ADVERTISEMENT

Here’s a dirty little secret that a lot of us don’t want others to know: we like to think of ourselves as the smartest person in the room. Well, even if we might not be the smartest, we’re definitely (way) above average! And there’s no way that we’d ever fall for a cheap scam. Tricksters and fraudsters—beware! There’s no way that you’ll weasel cash out of here! (Hey, that rhymed.) However, reality shows us that many do fall prey to scams and that the scammers themselves are constantly adapting and finding new ways to bamboozle their marks.

Reddit users have been pooling all of their experience together and sharing all the common scams, small and large, that other people don’t always realize are scams or are potential scams. The thread got over 3.2k comments and has helped internet users gain a new perspective on a variety of things, from multilevel marketing and men’s and women’s products to diamonds and superfoods and more. There’s nothing like seeing something with a fresh pair of eyes.

Have a read about some of the most common scams, upvote the most informative posts, and let us know if any of these were new to you, dear Pandas. Oh! And if you know of any other swindles that people tend to fall for, be sure to let everyone know, too!

#1

'What's A Scam Most People Don't Even Realize Is A Scam?': 40 People Deliver Their Insights Paying money to a religion to guarantee your eternal salvation.

13xnono , unsplash Report

Add photo comments
POST
gabrielealfredopini avatar
Gabriele Alfredo Pini
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a 37 years old Catholic I find strange all this talking of "paying" to a religion... I contribute to my church because a building need maitenance. I payed for the summer camps organized by my oratory. I gave to missionary to help them in their works. But if I want to go to mass and exit without paying anything nobody would tell me anything.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#2

'What's A Scam Most People Don't Even Realize Is A Scam?': 40 People Deliver Their Insights Insurance. You’re obligated to get it legally but when you actually need it, they’ll do everything in their power to not pay out…

thebeatoflife , pexels Report

Add photo comments
POST
cjwellings avatar
Chris
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This very much depends on the type of insurance, how well regulated it is, and the insurer.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#3

'What's A Scam Most People Don't Even Realize Is A Scam?': 40 People Deliver Their Insights The US healthcare system. Hell, just name any aspect of life in the US and there's probably a scam somewhere in there.

MaximumGamer1 , unsplash Report

Add photo comments
POST
mishte_tine avatar
Mishte Tine
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

America commits crimes against humanity in the majority of instances I for those who aren’t wealthy. The political leaders are so reliant on the profit based system that they make anti-human choices and laws. It’s plain old deadly greed. And too many people pretend it’s normal. It’s not. Tens of thousands of people die needlessly every year because our govt thinks healthcare is a market like any other business. And people aren’t allowed to know up front what costs will be. We are a very rich country and could afford to have healthcare for everyone, including better preventive care, dental, eye care and mental health care but that would not make profits for the needless middlemen. People who aren’t doctors make life and death decisions about what health care. The rest of the globe should call us on this as a anti- humanitarian crime - if not a deliberate profit based genocide based on lack of wealth.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

Previously, I’d had a chat with one of the moderators at the r/Scams subreddit about internet scams, how they’re different from regular ones, and what we can do to protect ourselves from them. Though nobody’s ever truly foolproof, education, preparation, and even rudimentary research are all lifesavers.

"I think online shopping scams are different because you lose that layer of dealing with a real-life person. When you have a real person in front of you, a typical person will feel shame or guilt at the thought of taking advantage of a person,” one of the mods from r/Scams told me during an earlier interview.

“With the internet, you aren't dealing with a person, but a username and avatar. It is much easier to act maliciously when you don't have a real victim directly in front of you," they said.

ADVERTISEMENT
#4

'What's A Scam Most People Don't Even Realize Is A Scam?': 40 People Deliver Their Insights Diamonds. Diamonds are a fairly common gemstone but the world's supplier of them is a monopoly and they hoard the majority of their stock to jack the prices up. Emeralds, Rubies and Sapphires are actually rarer than diamonds but cost less because of this.

Powerofgodandanime17 , flickr Report

Add photo comments
POST
erbakan_b avatar
Cat on a bike
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Diamond are not only used as gemstones but also in the industry for various cutting and polisihing effects. You can't use the other gemstones for this as they are not as hard. This is also a contributor.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#5

'What's A Scam Most People Don't Even Realize Is A Scam?': 40 People Deliver Their Insights "Woman's" anything. 90% are just colored different. Razors are the biggest offenders IMOP.

Grondosos , pexels Report

Add photo comments
POST
james_fox1984 avatar
Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Men's razors are so much better in my opinion and not just because they are cheaper, but I get a closer shave with them.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#6

'What's A Scam Most People Don't Even Realize Is A Scam?': 40 People Deliver Their Insights Planned obsolescence. Appliances being designed to fail sooner in order to sooner create demand for a replacement. In the same vein, devices being designed to not be repairable, so that you need to invest in a shiny new specimen whenever fashion or the predesigned breakdown require it.

