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Education + Resources

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How to spot common scams/grifts

  • Grandiose Claims of Transformation
    Be wary if they promise things like:

    • “I can reprogram your subconscious in one session.”

    • “Guaranteed life transformation.”

    • “I can eliminate trauma in one session.”

    • “Hypnosis can cure any problem.”
      Real practitioners usually say outcomes vary and require effort. No ethical professional guarantees psychological or life results.
       

  • Claiming Secret or Proprietary Methods
    ​A common tactic is claiming they have a special technique no one else knows:

    • “My unique subconscious reset method.”

    • “This technique is banned or hidden from the public.”

    • “Only my certification teaches this.”
      Often it’s just basic techniques repackaged
       

  • Urgent Pressure
    Scammers try to force quick decisions so you don’t have time to verify. Examples:

    • “You must act right now.”

    • “Your account will be locked today.”

    • “This deal expires in 30 minutes.”
       

  • Requests for Unusual Payment Methods
    ​Scammers often want payment methods that are hard to trace or reverse, such as:

    • Gift cards

    • Cryptocurrency

    • Wire transfers

    • Payment apps using “friends & family”
       

  • “Too Good to Be True” Offers
    ​Common examples:

    • Huge investment returns with no risk

    • Luxury items for extremely low prices

    • Grants or free money you didn’t apply for
       

  • Emotional Manipulation
    Scammers frequently trigger strong emotions such as:

    • Fear (“Your account is compromised!”)

    • Excitement (“You won $5,000!”)

    • Sympathy (“I’m stranded and need help.”)

Red flags and patterns

  • Constant Pivoting to Whatever Is Profitable
    Grifters often jump between unrelated “expertise” areas depending on what’s trending. Examples:

    • From cryptocurrency to life coaching to health supplements

    • From political commentary to “mindset mastery”

    • From hypnosis to business mentoring
       

  • Vague or Inflated Credentials
    Watch for titles that sound impressive but are hard to verify:

    • “Thought leader”

    • “High-performance coach”

    • “Energy healer”

    • “Master strategist”
       

  • Grand Narratives About Themselves
    ​Grifters frequently tell dramatic personal stories such as:

    • “I went from homeless to millionaire.”

    • “I discovered secrets the elites don’t want you to know.”

    • “I cracked the code to success.”
       

  • Criticism Framed as “Jealousy” or “Attacks”
    When questioned, they rarely address the criticism directly. Instead they say things like:

    • “Haters are trying to bring me down.”

    • “People fear my truth.”

    • “This proves I’m over the target.”
      This discourages critical thinking among followers.
       

  • Claiming Secret Knowledge

    • “What they don’t want you to know…”

    • “The hidden system behind success.”

    • “The real reason your life isn’t working.”
      The “solution” is usually their paid product or program.
       

  • Lifestyle Flexing as Proof

    • Luxury cars

    • Expensive vacations

    • Designer goods
      The message is: “I’m rich, so my system must work.” But sometimes the wealth comes from selling the system, not using it.

What to do if you've been scammed

  • Stop Contact Immediately

    • Do not send more money.

    • Do not respond to further messages.

    • Block the scammer if possible.
      Scammers often try “recovery scams” where they pretend they can help you get your money back - for a fee.
       

  • Contact Your Bank or Payment Provider
    Report the transaction as soon as possible. If you paid using:

    • Credit card: request a chargeback.

    • Bank transfer: ask if the transfer can be frozen or reversed.

    • Payment apps: report the transaction within the app.
       

  • Preserve Evidence
    Save everything connected to the scam:

    • Emails

    • Text messages

    • Screenshots

    • Receipts

    • Usernames or account links
      ​

  • Change Passwords
    If you shared login information:

    • Change passwords immediately

    • Turn on two-factor authentication

    • Check for unfamiliar logins
      Especially important for email, banking, and shopping accounts.
       

  • Report the Scam
    ​In the United States, you can report scams to:

    • Federal Trade Commission - main fraud reporting system

    • Federal Bureau of Investigation Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) for online scams
       

  • Tell Others
    If the scam happened through:

    • Social media

    • An online marketplace

    • Email or messaging
      Report the account to the platform. This can prevent other people from being targeted.

Report Scams + Grifts

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