We expose corner fraud before it corners you
CornerFraud.us tracks bodega scams, rigged scales, EBT skimming, fake lottery tickets, counterfeit vapes, check-washing crews and predatory cash services — block by block across America. Real receipts. Real victims. Real prevention.
Bronx bodega ATM • Jan 2026 • Card trap overlay removed
Double-charge at corner mart reversed after our template letter
01 — About the project
Born on the corner. Built for the people.
CornerFraud.us started in 2019 after our founder was overcharged $47 for baby formula at a Brooklyn corner store — no receipt, no price tags, cash only. When he asked for the owner, he got threats. When he called 311, he got silence.
So we built what the city didn’t: a street-level fraud archive. We collect photos of receipts, videos of rigged card readers, lab tests of counterfeit goods, and interviews with clerks, victims and former scammers. Every file is timestamped, geotagged and fact-checked.
- ✓ 100% independent — no ads from stores, no sponsored “trust badges”
- ✓ Victim-first — we blur faces, never publish addresses of victims
- ✓ Actionable — every exposé ends with refund script + where to report
- ✓ Community sourced — 68% of cases come from reader tips
We cover the fraud nobody else covers: the $12 overcharge that happens 400 times a day, the EBT balance drain at 3am, the “money transfer” fee that eats 18% of a remittance to Oaxaca.
02 — What we expose
Six scams running on your block right now
From the register to the ATM to the back shelf. If money changes hands on a corner, someone is trying to skim it. Here is our beat.
Bodega & Liquor Store Rip-offs
Missing price tags, expired goods re-stickered, rigged deli scales, double-swipe card charges, “cash only after $10” fee traps. We test scales and audit receipts.
EBT, ATM & Card Skimming
Overlay skimmers, shimmer chips, hidden cameras, Bluetooth drains that empty SNAP balances overnight. How to spot, freeze and recover benefits fast.
Counterfeit Corner Goods
Fake vapes, detergent, baby formula, phone chargers that melt. We buy, lab-test and trace suppliers — plus how to tell real vs fake in 10 seconds.
Check Washing & Money Orders
Stolen mail, washed checks, fake money-order refunds. Corner check-cashing spots charging 12-18%. Safer alternatives and fraud affidavits.
Lottery & Gift-Card Switches
“You almost won” ticket swaps, scratched QR codes, drained gift cards sold as new. Clerk collusion patterns and camera-proof buying tips.
Cash App / Zelle Flips
Fake QR at register, “send $100 get $800” flips, rental deposit traps posted on corner poles. Screenshots, reversals and what banks won’t tell you.
03 — How we investigate
From tip to take-down in 4 moves
No names without proof. We require receipt photo + timestamp + second source before publishing. Stores get 72h to respond. Victims get refund letters free.
Secure intake
Anonymous form, photo upload, auto-redaction of personal data. Spanish + English.
Field buy
Undercover purchases, scale calibration weights, skimmer detector scans.
Paper trail
LLC lookups, health grades, BBB, FTC complaints, camera footage requests.
Fix + prevent
Publish file, send dispute templates, alert block association & 311.
04 — Hall of shame & wins
Real corners. Real receipts.
The $9.99 sandwich that rang $16.49
No price on shelf, card charged twice. We returned with weights, filmed 3 transactions, got full refunds for 11 customers + DOT price-gun violation.
See similar intel →
ATM overlay drained $3,200 in EBT in one night
Bluetooth skimmer + pinhole camera. Our teardown video got 400k views, NYPD removed device, 6 families recovered benefits with our affidavit.
How to spot skimmers →
Fake Tide & vapes lab-tested: 40% methanol
Corner wholesaler sold counterfeits to 14 stores. Lab results, supplier invoices, and a 10-second authenticity check you can do with your phone light.
Spot fakes guide →
QR sticker swap stole $12k via fake Cash App
Fraud QR pasted over real one at register. We traced wallet, flagged mule accounts, helped victims file Reg E claims — 70% recovered.
QR safety rules →05 — Fresh intel / Newsroom
Latest investigations & alerts
Street-tested guides updated weekly. Click any file to open the full case page.
No investigations published yet — check back tomorrow. Meanwhile learn the basics below.
How do I check if I was skimmed at a corner ATM?
Check your EBT / bank app for small test charges ($0.50–$1) followed by out-of-state withdrawals. Wiggle the card slot — real readers are solid, overlays wobble. Cover your PIN always. If hit, freeze card immediately, change PIN from a different device, file police report + benefit replacement form (LDSS-2291 in NY) within 10 days.
Store refuses receipt — what to do?
Film the total on display, photograph shelf with no price, keep bank notification screenshot. In most states, failure to provide receipt + missing prices violates weights & measures law. File 311 + AG complaint and send our demand-letter template — 60% refund without court.
06 — FAQ
Before you ask at the counter
Is CornerFraud.us a government agency?
No. We are an independent citizen watchdog. We don’t fine stores — we document, pressure and help you file with those who do: weights & measures, health dept, FTC, CFPB and local precincts.
Can you help me get a refund?
Yes, free. Use the report form below. We send you a tailored dispute letter, chargeback wording for your bank, and EBT replacement steps. Average recovered in 2025: $214 per case.
Do you name stores?
Only after two verified purchases + owner right-to-reply. We never publish victim addresses or clerk faces without consent. Evidence first, names second.
How can I support?
Send tips, share price photos, volunteer as block captain. We don’t take store ads — reader donations keep detectors and lab tests funded.
🚨 WAS YOU SCAMMED ON THE CORNER?
Report it in 90 seconds. We’ll investigate.
Anonymous OK. Upload receipt photo. Spanish / English. We reply within 24h with next steps and refund script.