BeeBarfBadger , flickr Report

Add photo comments
POST
saragregory0508 avatar
N G
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm not sure "most people don't realise [this] is a scam" applies here. Most people know their appliances break before their parents version ever did, or know that it cannot be fixed the way their grandparents did. But a key feature of a scam is that you have a way to avoid it. You cannot avoid your microwave breaking due to planned obsolescence unless you build your own damn*d microwave, because EVERY microwave is built with planned obsolescence. This is more like "suspect and unethical practices we consumers encounter from companies"

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

“Online scams also use a lot of tricks to pressure buyers; low prices, pushes to buy now!, taking advantage of someone's kindness or naivete (re: advance check fraud, money mules, etc), or advertising one product and sending another (or nothing at all, by using a fake tracking number). Getting a person to make a decision via high-pressure tactics and preventing them from reflecting and making a sound decision is key," the mod listed some of the tactics that online fraudsters use to get their victims to part with their hard-earned cash.

ADVERTISEMENT

"If a deal is too good to be true, it is. If you see a pair of brand new Apple AirPods advertised for $50, you are not getting an authentic product. There are many counterfeit items out there on the market, and you need to verify authenticity before hitting buy," the redditor reiterated that we should always trust our gut and stay skeptical of empty promises.

#7

'What's A Scam Most People Don't Even Realize Is A Scam?': 40 People Deliver Their Insights Unpaid internships. What the actual f**k is wrong with America.

benjamynt , pexels Report

Add photo comments
POST
lisa-warndorff avatar
I want cake
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not exclusively an American thing. The reason I work in a completely different sector than my degree in art history is that I refused to do an unpaid or minimally paid internship, because I couldn't afford to. These art galleries would straight faced tell you they don't have money to pay you more than 195 euro a month for 40 hours of work, but spend triple that on an opening party for a new exhibition. Screw that. Edit: 40 hours of work a week. So 195 euro for 160 hours of work in a four-week month.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#8

'What's A Scam Most People Don't Even Realize Is A Scam?': 40 People Deliver Their Insights Scientology... And by most people, I mean those people in it.

herda831 , unsplash Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#9

'What's A Scam Most People Don't Even Realize Is A Scam?': 40 People Deliver Their Insights The Humane Society of the United States

"HSUS doesn’t run a single pet shelter. HSUS is not affiliated with any pet shelters. And HSUS only gives 1% of donations to pet shelters." Most of the donated money goes into the higher up's pension plans.

Seriously don't donate money to them, instead donate to a local shelter near you, they're the ones doing real work & helping animals.

Any "charity" whose president is living high on the hog on donations is a scam.

FarmerTex , pexels Report

Add photo comments
POST
neilbidle avatar
Neil Bidle
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Most "charities" do this, sending money to the directors and doing very little of use. It's almost as bad as the millionaire celebs pestering us to give money to "their" charity. Look at the Oxfam scandals for a start!!

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT

"Not only to avoid contributing to the counterfeit market, but because these knockoff products do not always go through the same safety standards of the real item; they may not be UL certified, they may use chemicals or ingredients that are not FDA approved and are unsafe for use on or in the human body, or could cause major harm to human life or property."

What’s more, even seemingly safe activities like renting properties online can lead to disappointment and lost money. “It is very common for scammers to lift photos and descriptions of houses for sale, mark down the rent as ridiculously cheap, then insist on getting the deposit sent via Western Union or other untraceable means; when it comes time to pick up your keys, the money is gone and there was no rental for you to move into, to begin with."

#10

'What's A Scam Most People Don't Even Realize Is A Scam?': 40 People Deliver Their Insights Contrary to popular belief, there a very few hot Russian singles in my area.

KokonutMonkey , unsplash Report

Add photo comments
POST
laurencaswell4 avatar
Lauren Caswell
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love the ones where someone in *my town* is making thousands per day, accompanied by an image of someone with a pile of foreign money. Oooh, so authentic 🤗

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#11

'What's A Scam Most People Don't Even Realize Is A Scam?': 40 People Deliver Their Insights .99 cents at the end of pricing.

uscx2 , flickr Report

#12

'What's A Scam Most People Don't Even Realize Is A Scam?': 40 People Deliver Their Insights Printer ink.

cartoonassasin , flickr Report

Add photo comments
POST
ssnx01 avatar
Chich
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I bought one with tanks that I just pour ink into when they get low. No more tiny $50 cartridges.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

The mod explained how doing some background research can help you avoid online rental scams. For starters, try Googling the address and seeing if it’s on a real estate listing for the property for sale. “You may find a real estate listing on MLS, Zillow, or other popular property rental/sale sites. I ran into this recently with a too-good-to-be-true rental, and I was able to report the listing and notify the listing agent that their listing was being used in a scam," they said.

