25 Biggest Scams that Actually Worked

Discover the 25 Biggest Scams That Actually Worked. From pyramid schemes to insider trading, learn about the deceitful tactics used by con artists to deceive and profit. These stories will leave you in disbelief and provide valuable lessons on how to protect yourself from similar scams in the future.
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Author: Beatrice Silva
Video Editor: Ian Christopher Buyan
Music: 19th Floor - Bobby Richards
Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
0:26 - The Medicine Show
1:01 - The Three-card Monte
1:37 - The Pigeon Drop Scam
2:08 - The Spanish Prisoner Scam
2:54 - The Confidence Trick
3:17 - Facebook Scams
4:13 - Real Estate Scam
4:44 - Covid-19 Vaccine Scam
5:16 - Zoom Phishing Scam
6:05 - Google Business Listing Scam
6:32 - Robinhood Gamestop Scandal
7:03 - Wirecard Scandal
7:37 - Onecoin
8:08 - Ivan Boesky Scandal
8:33 - Fyre Festival
9:13 - Barry Minkow Scam
9:56 - Tulip Mania
10:15 - South Sea Bubble
10:47 - Crypto Scam
11:13 - The Mmm Scam
11:50 - Theranos Scandal
12:32 - Nigerian Letter Scam
13:08 - Madoff Investment Scandal
13:37 - Enron Scandal
14:05 - Charles Ponzi Scheme
14:36 - Outro
_________________________________________
Learn something new every day.
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[@lisam8044]

My elderly mother got a phone call from a scammer claiming he was from Revenue Canada and that she owed back taxes . She must go to western union and send 3100.00 immediatley, thank god the woman at western union explained it was a scam or my mother would have sent it. My mom doesnt drive and this scammer told her he would wait on the pbone while she takes the bus...coming home she told her neighbour and he came in grabbed the phone and screamed at the man, then hung up

[@introvertsrock9843]

Just like the scams on 'scammerpayback' Love it when the scammers are found or their files are deleted

[@divyangvaidya9675]

So good to have List 25 back. I started watching them back in 2016 when I was in high school. Good factual channel.

[@list25]

Why thank you. Glad to be back.

[@chslaw]

I'll second that motion.

[@jerryryan2925]

I love messing with scammers just to waist their time and delay them from scamming other people

[@kellyshomemadekitchen]

Me too! It’s fun isn’t it? 😂

[@jerryryan2925]

Yes it is I really love it when the time comes to drop the hammer down on them I've got a few priceless stories about doing that

[@ChromeCobra420]

Waste.

[@RosheenQuynh]

@@ChromeCobra420 Huh?

[@RosheenQuynh]

What do you do? Lol

[@xione0825]

15 is not a scam and I am surprised it's on this list. The Hedge fund guys were manipulating the system to drive Game Stop out of business and hence make good on the bet. The "Scammers" as you put it forced the stock price to go up and caused the hedge fund guys to lose the bet and a lot of money with it. They proved that it is possible to fight Wallstreet. They are heroes in my opinion.

[@j.p.6932]

Right? That’s closer to shorting a stock than anything illegal. Allow I think they did it more to make money than to win a bet. When he said they were betting on it, pretty sure he meant that as an idiom and not actually making a wager.

[@anthonym_8863]

How am I just finding out now that List25 is back? This is awesome! You were one of my favorite channels in the 2010s, and I was so sad when it was taken over. But I'm happy to see you guys are back! And it looks like I have the last 5 months of videos to catch up on over time, haha. I also noticed a few errors in this video, like a few of the number intro screens had "22" instead of the actual number--for example, #5.

[@list25]

Welcome back!

[@unclej2763]

I once ran into a scheme where I was trying to buy some paper towels from the grocery store. But I didn’t realize the reason my credit card did not go through the machine at checkout where I paid, was because somebody had tapped into my bank. Aside from just figuring out my card details, this person even saw where I live. So, the only thing I could do was turn my old card into the bank where they would chop it up and order me a new one right away, which they did.

