Scammers often use common, generic names to appear trustworthy and blend in. They also tend to pick names that match their target’s region or culture. Here are some frequently used scammer names:
Western/English-Sounding Names:
- John Smith
- Michael Johnson
- David Williams
- James Brown
- Robert Miller
- William Anderson
- Richard Thomas
- Daniel White
- Mark Davis
- Christopher Taylor
Female Western/English Names:
- Sarah Johnson
- Emily Williams
- Jessica Brown
- Lisa Miller
- Amanda Davis
- Jennifer White
- Ashley Moore
- Laura Wilson
- Melissa Thomas
- Stephanie Clark
Common Indian/Pakistani Scam Names:
- Rahul Sharma
- Amit Patel
- Sanjay Kumar
- Arjun Verma
- Rakesh Gupta
- Vikram Singh
- Pankaj Mehta
- Rajesh Malhotra
- Suresh Nair
- Naveen Yadav
Common African Scam Names (Often Used in Romance & Email Scams):
- Samuel Okoye
- Emmanuel Mensah
- Chinedu Obi
- Isaac Ofori
- Joseph Adeyemi
- Kwame Boateng
- Desmond Nwosu
- Kofi Addo
- Moses Akintola
- Kelvin Eze
Common Chinese Scam Names (Used in Investment & Crypto Scams):
- Li Wei
- Wang Jun
- Zhang Hua
- Chen Xiang
- Liu Feng
- Zhao Ming
- Xu Rong
- Huang Lei
- Sun Tao
- Yang Bin
Fake “Business Executive” & CEO Scam Names:
- Charles Peterson
- Richard Caldwell
- Thomas Sinclair
- Andrew Montgomery
- Jonathan Hughes
- Edward Harrington
- Nathaniel Brooks
- Benjamin Carter
- Henry Mitchell
- Alexander Lawson
Fake Romance Scammer Names (Often Used on Dating Apps & Facebook):
- Kevin Hunter
- Jason Brooks
- Eric Martinez
- Brian Cooper
- Matthew Scott
- Daniel Hamilton
- Chris Reynolds
- Mark Benson
- Steve Carter
- Ryan Parker
Scammers also frequently steal real identities from social media, LinkedIn, or even obituary pages to make their scams more convincing. If a name sounds generic, always do a quick search to check for red flags before engaging.
Why Do Scammers Always Have the Same Fake Names?
Let’s talk about something that should set off alarm bells the moment you see it—fake names.
Ever notice how scammers seem to recycle the same dull, generic names over and over again? If you’ve ever been targeted by a scam, chances are you’ve come across a “John Smith,” a “Michael Johnson,” or an “Emily Williams.”
And if the scammer is pretending to be some high-flying CEO, they’ll slap on a name like “Richard Caldwell” or “Andrew Montgomery” to sound important.
It’s lazy, predictable, and frankly insulting. But it works.
Why Do Scammers Use These Names?
Scammers rely on names that are common enough not to raise suspicion. They want you to glance at their email, LinkedIn message, or WhatsApp chat and think, “Oh, this sounds like a real person.”
They don’t want anything too unique—because unique names can be traced. They don’t want anything too unusual—because it might stand out. The goal is to blend in, to disappear into the noise of everyday communications.
They also love stealing names from real people. Scammers will snatch photos and identities from social media, company websites, and even obituary pages (yes, really) to create fake personas.
That “investment broker” messaging you about a “once-in-a-lifetime crypto opportunity”? Probably a scammer using some poor guy’s stolen LinkedIn profile. That “military doctor” on a dating app? A scammer lifting photos from an actual soldier’s Facebook page.
The Romance Scammer Playbook
If you’ve ever been on a dating app or social media, you’ve probably encountered the Kevin Hunters, Jason Brookses, and Mark Bensons of the scam world.
They all have some tragic backstory—a widowed single dad, a lonely heart stationed overseas, a businessman too busy for love but suddenly obsessed with you. They’ll love-bomb you, gain your trust, then—surprise, surprise—suddenly need money.
