Trends• 5 min read
Social Media Scam Trends to Watch in 2026
We analyzed 100,000+ scam reports submitted to ScamGuard. These are the patterns growing fastest right now.
AI persona networks
Coordinated fake profiles run by one operator with LLM scripts. Hardest to detect by eye.
TikTok Shop drop-shipping fraud
Influencers paid to promote stores that ship counterfeits or nothing at all.
Threads & Bluesky romance scams
Scammers chasing fresh, less-moderated platforms.
QR-code phishing in DMs
Image of a QR code, no link to inspect — instant phishing.
The bottom line
ScamGuard tracks new patterns weekly. Forward anything suspicious for an instant verdict.