[@tag1462]

That actually happens quite a lot. At least once a day a charge is declined as a suspected fraud. And I have offer up a possible reason. And it comes down to one of two reasons: The customer reported the card as lost only to find it and tried to use it. Or the financial institution monitors your usage and flags anything outside that bubble. I've had that happen to me when I travelled to a different city on the other side of the state. Luckily there was a branch of my bank there and it got sorted out in 5 minutes.

[@unclej2763]

@@debbylou5729 Actually I did, because my card was also close to expiring soon, anyway.

[@tag1462]

@@debbylou5729 Still stand by with what I said. Seen it happen too many times. I can't do anything about it. Above my paygrade. It says declined, well... that means no go. I have covered quite a few charges on my own dime, so to speak.

[@asielb]

Yes got scammed on Facebook marketplace. Buying a trailer. I spoke with this woman and everything and it sounded like such such a legit deal. Sent the money and I was out $1,500 just like that. She said there was a delay in the delivery. Something with the driver that was delivering it from Minnesota to Illinois. And even after she got the $1,500 for the trailer they tried to scam more because she said that she didn't have the money for the delivery driver and if I could pay them then she would pay me back type thing. By then I'd gotten way too suspicious and stopped. I pride myself at being a very cautious person when it comes to scamming. For some reason this one flew way under my radar

[@katroyal6309]

Always pay through the Facebook payment platform. Never pay through venmo or other things for Facebook purchases. Anyone asking you to use a payment platform with no buyer protection is a scammer.

[@thewretched0916]

I am so glad you're back at making videos Mike. I have really missed your voice! 🥰

[@list25]

Me too!! LoL

[@whyarewealwaysyelling]

Love you Mikey ❤️

[@VALIS538]

You need to get out more

[@jhonny3christian]

I noticed that your no. 5 & 2 portion of your list actually says no. 22. Other than that, awesome video. Didn't even know some of these scandals. What about the FTX scandal? Is it because that the case hasn't concluded that it isn't on the list yet?

[@freakydeaky4716]

Love your vids. Mike I’m thrilled you and tristian are back

[@list25]

Thank you but I feel I should let you know, it's just me; Tristan has not returned.

[@freakydeaky4716]

@@list25 oh ok well I’m just glad this page is back up and running. Been a subscriber for years now

[@marcramirez2093]

Mike: "then I got blocked... thanks marc" Me: wait, what did I do?! 😶 Inner me: not you 🤦‍♂️... Me: oh.

[@thegingergyrl455]

Thanks, Mike. Loving the shirt. 😎👏🏻👍🏻

[@list25]

Glad you like it!

[@brianarbenz1329]

Mike, let’s market that shirt. We’ll make millions! Of course I’ll need $5,000 to jumpstart the marketing. Just send it to me… 🥁 bu-duh-BUM! 😆

[@ronbeck201]

A scam that is going is on the vendor events groups, someone claims to be the vendor coordinator and is in charge of the vendor spaces for said event. They collect the space fees. Usually through some electronic means. But if you call the venue or towns C of C there's no event planned or if there is, they don't have a spot reserved.

[@kellyshomemadekitchen]

Wow! That’s a new one on me, but I can totally picture ppl doing that. There’s so many LEGIT ways to make $ these days, especially electronically, do these con artists not realize how easy it is to get caught w/their scams and wind up in prison?? I run a small bakery out of my kitchen and set up at events in banquet halls, farmers mkts, etc so I’m grateful for your comment bcz I’ll definitely keep my eyes wide open for crap like that! Thank you again!

[@ronbeck201]

@@kellyshomemadekitchen the best way is to call the venue and see if there is an event on the dates listed.

[@lanicotton8507]

Basically if it sounds to be good to be true it is.

[@susanrobinson910]

Hey Mike! Happy belated Valentine’s Day to you and your family ❤ I was wondering what happened to the very recent scam that showed up, about buying land in Scotland? A lot of my favorite KZbinrs did ads for them prior to finding out the truth. Was it called Established Titles or something like that?