ADVERTISEMENT

An extra line of defense that you should consider is getting a credit card and using that instead of a debit card. “Credit card protections for most cards are much more forgiving than debit cards. You can generally get your money back faster if you were scammed or mislead by a business, versus initiating an investigation through your bank. It is always smarter to pay by credit card (and pay off your balance monthly!)."

#13

'What's A Scam Most People Don't Even Realize Is A Scam?': 40 People Deliver Their Insights Expiration date on million years old himalayan salt.

gat000r , pexels Report

Add photo comments
POST
hannu avatar
Hannu Luhtasela
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Expiration date is added on these things because packaking materials (plastic etc) releases chemicals over the years into the product.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#14

'What's A Scam Most People Don't Even Realize Is A Scam?': 40 People Deliver Their Insights Having to pay $100+ bucks for Microsoft word.

yawnandshrug , flickr Report

#15

'What's A Scam Most People Don't Even Realize Is A Scam?': 40 People Deliver Their Insights Trickle down economics.

HiopXenophil , wikipedia Report

Add photo comments
POST
mishte_tine avatar
Mishte Tine
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That people ever bought into this, or worse - still push it - is another draconian greed grab.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#16

'What's A Scam Most People Don't Even Realize Is A Scam?': 40 People Deliver Their Insights Recycling plastic. The “recycling symbol” with the number on it is not a recycling symbol. It’s a resin identification code. It was intentionally designed to look like the recycling symbol to fool consumers. Only around 10% of plastics are recycled and usually only once. The whole campaign about recycling plastics and consumer responsibility was set up by the bottling companies to avoid legislation banning plastics because of their harm to the environment.

ioncloud9 , flickr Report

Add photo comments
POST
neilbidle avatar
Neil Bidle
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We should go back to glass bottles. Everything tastes better out of glass anyway, easier and cheaper to recycle, and a surcharge on the bottles (money back for empty bottles) means less litter.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#17

'What's A Scam Most People Don't Even Realize Is A Scam?': 40 People Deliver Their Insights Ordering a full carafe of wine in a restaurant. Where I work, a full carafe can fill 4-5 glasses. Ordering 5 glasses of some of our types of wine is actually $1-2 cheaper than the full carafe. Check the prices and do the math before ordering! Same goes for pitchers of beer!

neeeenbean , pexels Report

Add photo comments
POST
jmscargill avatar
Scagsy
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't really trust carafes. It could be literally anything in there. Wine that's been left open for a fortnight. Old stock. Damaged stock. Diluted. etc.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#18

When stores ask you to donate at checkout, they're using it as a tax write off.

its-incredibl Report

Add photo comments
POST
mishte_tine avatar
Mishte Tine
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This. I learned about this recently and it made me ill. I wonder what actually goes to the charity. Things like this should be transparent and easy to find out but most, if not all - are not. It’s devastating because I want to donate what I can to things and I don’t. : ( I donate to the KIND fund for desks and tuition for girls in Africa (school is not free and girls lose the most. They need personal products, too). I hope it is a meaningful way to give.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#19

'What's A Scam Most People Don't Even Realize Is A Scam?': 40 People Deliver Their Insights The concept of "superfoods" and "organic" anything. I work at a smoothie bowl place, and people will come in and literally pile 1500 calories full of peanut butter and granola into a bowl and think it's healthy because they put some superfood organic something into a bowl. It's literally pumpkin granola cereal from the store down the street, it's not going to cure cancer.

plantayshun_610 , flickr Report

Add photo comments
POST
lisa-warndorff avatar
I want cake
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This one needs a bit of nuance on the organic part. Just because something is organic doesn't mean all the rules about nutrition fly out the window, but it isn't a scam in itself, it is a product that is better for the environment and the body as there are no (potentially) hazardous chemicals involved in the production process. However, the thing that gets me the most about organic produce is that the main reason it's so expensive (at least in my country) is that the certificates are so expensive and it drives the prices up way more than it needs. So what I do instead is find local producers who work organically but don't want to pay the certificates, and there are more of those than you'd think.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#20

'What's A Scam Most People Don't Even Realize Is A Scam?': 40 People Deliver Their Insights Psychics.

Gui_Franco , pexels Report

Add photo comments
POST
celinebernadet avatar
Lynn Donovan
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love my tarot cards. The cards in themselves are beautiful. My mom gave them to me when I was young to perpetuate the tradition. I do tarot reading to my friends (very occasionnally). Mind you, I don't believe they're magic in any way. I just think that there is so many interpretations possible, that the one you chose to believe is true tells a lot about your frame of mind. So I don't read the cards per se, I read my friends instead :)

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#21

'What's A Scam Most People Don't Even Realize Is A Scam?': 40 People Deliver Their Insights In app mobile purchases. Especially for kids games.

