Let’s talk about something we all deal with but rarely talk about everyday scams. Yep, those little tricks and shenanigans that somehow become a part of our daily lives, like that friend who always borrows money but never pays it back!
Someone asked, “What is the biggest everyday scam people put up with?” Many users shared their insights and experiences, and we have listed the top 20 scams that people tolerate every day.
1. College Textbooks
A discerning Reddit user commented, “College textbooks. You change one picture and release it as a new version, and broke college, kids have to buy it. It’s the worst.”
Another added, “And they’ve started getting smart about it, too. I used to just find “free” copies online, but now they’ve got third-party websites hosting online textbooks and graded content. I literally have to buy the “book.”
And don’t even get us started on the “updated” editions that change the font size and call it a new version. We’re onto you, textbook publishers!
2. Shrinkflation
A Redditor shared, “Shrinkflation. Mfrs putting less product into the same pkging and upping the price a few dollars. It’s a total scam.”
Another person agreed to it and said, “One good example of this is the mayo jars that have a big concave hump in the bottom of the jar. It reduces the volume inside the jar compared to the same size jar with a normal flat bottom. You can’t readily see the difference because the jar appears to be the same size. Of course, when they did this, they charged the same for less mayo in the jar. A lot of peanut butter is like this, too.”
And who can forget the ice cream cartons? You bring home a pint of your favorite flavor, and it’s gone faster than you can say, “Ben & Jerry’s.”
3. Interest
One said, “By far, all of the fees to get cash.”
Another replied, “Chase charging a non-Chase ATM fee is such junk. You get dinged twice for the same withdrawal!”
And then there’s the wonderful world of loans. You need a car, right? So, you take out a car loan, and they tell you it’s just a few hundred bucks a month. Sounds great until you realize that a big chunk of that money is going straight into the interest pit, leaving you feeling like you’re throwing cash into a financial black hole.
4. Planned Obsolescence
Let’s start with our beloved smartphones. Remember the excitement when you got that shiny new device, only to watch it slow down and die a couple of years later? That’s not a coincidence. It’s a masterclass in planned obsolescence.
Someone commented, “This one really annoys me. Every time I make a large purchase, I assume it’ll last me a few years. We’ve gone through like 3 or 4 vacuums in the past few years. We’ve bought expensive ones and cheap ones. The expensive ones work great for a little while and then stop working. The cheap ones are junk from day one and still stop working after a while. There’s no winning.”
Another added, “This is why Pyrex is filing bankruptcy; their products were too good they wouldn’t fail, and no one really had a need for them anymore. Such a shame that gold products go away and junk stays, so you have to keep paying for a new one.”
5. Ticketmaster
One said, “Ticketmaster. As soon as tickets go on sale, they’re sold out, and the good tickets are in StubHub (owned by Ticketmaster) for 500% of the fave value. Never understood how this was allowed to be.”
Another person agreed and said, “They’ve been monitored by authorities as well now since they actively work with scalpers to raise ticket prices. But not enough’s being done; it’s really so awful, especially because the artists and venues don’t really have a say in any of it.”
You see a ticket price that looks oh-so-reasonable, but once you click that “checkout” button, BAM! Suddenly, you’re hit with fees that make you question your life choices.
6. American Healthcare
A discerning Reddit user commented, “The American Healthcare system.”
Another replied, “As a Canadian, I don’t understand how so many Americans are so ignorant of their healthcare system and don’t realize that, unlike every other first world country, they are being absolutely scammed by their healthcare mad hard.”
Another person pitched in to say, “I have dementia and can’t work (but I try to). I can’t afford my Alzheimer’s medication. I have bills stacked up that I can’t pay. Lost my job and my insurance. I’m in Bipolar mania; I have chronic Sciatica as well. I can’t even see a doctor right now. I’m sick and can’t afford to pay them.
So I just wake up every day and say a pep talk to myself about how I don’t have a choice, I have to do this, etc., live with the pain. It’s hurt my whole family because they can’t help me. If I had insurance (and could afford it), I could get better or relief. I have no other options. A month away from being homeless. If that long.”
You leave the doctor’s office with a prescription, thinking it’s all good. But then you get to the pharmacy, and they hit you with the price tag that makes you wonder if you’ve accidentally stumbled into a luxury boutique.