[@brianarbenz1329]

Yes, how about that? As much as I respect and adore Mike and his channel, that was awful. I'm sure Mike was innocent about the nature of the scheme, as were other KZbinrs who passed it on.

[@demetrioskosmas9695]

You didn't mention the KZbinr Impersonator scams. The scammers copy the photos of KZbinrs and use an extremely similar name, usually with a dot or an extra letter that is difficult to spot. Then they pretend they are the KZbinrs themselves and they appear under subscribers comments claiming that the particular subscriber has been chosen for a giveaway gift. They ask the subscribers to message them and then redirect them to usually a Telegram account which looks just like the official KZbinrs logo. Then they demand some postage money to be send to their bank account in order to send the gifts to the subscribers, which, of course, they never send. Beware!

[@bentv4895]

I totally get happy when I see a new episode ☺️

[@pattycake8272]

My son was scammed by my ex his step father. My boy bought a truck that broke down soon after getting it, my ex traded him that truck for a different truck that had problems as well but said he could help fix it. Well he couldn't and it was junked. Then my ex whent and traded the truck that started it all to a different guy ( he knew wanted the truck) for a truck that did work. He got the truck my son got nothing.

[@kellyshomemadekitchen]

What a jerk! 🤬

[@anthonyalbert4887]

Good day, Mike! I recently subscribed. I been seeing most of your videos received from KZbin. I like the way you explain things and search for the facts of things. Keep up the great work. Is true, as you stated. We all learn something new every day. 👍 Best regards, Anthony

[@gakabler]

Another great list! Most of these I have heard of. Members of my family were affected by the Maddoff scheme. Nice shirt, Mike!

[@homicidalsuicidal]

So happy Mike is back. You look great! And loving the channel for a few years now 😀

[@list25]

Yay! Thank you!

[@lauramaeda7214]

Thanks!

[@alanbear6505]

About 10 years back I was taking a bus to work. I saw a guy come up and tell the people "I feel like giving some money away today". I don't consider myself streetsmart by my immediate thought was "well this is a scam". He pulled out the cards for Three Card Monte. I thought that was so well known that no one would fall for it. I was so wrong.

[@OleHolm-sq7yj]

Thanks to scambaiters, like Pirogi, Plesant Green, Trilogy media and more, scammers are getting ezposed and shut down.

[@patticampana9458]

Another good one! Heard of people being scammed on KZbin. Where people post they won a giveaway or to text them to chat and get hacked! Be careful out there! ✌️

[@list25]

Haven't heard that one yet. Jeez. People will try to scam people every which way.

[@freethebirds3578]

I get that about once a week. You're told to message them on Telegram or What'sApp to claim your prize. A number of channels I subscribe to have made videos explaining the scam.

[@banditt18]

the best scam attempt i delt with was when some one called me telling me i have died in a fire "this is when i was a firefighter" only issue was they ment to call my dad but instead called me. i played along for a bit and learned my death was long and i suffered then i laughed and hung up

[@j.p.6932]

6:18 That’s one reason I never want to sign up for a “free” membership to a website. They claim they just need to verify age/identity, but if what I want to access is free, why do they need my credit card just to register? And some of them are big name companies.

[@jantschierschky3461]

Tulip mania was not a scam, investment bubble went nuts.

[@j.p.6932]

1:42 Actually learned about the pigeon drop from watching Golden Girls.

[@kubek]

Here in Poland people got scam by "grandchild method". Basically the con artist approaches an old person and pretends to be his/hers grandchild who is in trouble and needs money. Once he gets the money, he disappears. Fun fact: A catholic bishop got scammed with that method for around $ 10000.

[@janusloggins876]

Same thing happens in the USA too! I've had people call me pretending to be a child or grandchild in trouble but I never fell for it

[@patrickperry2497]

I was a victim of a scam. My last relationship was a huge scam. 😅

[@Miss-Anne-Thrope]

17- Someone tried this with me. I was interested in a flat advertised at £450 p/m. After exchanging a few messages she said that she wanted a months rent and bond before she'd show me the flat! She told me that she had to travel "all the way from North England" ( I'm in South Wales) and had been " messed around before so "[didn't] want to travel until [she has] the money". So she thought that I was just going to transfer £900 to A stranger's bank account without even seeing this flat! No chance!