And let’s not forget the classic “foreign prince” or “African businessman” scams. The names? Samuel Okoye, Emmanuel Mensah, Joseph Adeyemi. Variations of the same predictable patterns, just tailored for different audiences.
Fake CEOs and Business Email Scams
If you work in an office, watch out for the Thomas Sinclairs and Jonathan Hugheses who magically appear in your inbox, pretending to be your boss. The message usually goes something like:
“Hey, I need you to process a wire transfer ASAP. This is urgent—don’t tell anyone. Send it to this account immediately.”
Scammers know that people panic when they think their boss is giving them a direct order. They don’t question the name because it sounds right. And just like that, thousands—sometimes millions—are gone.
Scammers using fake names operate across a wide range of fraud schemes. Here are the 20 most common types:
1. Romance Scams
📌 Scammer Names: Kevin Hunter, Jason Brooks, Mark Benson, Chris Reynolds
📌 Where It Happens: Dating apps (Tinder, Bumble), Facebook, Instagram
📌 How It Works:
- Scammer pretends to be a military officer, doctor, or wealthy businessman.
- They claim to be madly in love with the victim despite never meeting.
- Eventually, they ask for money—often for a plane ticket, medical emergency, or “investment opportunity.”
🔴 Red Flag: If someone you’ve never met professes deep love and then asks for money, it’s a scam.
2. Business Email Compromise (BEC) / CEO Fraud
📌 Scammer Names: Thomas Sinclair, Andrew Montgomery, Jonathan Hughes
📌 Where It Happens: Work emails, LinkedIn, WhatsApp
📌 How It Works:
- Scammer pretends to be the CEO or an executive.
- Sends an urgent email requesting a wire transfer, purchase of gift cards, or confidential employee records.
- The email looks real (sometimes spoofed or hacked).
🔴 Red Flag: If your “boss” suddenly emails you about an urgent money transfer, verify it directly.
3. Tech Support Scams
📌 Scammer Names: Amit Patel, Sanjay Kumar, Rahul Sharma
📌 Where It Happens: Phone calls, pop-up ads, fake emails from “Microsoft” or “Apple”
📌 How It Works:
- Scammer pretends to be from Microsoft, Apple, or another tech company.
- They claim your computer has a virus and offer to “fix” it.
- They request remote access to your computer and demand payment for fake services.
🔴 Red Flag: No real company will cold-call you about a virus.
4. Investment & Crypto Scams
📌 Scammer Names: Richard Caldwell, Edward Harrington, Charles Peterson
📌 Where It Happens: Instagram, LinkedIn, WhatsApp, Telegram
📌 How It Works:
- Scammer claims to be a successful investor or crypto expert.
- Promises huge returns if you invest through their platform.
- Once you send money, it’s gone, and the “expert” disappears.
🔴 Red Flag: If an investment sounds too good to be true, it is.
5. Lottery & Inheritance Scams
📌 Scammer Names: Robert Miller, James Brown, Daniel White
📌 Where It Happens: Email, Facebook, SMS
📌 How It Works:
- Scammer claims you’ve won a lottery or inherited money from a distant relative.
- You just need to pay “processing fees” or “taxes” to claim it.
- Once you pay, they keep demanding more until you realize it’s fake.
🔴 Red Flag: If you didn’t enter a lottery, you didn’t win one.
6. Fake Online Stores & Marketplace Scams
📌 Scammer Names: Sarah Johnson, Jessica Brown, Amanda Davis
📌 Where It Happens: Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, Instagram Shops
📌 How It Works:
- Scammer posts fake listings for electronics, pets, rental properties, or cars.
- They demand payment upfront but never send the item.
- They may also overpay with a fake check and ask for a refund.
🔴 Red Flag: Never send money before seeing an item in person.