7. Telemarketers
First things first, telemarketers seem to have a sixth sense for the worst possible moment to call. You’re in the middle of your favorite TV show, trying to have a serious conversation, or even worse, enjoying a mouthful of that delicious homemade lasagna. And then, DING-DONG, it’s the telemarketer, turning your evening into a chaotic circus.
A Redditor shared, “Telemarketers. We can send a spacecraft to Mars but can’t 100% block their calls.”
Another added, “Was traveling in NZ last week. Had the same credit mortgage calls I’d been getting for a while. They messed up waking me up at 5 a.m. to solicit me for that junk. I called them back 50 times in the span of an hour. They would answer, and I’d just sit quietly until they hung up. They haven’t bothered me since then.”
8. Buying a Car
The dealerships are all shiny, the salespeople are friendly (almost too friendly), and the cars LL lined up. You’re ready to snag that sleek ride you’ve been eyeing for months. But here’s the twist- the price you see isn’t the price you pay. Nope, it’s just the appetizer.
One said, “Purchasing a car. It is the most scam-laden process there ever was.”
Another user sarcastically responded, “But how else will I get to pay the allegedly required documents fee? And the freight fee?? Oh, and the extended warranty that won’t actually cover anything if you try to make a claim??”
9. Funds For Politics
They promise you the moon, the stars, and maybe even a unicorn or two if you donate to their campaign. You think you’re contributing to a noble cause, but here’s the kicker- there’s a good chance your hard-earned cash will be funneled into ads, fancy dinners, and PR stunts instead of actually helping the people they’re supposed to represent.
Someone commented, “Donating to politicians. Why do we pay to help someone get a job?”
Another person agreed and said, “People will always spend money where there is money to be made. Funding a political career is legal bribery.”
10. The Work Schedule
A discerning Reddit user commented, “Working 9 to 5. What a way to make a living.”
Another replied, “Try working 7:30 to 5:30 with unpaid breaks and being yelled at for going to the restroom.”
And here’s the kicker- we keep doing it. Day in, day out, we march to the 9 to 5 drumbeat because, well, bills don’t pay themselves, and those Netflix subscriptions aren’t going to fund themselves either. We’re stuck in the cycle of “work, get paid, pay bills, repeat.”
11. Tipping
Tipping norms change from one place to another. In some countries, tipping is practically an insult, while in others, it’s expected.
A Redditor shared, “Tipping in the US, to be more precise. It is not that bad in Europe; It’s a clever way of funneling capital from the people to cover corporate wages. It’s always an awkward social exchange, and it’s something completely dependent on social performances, which is degrading.”
Another added, “Tipping is racist, sexist, classist, ageist, and inherently inequitable. It pits customer against server, server against customer, server against the server, and front and back of the house against each other. The thing I like the most about traveling is the pure joy I have when I eat at a restaurant where no tip is expected… It’s like a burden has been lifted that I didn’t even know I was carrying.”
12. Phone Call Scams
One said, “This guy I took a math class with in college told me about how, in the 90’s, he set up a fake tech help hotline and charged the most per minute possible.
He would then go downtown dressed in a suit and go to a random office pretending he had an interview and act surprised that he was in the wrong place and beg to use their phone to figure out where he needed to go. He would then call his hotline and pretend to have a conversation for just over a minute (so he got paid for two minutes) thank the receptionist, and leave.”
Another person pitched in to say, “Honestly, depending on when he did it, there was essentially a golden age of tech-based scams. No local law enforcement knew the first thing about how to track the person down, and you had to scam many people before you had even a chance of being looked for by pros.”
You block one number, and they call you from another, like a relentless ex who just won’t take a hint.
13. Timeshares
A Redditor shared, “Yup…..they are the masters of catching people on vacation with their guard down. The lie, lie, and lie some more…..but yet are still business. Nearly Impossible to get rid of as well. I bought one resale 20 years ago for practically nothing on eBay. Once you figure out their system, you can save money on accommodations. Nowadays, it is not worth it. Shop around on the internet, and you’ll find great deals on accommodations.”