[@thebigdog2295]

I had a scammer call me saying he was with the Social Security Administration. He asked me to give him my social security number to verify who I was . I told him since he called me, to tell me what it was, and I'd verify it if he was right. He called me a son of a b#tch, and hung up. I'm sure he called me a few other things after he hung up as well. 😅😂🤣

[@jwrobin21]

When it comes time to part with the money: THINK ONCE, THINK TWICE, THINK SCAM!

[@shawncarson4109]

When I was a kid in the mid 90's we were waiting to board the ferry to Vancouver Island. A guy came up to us with a story about how he lost his wallet, or something along those lines, and desperately needed to get home. My dad didn't give him anything but ended up chatting with him for a bit and asked how much money he was making doing this. Guy pulled out like a 2k wade from that day! Probably close to a min wage workers take home salary over two months at that time.

[@jwflyaway]

Scamper like to prey on the elderly. Some try scam my claiming win big prizes but had 2% taxes on it, when asked money knew was scam.

[@introvertsrock9843]

Should do a list of of the scams by state. How many ppl were arrested for scams & which state has the most

[@morgangallowglass8668]

10/10 for the epic Hawaiian!

[@SquishySenpai]

The way he said Theranos 😬 Back when the Enron thing happened, someone in my neighborhood bought their big light up, spinning "E" and put it in their front yard. It wasn't there long though because the HOA made them remove it.

[@prestonstephens7719]

Recently retired teacher mama 1999 , literally the little old lady from Pasadena,, life savings, Enron,,, need I go on!!!! Died in abject poverty!!!!

[@jeremystevens3444]

Last time a scam was attempted on me I told them ot would coast $5,000 for them to receive anything from me

[@exoticbuttersflavored]

the rental scam is something I've come across but I'm smart enough not to fall for it. I always, always ALWAYS ask to see the unit in person first before sending ANY money. I've had "landlords" try to tell me they're out of town or out of province so they cant show it so when I say I'll wait until they get back, they get mad I won't send the money. lmao

[@BODUKE3201]

My mother always asks me if some emails r scams and i tell her all the time check the email address. If it is gibberish it is 100% a scam. If it is not so gibberish than be causious with it still likely being 90% chance it is a scam.

[@nathnathn]

The gamestop stocks one it was actually the hedge-fund attempting market manipulation and the individuals buying were attempting to stop them from successfully do so. The hedge fund/Wall Street went as far as black listing the ability for individuals to buy the stock from the market to prop it up.

[@andeeharry]

scams always work sadly and it is amazing in a terrifying way what they will think of next.

[@heznewell]

I can’t believe you didn’t mention the one that tried to scam you for the money for you to send to the orphanage 😂

[@truckerduke1124]

Hi Mike! Not to sound creepy ..with that said, your really looking good. Can you elaborate again how you trimmed down? Great video! Keep up the great work!

[@chrissullivan5752]

You look great with the weight loss now you need a Bob Ross perm

[@list25]

I'm gonna pass lol. Don't think I could pull that off

[@jcfreak4ever1]

@@list25 Or a Richard Simmons one! LOL 🤪😝🤣 You know I'm teasing there, right, Mike? haha

[@j.p.6932]

5:59 You also have to be REALLY careful when getting a link from a text or email. It can look totally legit, but the URL (web address) will be slightly different. You’re far better off going to the official website of whomever they claim to be rather than following the link provided. I got a text claiming to be from my state’s tollway, saying I’d missed a toll and needed to pay. I’d just driven out of state, so thought it was possible, but I was paranoid enough to not click on the link in the text. I went to the official government website, and there were no missed tolls connected to my car.