7. IRS, Tax, and Government Scams
📌 Scammer Names: David Williams, William Anderson, Richard Thomas
📌 Where It Happens: Phone calls, emails, text messages
📌 How It Works:
- Scammer pretends to be from the IRS, ATO, or another tax agency.
- Claims you owe taxes and must pay immediately or face arrest.
- Demands payment through wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency.
🔴 Red Flag: Governments don’t demand payments over the phone or via gift cards.
8. Fake Job Scams
📌 Scammer Names: Lisa Miller, Laura Wilson, Emily Williams
📌 Where It Happens: LinkedIn, WhatsApp, job boards
📌 How It Works:
- Scammer offers a high-paying work-from-home job.
- Asks for an “application fee” or personal details.
- May send a fake check and ask for money back before it bounces.
🔴 Red Flag: Legitimate jobs never ask for upfront payments.
9. Kidnapping & Emergency Scams
📌 Scammer Names: Randomly generated or AI-cloned names
📌 Where It Happens: Phone calls, WhatsApp, Facebook
📌 How It Works:
- Scammer clones a loved one’s voice using AI and claims they’ve been kidnapped.
- Demands ransom money urgently.
- Uses fear to prevent the victim from thinking rationally.
🔴 Red Flag: Hang up and contact the person directly.
10. Rental & Airbnb Scams
📌 Scammer Names: Nathaniel Brooks, Henry Mitchell, Benjamin Carter
📌 Where It Happens: Facebook, Craigslist, Airbnb, Zillow
📌 How It Works:
- Scammer lists fake rental properties at unbeatable prices.
- Asks for a deposit before you see the place.
- Once paid, they disappear.
🔴 Red Flag: Never pay before seeing a rental in person.
11. Fake Charity Scams
📌 Scammer Names: Michael Green, Sarah White, Laura Davis
📌 Where It Happens: Social media, email, crowdfunding platforms
📌 How It Works:
- Scammer creates a fake charity or fundraiser, often exploiting recent disasters or emotional causes (like medical conditions, natural disasters, or the war in Ukraine).
- They convince victims to donate to a cause, claiming all proceeds go to those in need.
- Once they’ve collected the funds, the scammer disappears.
🔴 Red Flag: Check for official websites or verified charity accounts before donating.
12. Fake Ticket Scams
📌 Scammer Names: James Parker, William Lewis, David Thompson
📌 Where It Happens: Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, StubHub
📌 How It Works:
- Scammer sells counterfeit tickets for concerts, sports events, or flights at a lower price.
- They ask for payment upfront and deliver fake tickets, leaving the victim without the tickets and the money.
🔴 Red Flag: Be cautious of prices too good to be true and always verify the authenticity of the ticket.
13. Fake Tech Gadgets and Electronics
📌 Scammer Names: Tom Hanks (not the actor, but used by scammers), Alan Roberts, Daniel Price
📌 Where It Happens: eBay, Amazon, Facebook Marketplace
📌 How It Works:
- Scammer posts fake listings for highly sought-after electronics like the latest iPhone, gaming consoles, or laptops at a fraction of the cost.
- After the buyer pays, they either never receive the product or receive a cheap knockoff.
🔴 Red Flag: Research the seller, especially on auction sites or marketplaces, and avoid deals that sound too good to be true.
14. Travel Scams
📌 Scammer Names: Kelly Walker, Julia Scott, Heather Moore
📌 Where It Happens: Travel websites, email offers, social media
📌 How It Works:
- Scammer advertises unbelievable travel deals to exotic destinations, like all-inclusive resorts or cheap flights to places you’ve always dreamed of visiting.
- Once payment is made, the “deal” turns out to be nonexistent or a poorly disguised rip-off.
🔴 Red Flag: Always book through reputable travel agencies or websites, and check reviews before confirming any booking.
15. Fake Rental Scams for Short-Term Vacation Rentals
📌 Scammer Names: Julie Thompson, Mark Hall, Nancy Cook
📌 Where It Happens: Airbnb, Vrbo, Craigslist, rental listing sites
📌 How It Works:
- Scammer creates a fake listing for a vacation rental property. The listing often includes appealing photos and promises of a great deal.