JUST_THAT_JERK , pexels Report

Add photo comments
POST
mishte_tine avatar
Mishte Tine
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hate this. I don’t get apps that have “in app purchases.” It’s limiting, but I won’t do it. The growth of “subscription” products (apps and other things) is another example of limiting access to things for lower wage people - I might buy something for ten dollars flat, but I can’t afford $4.00 a month - with automatic renewal. Also, “free trials” are usually not, requiring your credit card info and only available if you agree to pay after the free trial.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#22

'What's A Scam Most People Don't Even Realize Is A Scam?': 40 People Deliver Their Insights Insurance, at least in the US. If you have to fight for something YOU PAY FOR to pay THAT WHICH IT'S LITERALLY SUPPOSED TO PAY FOR and in return GET SCREWED with higher premiums, higher deductibles and higher copay amounts, then it's basically useless. We're paying into a scam cause we're idiots who don't understand, and don't WANT to understand how much better off our we'd be with Universal coverage, due to cost alone. But hey, what do I know?

snflwr1313 Report

Add photo comments
POST
jameskramer avatar
James016
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had such a nightmare with travel insurance once, we had to cancel a holiday as my son got sick a couple of days before, they did everything to avoid paying out. Even said that not using blue ink when filling out the form was a reason to reject the claim. It went on and on until we threatened court action, then it was settled.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#23

"Hustle" culture. Capital doesn't even have to manage you anymore; you manage yourself by convincing yourself that lack of sleep is good and that you should be working around the clock.

Blue_Dog_Democracy Report

Add photo comments
POST
cwebb5000 avatar
Chris365
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Individualism is a cancer - divide and conquer has worked for Boris the ballbag, Trump etc. And is an easy go to for conservatives. Pit anyone with any difference against each other and it’s an easy win for them. It’s all just a class war at the end of the day but they manage to chop society up and weaken their opponents. ‘Hustles’ shouldn’t have to exist but there is a political will to encourage them to weaken you. They want everyone to think it is every man for themselves, to fight each other for resources, because together we’d vote them out.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#24

“Work 12 hours a day every day and I’m surrrre they’ll move me up. I’m very valuable to my company “

EscapeOdd8897 Report

#25

'What's A Scam Most People Don't Even Realize Is A Scam?': 40 People Deliver Their Insights Our (US) health care system.

Lauren12269 , pexels Report

Add photo comments
POST
mishte_tine avatar
Mishte Tine
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Human lives depending on a profit based “market” - every other developed country rejected this model, many for decades - because it’s inhumane and unthinkable.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#26

'What's A Scam Most People Don't Even Realize Is A Scam?': 40 People Deliver Their Insights Out of network ATM fees.

Vespaeelio , unsplash Report

Add photo comments
POST
libstak avatar
Libstak
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or non bank arms. 7 Eleven whereby am took away the bank arms from their premises and replaced them with 7 Eleven brand arms that cost all cardholders, regardless of which bank $2.50 per withdrawal. I hope this sends them bankrupt, cynical smarmy toads.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#27

'What's A Scam Most People Don't Even Realize Is A Scam?': 40 People Deliver Their Insights Bottled water.

poopyhole2 , pexels Report

#28

Funeral services. There is nothing wrong or dangerous about dead bodies. The idea that random people come into your home and take your loved one away, rip out their insides, fill them will chemicals and out them on display and you have to pay to put them to rest is ridiculous and quite frankly evil.

FoxFetter Report

#29

When I was a kid my brother would tell me the lottery is 'a tax on stupid people.

Luke10124 Report

#30

I’m most intrigued by the vague life coaches, who use lots of big words and mention specific figures they have supposedly earned, but there is no clarity on what exactly they do.

immoreoriginalmate Report

Add photo comments
POST
christineschneider avatar
Beeps
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It’s just awful, especially given that life coaching isn’t a regulated discipline. Sure, there are several scam accreditation bodies, but most people just don’t understand that I could make up my own college of life coaching and accreditation right here and now, give it a fancy name, and it wouldn’t really mean anything. Yet so many people fall for it. Please, please, please, stick to licensed and regulated psychologists and mental health professional (and check what ‘licensed’ and ‘registered’ actually means for your country, as it’s different everywhere.)

View more commentsArrow down menu
#31

Those Facebook post that my grandparents always repost that go on about some s**t like Facebook doesn’t want you see this... trump bla bla bla ...... repost this if your brave .... let’s make this go viral etc

Drywalleater03 Report

#32

"Shrinkflation." Where they give you less, and charge you more.

