Winter weather isn’t the only thing sweeping across the country. As storms roll in, so do dishonest contractors promising fast, cheap repairs — and in some cases, vanishing once the check clears. Meanwhile, car buyers chasing a deal may be driving straight into hidden fees or even doctored odometers.
From home repair rip-offs to dealership bait-and-switch tactics, this week’s scams highlight a familiar pattern: urgency and “too good to be true” pricing can cost far more than expected.
- Winter repair rip-offs: Winter storms continue to show up — as do dishonest contractors targeting homeowners in need of urgent repairs. These scammers may offer low bids or demand large deposits up front and then do shoddy work or disappear altogether, says Jon Grishpul, Co-founder of GreatBuildz. He adds that, once you’ve been scammed, there’s very little recourse. “You may have the option to take them to court, take them to small claims […] but there’s no guarantee you’ll see a single dollar coming back.”
- Come for the bargain, stay with the fees: Car dealerships have long been luring in buyers with low advertised prices only to sneak in hidden extras. Car buying service CarEdge’s 2026 State of Dealer Fees report suggests that nearly half of dealers might be engaging in these bait-and-switch practices. “We’ve seen state attorneys generals go after dealerships who are doing this,” says Zach Shefska, Co-Founder of CarEdge. “This is not uncommon, it just happens way more than they’re able to prosecute and rectify.”
- Rolling back the clock: Used cars are no stranger to scams either. Just last week, a used car dealer who systematically tampered with odometers surrendered to local authorities in Atlanta. “Title washing is a thing. Odometer rollback is a thing,” says Shefska, who added that “These typically only happen with used vehicles.”
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The most common types of scam you should know
Scammers are constantly upping their game, coming up with new and exciting ways (for them) of fooling their targets. AI-powered scams are one example of this: the technology is being used to reach a larger number of people with increasingly more convincing schemes.
But some tricks never run out of style. Most scams fall into a handful of familiar patterns, and those of yore are still very much a threat today — they’ve just evolved to better fit today’s digital landscape.
- Imposter scams: Scammers often pose as trusted figures like government agencies, banks, employers and even friends or family to pressure victims into sending money or sharing personal information.
- Phishing and spoofing scams: These scams use emails, texts or phone calls that look like they’re from legitimate organizations. The goal is to trick you into clicking a malicious link, downloading malware or handing over sensitive information.
- Online shopping scams: Fraudsters can create fake online stores or listings with hard-to-find items at unusually low prices. After you pay for an article, what you end up getting might be counterfeit — or it may never arrive in the first place.
- Investment scams: This type of scam often arrives with promises of high returns from crypto, forex or other “exclusive” opportunities. Many involve long-term grooming tactics, where victims are encouraged to invest more over time before losing everything.
- Romance scams: Some scammers try to get into your pocket through the heart. They build a relationship with you on dating apps or social media, then convince you to give up money and assets by fabricating emergencies or investment opportunities.
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What to do if you’re the target — or victim — of a scam
No one is immune to scams or fraud, but a few consistent habits can reduce their danger and the damage they cause.
For starters, be skeptical of unsolicited messages, especially those creating fear or urgency. This might look like an email from your bank threatening to close an account, a text from an online marketplace saying you’ll lose a discount or a call from the IRS claiming they’ll report you to the authorities unless you “act now.”
Scammers love to use this sort of language because it puts the target on the spot, which expects hope will move you to act.
Suffice it to say, always verify any requests from an organization by cross-checking with its official phone numbers, email or website. And don’t click any links, download attachments or respond to messages you suspect may be fraudulent. A legitimate organization will not pressure you for instant action or secrecy.
Now, if you’ve already sent financial information or money to someone you suspect is a scammer, you’ll need to jump through some hoops. Contact your bank, credit card issuer or payment platform immediately and attempt to stop or reverse transactions. Make sure to change any relevant passwords and enable multi-factor authentication to safeguard your accounts, too.
Reporting a scam might also help protect others. You can file a report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov and with local authorities at your nearby police department or sheriff’s office. Identity theft victims should also consider momentarily freezing their credit.
Lastly, review your financial statements and credit reports regularly, keep your software updated and limit how much personal information you share online. Scammers often rely on publicly available details to make their schemes more convincing.
Winter weather isn’t the only thing sweeping across the country. As storms roll in, so do dishonest contractors promising fast, cheap repairs — and in some cases, vanishing once the check clears. Meanwhile, car buyers chasing a deal may be driving straight into hidden fees or even doctored odometers.
From home repair rip-offs to dealership bait-and-switch tactics, this week’s scams highlight a familiar pattern: urgency and “too good to be true” pricing can cost far more than expected.
Winter repair rip-offs: Winter storms continue to show up — as do dishonest contractors targeting homeowners in need of urgent repairs. These scammers may offer low bids or demand large deposits up front and then do shoddy work or disappear altogether, says Jon Grishpul, Co-founder of GreatBuildz. He adds that, once you’ve been scammed, there’s very little recourse. “You may have the option to take them to court, take them to small claims […] but there’s no guarantee you’ll see a single dollar coming back.”
Come for the bargain, stay with the fees: Car dealerships have long been luring in buyers with low advertised prices only to sneak in hidden extras. Car buying service CarEdge’s 2026 State of Dealer Fees report suggests that nearly half of dealers might be engaging in these bait-and-switch practices. “We’ve seen state attorneys generals go after dealerships who are doing this,” says Zach Shefska, Co-Founder of CarEdge. “This is not uncommon, it just happens way more than they’re able to prosecute and rectify.”
Rolling back the clock: Used cars are no stranger to scams either. Just last week, a used car dealer who systematically tampered with odometers surrendered to local authorities in Atlanta. “Title washing is a thing. Odometer rollback is a thing,” says Shefska, who added that “These typically only happen with used vehicles.”
Protect your digital life: See Lifelock’s current identity theft plans and get your first year of the standard plan for just $7.99 a month
The most common types of scam you should know
Scammers are constantly upping their game, coming up with new and exciting ways (for them) of fooling their targets. AI-powered scams are one example of this: the technology is being used to reach a larger number of people with increasingly more convincing schemes.
But some tricks never run out of style. Most scams fall into a handful of familiar patterns, and those of yore are still very much a threat today — they’ve just evolved to better fit today’s digital landscape.
Imposter scams: Scammers often pose as trusted figures like government agencies, banks, employers and even friends or family to pressure victims into sending money or sharing personal information.
Phishing and spoofing scams:
These scams use emails, texts or phone calls that look like they’re from legitimate organizations. The goal is to trick you into clicking a malicious link, downloading malware or handing over sensitive in
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