- Victims are asked to wire money or send payment outside the platform. Once money is sent, the scammer disappears, and the victim has nowhere to stay.
🔴 Red Flag: Always use a verified booking system like Airbnb’s official platform for payments and communication.
16. Fake Debt Collection Scams
📌 Scammer Names: Robert Johnson, Sarah Williams, Olivia Baker
📌 Where It Happens: Phone calls, emails
📌 How It Works:
- Scammer pretends to be a debt collector or financial institution, claiming you owe money for a loan or credit card debt.
- They pressure you to pay immediately or face legal action, often asking for payment via wire transfer or gift cards.
🔴 Red Flag: Always verify with the company directly using official contact information. No legitimate debt collector will demand instant payment without prior written notice.
17. Online Survey & Prize Scams
📌 Scammer Names: Nathan Davis, Maria Garcia, John Stewart
📌 Where It Happens: Social media, emails, SMS
📌 How It Works:
- Scammer sends an unsolicited link claiming you’ve won a prize, but first, you need to fill out a “survey” to claim it.
- The survey asks for personal information or payment to cover shipping fees, or it’s simply a phishing attempt to steal your data.
🔴 Red Flag: Legitimate prize claims do not require you to fill out surveys or pay shipping fees upfront.
18. Fake Online Shopping Scams
📌 Scammer Names: Lisa Mitchell, Peter Morgan, Justin Clark
📌 Where It Happens: Social media, fake online stores
📌 How It Works:
- Scammer creates a fake website or online shop offering a wide range of products like clothing, shoes, or gadgets at unusually low prices.
- Once the victim purchases, they either never receive the item or the product they receive is cheap and low-quality.
🔴 Red Flag: Check for legitimate reviews or do a reverse image search for product photos. If the website is new or doesn’t have contact details, beware.
19. Fake Scholarship & Grant Scams
📌 Scammer Names: John Davis, Karen Reed, Victoria Adams
📌 Where It Happens: Email, social media, scholarship websites
📌 How It Works:
- Scammer pretends to offer scholarships or grants for students, especially those in financial need.
- They ask for a processing fee to secure the scholarship or promise a big sum of money if you just provide sensitive personal details.
🔴 Red Flag: Legitimate scholarship offers don’t require upfront payment. Always research the organization offering the scholarship.
20. Fake Pet Adoption Scams
📌 Scammer Names: Lily Patterson, Mary Johnson, Christopher Brown
📌 Where It Happens: Pet adoption websites, Facebook, Instagram
📌 How It Works:
- Scammer offers adorable pets (often puppies or kittens) for sale or adoption, usually claiming they are urgently rehoming them due to moving or personal issues.
- They ask for an adoption fee upfront, but after payment is sent, the pet is never delivered, or the “rescuer” disappears.
🔴 Red Flag: Always meet the pet and seller in person, and never send money for an adoption fee upfront.
What Can You Do?
First, trust your gut. If someone reaches out out of nowhere with a name that feels too generic, Google it. If you get an email from a supposed CEO asking for money, double-check the sender address.
Scammers aren’t creative. They reuse the same tactics, the same scripts, and yes—the same fake names. The more we call them out, the harder we make it for them to succeed. So next time you see a William Anderson or a David Williams in your inbox, do yourself a favor—hit delete.
How to Protect Yourself from Scammers
✅ Google the name. If it appears in scam reports, it’s fake.
✅ Verify directly. Call the real company or person to confirm.
✅ Never rush. Scammers use urgency to pressure you.
✅ Use reverse image searches. Scammers steal photos for fake profiles.
✅ Trust your instincts. If something feels off, it probably is.
Scammers have perfected the art of using fake names, fake scenarios, and fake urgency to get people to hand over their money.
By understanding their patterns and recognising the red flags, you can protect yourself from falling victim to their tricks. Stay vigilant and don’t let these con artists win