Another replied, “My aunt had a timeshare 4 hours up north. Once a year, we’d spend a few days at her timeshare. I never knew what a timeshare meant. It was just like a tiny little condo with a pool out front and a dingy basement with a vending machine and a fooseball table.
15 minutes away, there was a mini golf place. It was just an excuse to drive 4 hours to swim and play mini golf and sleep on a tiny fold-out couch.”
Then there’s the inflexibility. You might have that one dream destination in mind, but good luck getting the exact dates you want.
14. Insurance
A discerning Reddit user commented, “The concept of insurance is great. The execution is absolute junk.”
Another person agreed to it and said, “All insurance. A bunch of people in Florida were dropped by their home insurance companies because of the weather conditions. We were given a month or so to find someone new to insure our home. Companies have up and left the state, leaving thousands uninsured at the peak of hurricane season.”
And don’t get us started on the claims process. You submit your claim, provide documentation, and then you wait. And wait. And wait some more!
15. Pension Taxes
stokkete via DepositPhotos.com.
One said, “Being taxed on pension payments.”
Another added, “I have to pay state taxes on my grandson’s Social Security death benefit from my daughter dying.”
You’ve already paid income tax on your earnings before they went into your pension fund. But when you start withdrawing that hard-earned money, the taxman shows up again, right?
16. Government Services
We’re told they’re there to benefit us, right? But here’s the twist: we often end up paying for services that should be free. Public education, healthcare, and even parking tickets come with a price tag.
A Redditor shared, “Paying for any government service that your tax dollars have already paid for. E.g. paying to park at a meter, annual property tax assessments, DMV registration fees.”
Another replied, “I believe paid parking should be present in areas where there isn’t much parking but there is a high volume of traffic. The less time people stay parked in those areas, the better it is for everyone.”
17. Property Taxes
One said, “Property tax period. I already paid my tax on my money. It’s my property, not theirs. They just want a way to reclaim what I’ve earned if I choose not to live in THEIR economy. If I want to retire early, barely use power, eat cheap food, drive an ancient Toyota, and have some savings but not much… It’s the property tax that will eat you.”
Another person agreed to it and said, “And the fact that you can eventually be priced out of your home because a school levy passed or you increased the value of your home by finishing your basement or something.”
But here’s the thing- we keep paying property taxes. Why? Because we love our homes and our communities, and we want to support the services that make them great. We accept the inevitable tax bill, hoping it’ll keep our neighborhoods safe and our property values up!
18. Campaigns
A discerning Reddit user commented, “Being asked at the store if we want to donate to whatever campaign they’re donating to. Such a darn scam.”
Another replied, “I used to feel guilty, especially when it was a manager really pushing with guilt-tripping descriptions. Now I tell them no, I’m a social worker, so I help out plenty.”
And let’s talk about campaign promises. They make it sound like they’re about to solve all the world’s problems. Free healthcare, free education, free ice cream for everyone! What a scam those are.
19. Bottled Water
A Redditor shared, “Bottled water, why do people buy bottled water and take it home when usually tap water is the same or even better quality? E.g. here where I live in Poland, tap water is the same quality as cheap bottled water (cheap bottled water is still probably 300x the price of tap water, though).”
Another added, “This 1000% percent. Not only is bottled water a colossal waste of money, it is terrible for the environment. Producing plastic bottles and shipping them generates lots of greenhouse gases, and every day, I pick up scores of bottles from the streets and gutters when I walk the dog. It’s depressing. Tap water is safe and virtually free.”
But wait, it gets even crazier when you realize that some bottled water is tap water in disguise. Companies have been caught bottling municipal water and selling it with fancy labels, making us feel like we’re sipping from a mountain spring when we’re really just sipping from the city faucet.
20. Subscriptions
One said, “Subscriptions. It’s so cheap. 27 subscriptions later. Everything is just 7.99 omg get it GET IT WHY DONT YOU HAVE IT JUST GET IT OMG JUSSSSGEDIDDDDDT”
Another person agreed to it and said, “Especially subscriptions for phone apps. Man, I miss the days when I could just BUY an app outright.”
Sometimes, you set up that monthly payment, which becomes part of your financial background noise. You might not even realize you’re still paying for that magazine subscription you signed up for five years ago and haven’t opened in four.
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