U_Have_Issues Report

#33

Crystal healing, religion, and horoscopes. How are we still buying this bulls**t with the internet out there.

DefenestrateWindows Report

Add photo comments
POST
jaynekyra avatar
Jayne Kyra
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Crystals can definitely keep bad people away. If you throw them correctly, that is.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#34

'What's A Scam Most People Don't Even Realize Is A Scam?': 40 People Deliver Their Insights Boomers getting free healthcare (Medicare) while voting against anyone else getting it.

gamechanger112 , unsplash Report

Add photo comments
POST
jmscargill avatar
Scagsy
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

'Oooo, let's blame older people for a problem that could easily be solved by politicians if they could stop starting wars for five minutes'. In other news, the wall is working in hampering Mexican border-crossing. Apparently they are finding it much harder to get out of the US than ever before.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#35

Tipping.

FalconFox500 Report

#36

I don't know if they are still around but around 2010, people were buying these "ionic footbaths" that supposedly removed toxins in your body through your feet.

mr_sweetandawful Report

Add photo comments
POST
ssnx01 avatar
Chich
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

anything to "remove toxins" is a huge scam. Knew a woman who was selling detox foot baths for $1000 and people were buying them. Absolute nonsense.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#37

'What's A Scam Most People Don't Even Realize Is A Scam?': 40 People Deliver Their Insights Supplements. Because they are considered a food they are not regulated. A recent study found that 25% don't contain any of the substance it is sold as. About as many others contain actual prescription medicines that are not listed. In the US about 23 000 people a year are hospitalized, have organ failure or need a transplant due to taking unregulated supplements.

NZT-48Rules , unsplash Report

Add photo comments
POST
saragregory0508 avatar
N G
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This might be a "unique to the US" thing. Food supplements aren't separately regulated in the UK, but are covered by multiple food regulations, which means they sort of are regulated (they can't contain something not listed on the packaging, for example, and cannot claim medical benefits they don't actually provide)

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#38

'What's A Scam Most People Don't Even Realize Is A Scam?': 40 People Deliver Their Insights Most extended warranties on electronics. Usually you're paying extra for the warranty and extra on top of that as a "labor cost" of whoever is fixing the device.

Cheaper than a new device? Sure but can still be pricey.

KingGooma , flickr Report

#39

'What's A Scam Most People Don't Even Realize Is A Scam?': 40 People Deliver Their Insights Willfully deciding that a week inside the casinos of Vegas sounds like a good vacation.

YouMightBePregnant , flickr Report

Add photo comments
POST
malagotelli avatar
Eslamala
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People have the right to go wherever the fck they want on vacation, don't they? I'd never go to Disney-anything because I hate it, but I don't give a shït if people want to go.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#40

'What's A Scam Most People Don't Even Realize Is A Scam?': 40 People Deliver Their Insights Premium cables. In order for one hdmi cable to have better quality over another, you'd need hundreds of yards between the source and display. Cat5 vs. Cat 6 makes a difference for high bandwidth companies, not for your cable internet ass. Really the only thing it matters in is phone charging durability. Yes, don't get the gas station cables if you help it, but if you do, your phone will still charge at the same rate.

personguy , flickr Report

Add photo comments
POST
saragregory0508 avatar
N G
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm conflicted by the phone charging. I have cables which are demonstrably better at charging my phone than others. Plus you also have cables with data transfer capabilities which are different to the charging only ones. There are far more nuances to this one.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#41

'What's A Scam Most People Don't Even Realize Is A Scam?': 40 People Deliver Their Insights Weddings.

RHCube , pexels Report

Add photo comments
POST
mariannekraus avatar
Marianne
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Never fall for the "But it's the most beautiful day of your life, don't you want it to be perfect?" narrative. There is a life after your wedding, thankfully.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#42

Expensive HDMI cables. HDMI is digital. It either works or doesn't, basically.

aaaaaaaarrrrrgh Report

Add photo comments
POST
neilbidle avatar
Neil Bidle
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just like digital TV or digital radio? Analogue was so much better, at least signal degradation or interference led to "snow" rather than pixelated, stuttering, unwatchable garbage.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#43

Private student loans in america

chicken_forever Report

#44

Lightbulbs, if made properly they last forever, but with specific imperfections they only last a few weeks. One of the first lightbulbs ever made still works in the Edison museum

bathtissue101 Report

Add photo comments
POST
furansukitsu avatar
Zephyr Anthem
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There is/was one in a fire station in the us that has never been changed. The county and firefighter refuse to take it out for testing in cas it wouldn't work anymore or be broken by the tests

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
See Also on Bored Panda
#45

HOA’s they tell you it’s for the property values.

