How it works
Someone who is not sure gets on a FaceTime call with Mathew. They agree to be recorded before anything else.
Mathew listens, looks for warning signs and gives his opinion. Their name and face stay private unless they choose otherwise.
Then viewers vote on whether it is a scam. The vote is only an opinion, not proof.
Scam Check and Scam Rescue TV are shows hosted by Mathew Martello, produced with RealityShow.com. What you hear is his opinion, based on common warning signs. It is not legal or financial advice. We are not police or a government agency, we do not recover money, and we never charge to try. If you have lost money, call your bank and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Episodes First episodes coming
None are out yet. When they are, each one will appear here with its own vote. Email me when the first one is out ›
Try it: is this a scam? Made-up examples, not real cases
You matched three weeks ago. You talk every morning and every night, and they say they have never felt this way. The camera is always broken. Now their mother is in the hospital, and they need $900 by Friday.
We wrote this to show how it works. It is not a real person.
- You have never seen them live, and there is always a reason.
- They said “I love you” very quickly.
- A sudden emergency, and money to fix it.
Your feelings may be real. This pattern is one the FTC warns about. Never send money to someone you only know online.
Someone kind messaged you out of nowhere two months ago. You have become close. They show you their profits on a trading app and offer to teach you, just a small amount to start.
We wrote this to show how it works. It is not a real person.
- Unexpected message, then daily contact.
- Friendship first, investing later.
- Profits on an app they picked.
The FTC says anyone pressuring you to invest, or showing you a “secret” way to make money, is a warning sign.
You lost money to someone you trusted, and you finally posted about it. A stranger writes to say they recovered money for people like you. They just need a fee first.
We wrote this to show how it works. It is not a real person.
- They found you when you were hurting.
- They promise to get your money back.
- They want payment up front.
The FTC says anyone asking for upfront fees to recover money is a scammer. This is a common second scam after a loss.
Worried about your own situation?
Fill in a short form on Mathew's site. He may reply with his opinion. Situations he hears about may become Scam Check videos or Scam Rescue TV episodes, but only if you separately say yes on camera and sign a release.
Am I getting scammed? Tell Mathew ›The rules of the show
Everyone on a call says yes on camera before we talk, and signs a release before anything is published.
We talk about red flags. We do not name or show the other person or a company, and we blur what could identify them.
Nobody is laughed at. Smart people get scammed because they trusted someone.