[@chrissullivan5752]

What happened to the UFOs

[@maestromike91971]

There is another one. A person from India is mostly from.they claim to be Tech Support. They then say you have a hundred + viruses which they need access to your computer to fix. They say the fixed the bugs when in fact, they placed a bunch of viruses on your computer! So you have to pay them more money to have them removed and they leave new viruses, and so on.

[@rosebrown4799]

I had a scam for a credit card that I never had. These people emailed me multiple times. They even sent a warrant via email. I almost sent these people money.

[@Mia12345-M]

I got scammed many years ago, guy pretending to be a designer from Italy going home after a NY show, selling the remaining of the clothes, they turned out to be bunch of crap pieces from a dollar store or something ... just a couple of hundreds of dollars, I really laughed at myself a few hours later.

[@brianarbenz1329]

Ah, the magic of the marketplace!

[@ijazmailbox7082]

Capitalism is probably the biggest scam of all lol

[@micheleperkins1956]

I just had the rental scam happen to me afew weeks ago! So scumbag told a lady my house was for rent (it's not). She paid a deposit and everything.

[@Ronald-bp5kg]

A scammer tried to get me saying she wanted to date and her dad wanted to transfer money and property over to me just needed my ssn and bank information. I laughed and said nice try.

[@floridaboy.californiaman.649]

Always avold scam , love my home Florida ! 🌴🌴🌊☀️🌧️

[@randalmayeux8880]

Hi Mike, the snake oil/ patent medicine wasn't a total scam. A lot of these potion's had some good stuff in them. Usually a combination of alcohol, cocaine and opium, along with some flavorings and sweetener. You take a good dose of that and you are going to feel great!

[@catherinespencer-mills1928]

Not a victim, but I have led the scammer on a merry chase a couple of times.

[@list25]

Same lol

[@Hakelous]

i got involved in a mystery shopper scam but before i ended up at fault figured it out

[@nickgov66]

You neglected one important fact in the Find The Lady scam, the fact that they would work a crowd with several accomplices or shills who would regularly "win" the game drawing in unsuspecting members of the crowd who, strangely, never won. Being as their only equipment was a deck of playing cards and a small folding table made from a suitcase and they had lookouts to warn them if a police officer approached. This scam still goes on in London and elsewhere, made much easier now since the lookouts can now use mobile phones to warn them.

[@loveshorses7]

I fell for a scam, it was a romance scam and I had no idea they existed.

[@Hollz811]

Oh the ad for me was "I made 50k last month". Oh the irony

[@MissSirenita]

On Etsy, I bought this cool little acrylic stand from this buyer and I never got it. Their account no longer exists. I lost my money then and there plus was randomly charged an additional fee. $40/$50 total. I was young and naive though. Now I do research left and right.

[@davidlatham4499]

Its ironic that the ads in this you tube video are definitely scams!

[@AceMoonshot]

"To this day, the stone-age Tasaday tribe remains the biggest government hoax ever uncovered. But how and why did the Philippines fabricate such a story?" Quoted from Esquire's 2020 story, 'Tasaday: The Stone-Age Tribe That Never Was.' The why is that the government used the story as a way to imminent domain the hell out of some resources. And I consider myself as a victim, of sorts. As a kid the story was the most amazing thing ever. It was decades before I finally found out the truth and was left crestfallen for my younger self.

[@brianarbenz1329]

There are investigators who believe the Tasaday are _partly_ for real, but their story was exaggerated by the Marcos dictatorship and its business operatives. It does seem that the tribe, or community are detached from the rest of Philippine society, probably because of a migration inland from the coast perhaps in the 1800s that resulted in a sort of communal settlement, the origins of which are not recalled by the current day members. Still, to suggest they were straight from the stone age unchanged was groundless and pushed by exploiters. Many of the Tasaday who surfaced in the early '70s actually had been to villages and cities and worked temp jobs or purchased modern goods. But most truly were isolated. So the reality of the Tasaday may be somewhere in between fraud and true.

[@patriciaaturner289]

Tasaday: So is this the inspiration for the book/movie Krippendorf’s Tribe?