NANDINIA5 Report

Add photo comments
POST
cwebb5000 avatar
Chris365
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I find it insane that you can buy a house and be told what you can do with it…I think if anyone tried to arrange this in the UK the would rightly be told to jog on…

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#46

The Better Business Bureau. Unless you join and pay your fees you don’t get a rating so if somebody checks out a business with them that isn’t a member it doesn’t look good. That is basically a protection racket

angryfromnv Report

Add photo comments
POST
mjw0sysascend_com avatar
lara
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I asked my husband if we belonged. He said, nope, it is a scam.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#47

Young Living Essential Oils. It’s a pyramid scheme and is very dangerous. The oils are marketed as edible but can seriously damage your liver. The owner even killed his baby trying to give birth in a jet tub. Don’t buy them.

wafflelover17 Report

#48

If someone's 'job' is based more around recruiting people for the 'company' than selling an actual product and they aren't literally a hiring manager for HR, there's a good chance they're part of a pyramid scheme

ur_boy_skinny_penis Report

#49

'What's A Scam Most People Don't Even Realize Is A Scam?': 40 People Deliver Their Insights Lottery tickets.

Embarrassed_Cow_5255 , flickr Report

Add photo comments
POST
mulkyway avatar
mulk
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It depend on the country. In Switzerland, our lottery company (public, not a private one) invest huge amount of money in many public things like: sports for young people, charity, culture... son "okay", you have very very very little chance to win, but when you loose, you are helping people of your country.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#50

Time shares. Biggest real estate scam of the 90s. 2nd biggest was probably all those apt complexes turning into condominiums.

WillingnessOk8721 Report

Add photo comments
POST
jameskramer avatar
James016
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't agree with this. My parents have had timeshare for over 25 years and make good use of it. They use it to go to the USA a lot and it saves a lot of money compared to booking into a hotel. I suppose it depends on the timeshare operator

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#51

99% of skincare

shadyexistence Report

Add photo comments
POST
popapach avatar
troufaki13
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I disagree. I have always had problematic skin, no matter how diligent I was taking care of it. But since I switched to a different routine a few months back, my skin has totally transformed. People keep commenting about how glowy and great it looks, I don't even need to wear makeup anymore! On the other hand, my cousin who is 2 years younger than me and doesn't use any products, her skin looks at least twice as old as mine.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#52

Tax Preparation. The industry lobbies the government to ensure that taxes are wildly complicated so they can continue to collect an annual fee from annoyed taxpayers.

DeadFyre Report

Add photo comments
POST
mjw0sysascend_com avatar
lara
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That may be the single most stupid statement I have ever read.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#53

Men’s premium brand razors, shampoo, wipes. Getting charged 2-3 times for similar products in 'manlier' packaging.

Chant1llyLace Report

Add photo comments
POST
saragregory0508 avatar
N G
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Everyone should just buy the bog-standard basic stuff. Women are charged for girly pink, men are charged for manly packaging.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#54

'What's A Scam Most People Don't Even Realize Is A Scam?': 40 People Deliver Their Insights Religion.

Beefshiz , unsplash Report

See Also on Bored Panda
#55

Voting for politicians who promise to give you money

arcticsalts Report

Add photo comments
POST
mishte_tine avatar
Mishte Tine
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Understand that nearly any politician one votes for is dedicated to the needs, wants and demands of high dollar donors, certain big industries and their lobbyists. Those in power quash those who care about the needs of the people who vote for them. It’s a sick, unsustainable system. Politicians/legislators should earn a certain salary and nothing else. I can’t believe we all seem to tolerate this corrupt scam.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#56

Any type of insurance. Though I think most of us realize it. Those "we're here for you" commercials they all put out are deliberate.

Case on point... If you actually USE your insurance more than a few times in the space of 7 years you get blacklisted. That blacklisting follows you to any other insurance company.

Also if the claims were on your home owners insurance... It also follows the house. Good luck explaining that to perspective buyers.

Total mob hit.

Angel_Incognito Report

Add photo comments
POST
julie_rose_translator avatar
Julie C Rose
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Insurance can be done better. My country’s main health insurance provider is a nonprofit and they’ve been good when I’ve used my insurance.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#57

Medical school. So much money spent on MCAT, primary applications, secondary applications, interviews, insane tuition, study materials for boards because curriculum is next to useless for that, money spent on board exams, money spent on applying to residencies, NO guarantee that youll match to a residency... oh and then making crap money while working your ass off during residency. Biggest scam ever. They lure you in during the interviews and then keep taking your money and mental health.

FactorXIII Report

Add photo comments
POST
david_smojver avatar
Dave
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Germany, the semester of Dental School is 300 EURO. Sure, there are living expenses but Students get assistance there too from the government. The U.S. Higher Education is an incredible scam.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#58

By the amount of Facebook and Instagram posts promoting them - MLMs.

quietlycommenting Report

Add photo comments
POST
jon_steensen avatar
Jon Steensen
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

MLMs are always a scam and some of them are illigal no matter how they are promoted

View more commentsArrow down menu
#59

Mortgage insurance. You're paying to insure the bank, not yourself.

