Top 3 Trending Scams — And How to Avoid Them

Here are the top 3 trending scams in Tennessee for 2025—what you need to know and how to avoid them

Join our upcoming free event as fraud prevention experts share tips and tricks to stay ahead of scammers.

The FBI has issued urgent warnings about scam texts posing as the DMV, claiming unpaid tolls or fines and urging recipients to click a link to pay—often resulting in stolen credit card info or malware installs. In Tennessee, residents have lost money and personal data from these texts.

How to avoid it:

• Don’t click links in unsolicited texts.
• Delete suspicious messages without responding.
• If unsure, contact your DMV or toll agency using a trusted number or their official website.

A hybrid of romance fraud and crypto investment schemes, these scams (also known as pig-butchering scams) begin with emotional rapport—often via social media or dating apps. Scammers eventually push victims to invest increasingly large sums in fake crypto platforms, then disappear. In Tennessee, elder residents lost tens of millions from romance-based exploitation in 2023 and 2024.

How to avoid it:

• Never send money or crypto to someone you met online—even if you believe the relationship is genuine.
• Verify identities via video calls and research company registrations.
• Never feel pressured to “invest now” or risk losing the opportunity—adhere to “slow decisions.”

State officials report a surge in complaints about unlicensed or illegitimate contractors—particularly door-to-door sales and high‑pressure tactics demanding full, upfront payment before work begins. The Tennessee Board of Licensing Contractors received nearly 900 complaints in 2024, issuing nearly $1 million in civil penalties.

How to avoid it:

• Only hire licensed and bonded contractors; verify status at www.verify.tn.gov.
• Avoid on‑the‑spot, unsolicited offers. Get three written estimates.
• Do not pay full upfront. Use contracts, check references, and confirm insurance and licensure.

Tennessee residents lost over $157 million to fraud in 2024, with impostor and romance scams leading the way. To stay safe:

• Always verify identities before sharing personal or financial information.
• Pause when scams create urgency; take time to research.
• Report suspicious incidents to the FTC, FBI’s IC3, or the Tennessee Attorney General’s consumer division.

Stay informed. Stay cautious. Stay safe.