[@jcfreak4ever1]

Honestly can't remember if I ever got scammed... Maybe it's just my super cautious nature that makes me avoid suspicious stuff like that... 😅

[@paulwalton1222]

Just watching a video about scams then an advert pops up tryna scam me.

[@budsodastories]

The brokerage firms called the gamestop AMC thing a scam but it wasn't that is a known risk of short selling and 100% legal and ethical

[@j.p.6932]

9:58 Tulip mania was just artificially inflated cost due to popularity, like Beanie Babies. It wasn’t based on deceit or cheating.

[@travisbrewer5391]

I fell for a crypto scam that involved trading futures and generated a huge amount, but to withdraw them I had to pay “taxes” in a separate transaction instead of having the taxes withheld from the withdrawal.

[@j.p.6932]

12:49 Isn’t that just the Spanish Prisoner scam?

[@prestonstephens7719]

Car warranty calls…. Yes can I get a quote on a 2017 Pontiac Bonneville,,,, It takes them two minutes in some mud hut in India before they hang up on me!!!!!

[@CarringtonHollister]

Fun fact: last year, I had 23 happened to me had money just cashed only for the scammers gave me fake gold in exchange

[@theduder2617]

Most of these are also "facebook" scams. You could have made a separate list of 25 "Facebook Scams" and had it filled 3-4 times over.

[@deathscythehell7937]

There's more than a few scam ads here on KZbin.

[@joeennis2571]

i gave thernos a pin prick of blood , then they wanted a vial of blood . I cut my losses

[@andreabenz8456]

Your beard color looks dang good you aging well cutie.

[@list25]

Why thank you lol

[@garyjordan3914]

You missed the lottery scam !

[@infinateexpress3321]

I lost 300 bucks my whole check on Christmas Eve 2002 to three card molly

[@ijazmailbox7082]

Anything for sale on eBay

[@shellyfunk]

Looking well smart mike

[@list25]

Thank you!

[@sandiegoslots]

#5 - (and screen says #22). also, #2 (Enron, and says #22)... Who was stuck on #22?

[@msn64man1]

Enron

[@pyrotempestwing]

The funny thing about snake oil, is that it actually has legitimate uses. I can’t recall exactly, I think arthritis is one of them.

[@ChromeCobra420]

A specific one from traditional Chinese shops is the only legitimate place to get it. It is only from a specific kind of snake.

[@brianarbenz1329]

Yes, but the thought of some snake having its oil taken from it just breaks our hearts! _No one needs snake oil but a snake!_

[@jantschierschky3461]

Spanish prisoner and Nigerian scam is same

[@AkSamurai69]

Anyone else see that #2 says 22 Enron Scandal?

[@malighn]

there seems to be one prominent figure missing

[@bowserjuniorfanaticest.2004]

13:37 Error: It says 22 instead of 2 Also, this past December, I fell victim.

[@ralphcamero6028]

#3, My mother lost $30,000.oo my father's life insurance..

[@ralphcamero6028]

I once was scammed by A fack person that put A vires , and wanted $500.oo to lift the vires, I bought the wrong cash card, it wouldn't work.

[@joshlunt7827]

When the voice said 5 you can see 22 🤔

[@joshlunt7827]

When the voice said 2 you can see 22 🤔

[@list25]

I just noticed that too. Nuts.

[@reece3163]

You should of entirely flipped the video on its head and ended with “so let us know in the comments which one you decided to try, and share your results”

[@katroyal6309]

Bre-x should be on this list.

[@Hillers62]

At 2:32 ..."I am a Nigerian Prince with $100 million dollars...can you to please at help to get me to the safe place, I need money to be getting there and I am to be to give you 2 of the million dollars...please just giving to me 100,000 of the American monies so I escape and give to reward to you the monies"

[@jimmcmurray857]

I lost 5000 to dating scams

[@list25]

Oh no!

[@anitaburch3094]

I got scammed on zelle

[@joaum2009]

Why did you call scammers to the reddit community exactly? They didn't lie or broke the law...