StAUG1211 Report

Add photo comments
POST
saragregory0508 avatar
N G
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You are insuring that if you lose your income, you can still pay your mortgage. I... don't think I understand this one.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#60

The lottery. It’s not technically a scam but it is technically an investment. If you’re willing to pay £2 for a ticket, you can put £2 into something like an index fund

Josh_Mayes1 Report

Add photo comments
POST
jerry-mathers-73 avatar
Jerry Mathers
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lol. You think the stock market isn't a lottery? It's a manipulated industry like every other financial tool. Yeah, you can make money in the long term, but I'm betting the crappy $2/ biweekly investment you make would make diddly for years. At least the lottery is honest about your chances.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#61

Perfume.

The average bottle of even the most pricey thing you see advertised by a movie star costs pennies to make. Most of the money goes towards packaging and marketing. Another way of looking at it is, most of the money you spend on a perfume goes towards the efforts to sell it to you in the first place and not the product itself.

There’s something pretty dystopian about that to me.

graffitol Report

Add photo comments
POST
johnl_2 avatar
John L
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not to mention people wear WAAAAY too much of it. If you pass me and I can clearly smell it...you've used too much. You should have to be inside the comfort zone to smell it.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#62

Youtube MCNs (Multi Channel Networks).

Don't get me wrong, the big ones that run the large channels are probably worth it as they act more as a production company. They provide funding, legal consul, making deals with advertisers, etc.

However, if you're run a smaller YouTube channel that starts to get some success and are contacted by an MCN it's always a scam. They'll tell you they will provide you with ways to grow your channel, but it's usually just a webpage in the vein of "10 things that will help your channel grow," that you could get after 5 seconds of googling.

They'll also make it sound like you get more of a cut from ad-revenue EX: "YouTube takes 30% of your revenue, while we only take 15%." Makes it sound like you get to take home 85% now right? Wrong, they take their cut after YouTube takes theirs, you get to take home 55% and they take 15% for doing literally nothing. The language in their contracts is so deceptive its disgusting.

Even more official MCNs like Frederator would do this. I don't hear about MCNs much anymore, so hopefully their they're dying out, but finding out I was being scammed years ago sucked.

zachtheperson Report

Add photo comments
POST
cybermerlin2000 avatar
cybermerlin2000
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you are running a successful YouTube channel, then why would you pay someone to make it a successful YouTube channel?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#63

Fully digital consoles since alot of games can be much, much cheaper on a disc and with full digital consoles its like, "were going to sell you a console which is cheaper to make and will save you whopping 80£ or so then we'll sell games directly to you for 9 times out of 10 similar amount it cost on day one while you could have brought it cheaper on disc and got something tangible which would make up for the money you could have saved buying the disc version"

r6335 Report

Add photo comments
POST
lisa-warndorff avatar
I want cake
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That, and digital games can be removed from your library even if you've paid for them. So you don't actually own the game if you buy digital, you're just renting until the company that makes your console decides you can't have it anymore. On top of that, digital games should be cheaper than physical copies, sinc you're not paying for the entire physical production, transport and sales chain.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#64

If you want to buy someone a gift card through Visa or some other company, you're paying $5.00+ as a fee before spending more money to put on the card. 'Here's your $50 gift card that cost me $57!

bitterherpes Report

Add photo comments
POST
jamesmunday avatar
James Munday
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So just give cash. It's a better gift anyway. Who wouldn't be happy with $50?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
See Also on Bored Panda
#66

Rehab in america at least. You pay way too much money for them to perform psuedoscience on you with some therapy sprinkled in. The places I went also claimed to be secular but pushed spirituality and religion heavily.

I understand some people can benefit from it, but for me it just took away 4 months of my life and my life savings while brainwashing me into spirituality I didn't really believe in.

LordSaltythe3rd Report

#68

Every single antivirus-app for Android is a SCAM! People feel safe for E10,-/year but have you ever heard someone say their phone whas saved due to their awesome antivirus suite? I haven't..

eavandijk Report

#69

60 dollars for a port of Skyward Sword on the Nintendo Switch.

LeafTheNinja Report

Add photo comments
POST
#70

Dasani water at like carnivals

It has salt in it which makes you even more thirsty then u were before so u spend more money on water

ZedLastSuperDog Report

Add photo comments
POST
scigib avatar
Karin Gibson
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Same idea is behind peanuts on a bar or on a table when you are out for a drink.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#71

"It's like getting paid to shop!"

