Tricks That Fooled The Internet
The internet has created endless opportunities, but it has also opened the door for scams that have fooled millions. These schemes spread fast and caused real chaos by tricking even the most careful users. Looking back at them feels like reading modern legends born in inboxes and social feeds. Let’s revisit the scams that defined the darker side of the internet and try to learn from them.
1. Mark Cuban Caller ID Spoofing
In June 2024, scammers pulled off something incredibly clever against Mark Cuban. They managed to hijack Google's real support number to make their call look completely legitimate. The Shark Tank billionaire actually handed over his Gmail login details to these fake help desk staff. Afterward, he rushed to X to warn everyone about this fraud.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America on Wikimedia
2. My Big Coin Cryptocurrency Scam
Randall Crater launched My Big Coin, a fake cryptocurrency marketed online as being backed by gold and other assets. Through social media and email, he defrauded Americans of $6 million before his 2022 conviction.
3. Nev Schulman Catfishing
Romance scammers online build fake identities to trick people looking for love. Nev Schulman experienced this deception firsthand, which inspired his 2010 documentary Catfish. He later transformed that painful experience into an MTV show to help others spot digital impostors.
4. Belle Gibson Wellness Fraud
Belle Gibson built a massive online following by claiming she cured cancer through natural remedies. Her app and book sold worldwide, but investigations revealed she never had cancer. The scam unraveled in 2015, exposing how health misinformation can thrive unchecked on social media.
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5. eBay Motors Escrow Scam
Shoppers searching for vehicles on eBay Motors encountered offers that looked completely legitimate. Scammers directed them to fake escrow sites that promised protection during payment. Once buyers transferred money, the “seller” disappeared without a trace.
WeGoLook on Wikimedia6. Shimon Hayut Tinder Scam
A supposedly charming billionaire on Tinder was actually Shimon Hayut, a master con artist. His million-dollar schemes targeted women across Europe until Greek authorities arrested him in 2019. Netflix later exposed his tactics in The Tinder Swindler documentary.
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7. Phillip Cummings Identity Theft
Phillip Cummings worked an ordinary help desk job, which gave him access to sensitive personal data. He betrayed that trust by stealing information from 30,000 people and selling it to identity thieves. This scheme enabled $50 million worth of fraud across the country.
8. Fyre Festival Influencer Scam
Instagram influencers like Kendall Jenner promoted Fyre Festival as an exclusive island luxury. Reality delivered disaster relief tents and no infrastructure. Billy McFarland orchestrated the scam, using social media hype and fabricated promises to sell thousands of tickets for a nonexistent experience.
Ian Moran (I to Z Photo + Video) on Wikimedia
9. Amar Singh And Neha Punjani-Singh Fraud
This husband-wife team ran a massive $13 million credit card fraud operation with international reach. They transformed stolen card data into counterfeit plastic cards that looked completely real. Their network included over 100 accomplices who made thousands of fraudulent purchases worldwide.
10. Jay Mazini Instagram Giveaway Scam
Jay Mazini built a reputation on Instagram by handing out cash and promoting giveaways. But behind the scenes, he was scamming followers out of hundreds of thousands in Bitcoin. His arrest in 2021 exposed how influencer trust can be weaponized for fraud.
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11. John Podesta Spear-Phishing Attack
A fake Google security alert changed the course of the 2016 presidential election. John Podesta, who was Hillary Clinton's campaign chairman, clicked the link without realizing it was a trap. Thousands of private campaign emails got stolen and later appeared on WikiLeaks, which led to massive political controversies.
Lawrence Jackson, White House photographer on Wikimedia
12. Eddy Alexandre EminiFX Crypto Ponzi Scheme
EminiFX promised investors 5% weekly returns through what looked like a legitimate cryptocurrency platform. Eddy Alexandre convinced countless people to trust him with their life savings. Meanwhile, he was running a classic $248 million Ponzi scheme that funded his luxury lifestyle.
13. The FACC "Fake CEO" Wire Transfer
A 2016 spear phishing attack targeted FACC with an email that perfectly mimicked their CEO's communication style. The message demanded an immediate €42 million ($47 million) wire transfer for acquisition purposes. Staff trusted the apparent authority and sent the money. Only afterward did they realize the entire request was an elaborate scam.
14. Tim Cook Deepfake YouTube Scam
Just before the iPhone 16 launch, scammers hijacked public attention with a fraudulent YouTube livestream impersonating Apple CEO Tim Cook. Using advanced AI to mimic his voice and appearance, the stream promoted a fake cryptocurrency giveaway, claiming viewers would receive double returns for sending Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, or Tether.
Austin Community College on Wikimedia
15. Anna Sorokin’s Instagram Persona Scam
Anna Sorokin, posing as a wealthy German heiress named “Anna Delvey,” used social media and charm to infiltrate New York’s elite. She scammed banks, hotels, and friends out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Her story was dramatized in Netflix’s Inventing Anna.
PhilipRomanoPhoto on Wikimedia
16. OneCoin Cryptocurrency Ponzi Scheme
Ruja Ignatova marketed OneCoin as the "Bitcoin killer" that would revolutionize cryptocurrency investing. She defrauded investors of billions before mysteriously vanishing in 2017 without a trace. The FBI now lists her among its Ten Most Wanted fugitives.
OneCoin Coporation on Wikimedia
17. Mt. Gox Bitcoin Exchange
In 2014, hackers made 850,000 bitcoins disappear from Mt. Gox, the world's largest Bitcoin exchange. The $450 million theft completely collapsed the platform and shook the entire crypto industry. Most of those coins remain missing today, with the case still largely unsolved.
18. Silk Road Darknet Market Fraud
Ross Ulbricht created Silk Road, a dark web marketplace that became infamous for illegal transactions. Bitcoin's anonymity features made its platform the perfect hub for drugs and contraband. The FBI shut down Silk Road in 2013 after a lengthy investigation.
19. Ramon Abbas Instagram Scam
Ramon Abbas, better known as “Hushpuppi,” flaunted private jets and designer clothes across Instagram. Behind the luxury was a web of cyber fraud involving fake business deals and stolen funds. His arrest in Dubai ended the illusion and exposed how online glamour conceals massive financial deception.
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20. Twitter Bitcoin Scam
Hackers manipulated Twitter employees in July 2020 to gain access to verified celebrity accounts. They impersonated Elon Musk and other popular figures to post Bitcoin scam messages. The cryptocurrency heist netted around $100,000 before Twitter caught on and locked down.
