (July 2022)
6. Okta Attack (March 2022)
7. Pension Scam (April 2022)
8. Car Insurance Scam (January 2022)
9. Ofgem Scam (June 2022)
10. The Crypto Ponzi Scheme (May 2022)

May you find the above-mentioned information useful. For other informative, research-based articles, check out the Top 10 section of our website, The Daily Top 10.