Majestic_Definition3 Report

Add photo comments
POST
jaynekyra avatar
Jayne Kyra
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Reddit Context: "In their ads, Kohls states that shoppers will receive a $10 off coupon to be used at a later date for every $40 spent. "It's like getting paid to shop!", the ecstatic announcer declares. Their merch is maybe a notch above Sears. Many consumers have limited financial literacy. So tricky."

View more commentsArrow down menu
#72

Political Parties.

Realistic_Truck Report

#73

Any price that ends in a 7. It is literally a technique used by scam artists to make the price seem psychologically enticing.

ThisIsOmeySalvi Report

#74

Big brand freezer tape and painters tape are the same exact tape for different prices. Source: I work at a factory that packages them.

FlowerFitForAFuneral Report

See Also on Bored Panda
#75

'What's A Scam Most People Don't Even Realize Is A Scam?': 40 People Deliver Their Insights Pretty much all of this first world bulls**t. The idea of money, wealth, work, the entire structure of our society, I mean, take your bloody pick.

bottomofastairwell , pexels Report

Add photo comments
POST
mojca-m-lj avatar
M M
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I disagree. All the above results in in a longer lifespan, rich food, comfort of living and the possibility of self-realization, which was inaccessible to previous generations. Now is the best time ever! Is it perfect? No! It's a chance to make it even better or find excuses why it can't be done.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#76

Literally the entire world's economic system. Wage labour is fundamentally exploitative.

Caldwing Report

Add photo comments
POST
arponet avatar
arponet
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah! Forced work on exchange of a daily piece of bread and a communal dwelling is quite better. Slavery is the name, in the case you want to promote it

View more commentsArrow down menu
#77

Anything organic and priced higher, and most gender based products.

noblebalisong312 Report

#78

The Sharper Image. Except for a few items (e.g. massage chairs) all their products are made cheaply and they can afford to offer interest free payment plans on their items because the first payment, the one to secure the order, covers the cost of the item. Ex. They used to sell $499(?) air purifiers for, I think, $70 down and 6 equal payments of $70 a month. The cost of the item to the company was roughly equal to, but less than the down payment. They used to package in a mini $70 air purifier as an incentive to buy. Actual cost to the company? About $10.

scarymoose Report

Add photo comments
POST
#79

TurboTax

bkornblith Report

Add photo comments
POST
ianbartels1113 avatar
Ian Bartels
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's better than H&R Block. We paid $500 to have somebody put in our information when we could have paid $100 or less with turbo tax.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#80

Hair shampoos and conditioners.

They tend to be addictive. For shampoo, it's simple - the more often you shampoo, the more often you'll need to. because scalp is supposed to have some oil, and if you keep removing it, then it'll appear faster to keep up with the need.

On the other hand, with conditioners, it's a different story. They are meant to make your hair look better after one use, but not necessarily healthier in the long run. So you end up liking this one brand because your hair looked so well after one use, but you don't realise that it's exactly what caused your hair to look like s**t after 2 years.

Odin_Allfathir Report

#81

The buy 3 for $12 at a lot of grocery stores. In reality you can just buy 1 for $4

jimbobjenkins38 Report

Add photo comments
POST
scigib avatar
Karin Gibson
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I always check. In the uk they have shelf labels that give you the costs broken down into per kilo or per 100g so you can see immediately the cheapest route.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#83

Tanning salon You can get in a healthy way outside

houdiniix3 Report

Add photo comments
POST
james_fox1984 avatar
Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That is just completely incorrect. Tanning outside is NOT healthy, it still causes damage to your skin cells and increases your risk of skin cancer. Once you start to tan the UV radiation has already penetrated your skin and started messing with your DNA. The only tan you can get in Australian tanning salons is spray/lotion type tans, tanning beds are illegal.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#84

in Mexico where I am from, many people sell cheap discs that supposedly has movies or cartoons and my family has bought so many of them knowing they are just recorded poor quality videos and they just lay there soon to be tossed away but not all of them are bad some are kinda worth buying "kinda"

infer_green Report

Add photo comments
POST
changedmoon avatar
Hugo A-niro
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hey in the 90s a lot of people bought these boot leg discs somewhere great others were terrible but we could bring those back to vender dude.

View more commentsArrow down menu
See Also on Bored Panda
#85

The federal reserve.

Justajed Report

Add photo comments
POST
mjw0sysascend_com avatar
lara
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't think anyone realizes how damaging and destructive the US Congress has made the Federal Reserve. As bad as you think it might be, Congress has created a monster.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#86

Grocery store layouts and cleaning supplies.

LiteLit Report

Add photo comments
POST
scigib avatar
Karin Gibson
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When they move stock around. You have to look for the stuff you want. By looking you will see something that you want ( not need) and the store will make a bigger profit.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu