17 Banner Ads That Were Clearly Scams
Here's a look back at 17 infamous banner ads that scammed millions with false promises, fake rewards, and dangerous tricks.
- Alyana Aguja
- 5 min read
Banner ads in the 2000s and early 2010s were notorious breeding grounds for scams. From fake virus alerts and “millionth visitor” prizes to miracle diet tricks and free gadgets, these banners relied on psychological manipulation to lure clicks. Though most of them have disappeared, their legacy remains as a warning about how easily digital users can be deceived online.
1. “Shoot 5 iPhones to Win One”
Vựa Táo from Unsplash
In the late 2000s, banner ads often featured a shooting game where you had to “hit five iPhones” to win a free device. The animation looked fun, but it was only a ploy to lure users into giving away their personal information. Winners never existed because the company behind the ad was never legitimate.
2. “Your PC is Infected!” Flashing Alerts
Itadaki from Unsplash
These ads tricked millions into thinking their computers were crawling with viruses. The fake warning signs looked like real Windows alerts, which caused panic clicks. Once clicked, users were led to shady antivirus software that either installed malware or charged hidden fees.
3. “Congratulations! You’re the 1,000,000th Visitor”
Mockaroon from Unsplash
This banner featured flashing text, confetti, and loud colors to convince people they had won a big prize just by loading a page. Clicking it usually meant signing up for endless surveys or expensive subscription services. Nobody ever got a reward, but plenty got spammed.
4. “Click Here to Spin the Wheel for Cash”
Giorgio Trovato from Unsplash
The spinning wheel scam promised instant cash or gift cards if you tried your luck. Bright colors and casino-style graphics made it tempting to click. Instead of winning, users got redirected to sites collecting emails and banking details.
5. “Hot Singles in Your Area”
René Ranisch from Unsplash
These infamous dating banners promised instant matches with “local singles waiting for you.” The profiles and pictures were fake, designed to lure lonely users into giving credit card details. Instead of romance, users got recurring charges for services that never delivered.
6. “Get an iPod Nano Just for Taking a Survey”
Xiong Yan from Unsplash
During the early 2000s, when iPods were the hottest gadgets, banners claimed you could win one by answering a few questions. After completing the survey, users had to sign up for multiple paid offers. Very few ever received a device, and most ended up trapped in costly subscriptions.
7. “Flatten Your Belly with This One Weird Trick”
Jannes Jacobs from Unsplash
These health scam ads were everywhere, showing a poorly photoshopped stomach transformation. The promise of a quick fix tempted people struggling with weight loss. Clicking led to dubious supplements or ebooks with automatic billing cycles.
8. “Obama Wants Moms to Go Back to School”
Ivan Aleksic from Unsplash
This banner spread across the web in 2009, using President Obama’s face to promote fake grants and scholarships. It falsely suggested the government was paying for mothers’ education. Users who clicked were led to shady for-profit colleges or spammy lead-generation sites.
9. “Win a Free Laptop by Playing This Game”
Alex Knight from Unsplash
Clicking moving targets like ducks or laptops was presented as a fun challenge. Winners were promised a shiny new MacBook or Dell computer. Instead, users gave away personal info and got trapped in subscription scams.
10. “Doctors Hate Him! Learn the Secret to Reverse Aging”
Online Marketing from Unsplash
This infamous ad used shocking “before and after” pictures to suggest miracle creams. The banners claimed medical professionals wanted to “hide the truth” from the public. The products were overpriced, low quality, and tied to recurring hidden charges.
11. “Work From Home and Earn $6,000 a Week”
Alexander Mils from Unsplash
These banners preyed on people desperate for income during the 2008 recession. They advertised simple typing jobs that supposedly paid huge amounts. The fine print revealed upfront “training fees” and no real work at all.
12. “Lower Your Mortgage Instantly”
Phil Hearing from Unsplash
Mortgage scam banners appeared widely during the housing crisis. They claimed users could slash payments just by clicking and filling out a form. Instead, people handed over sensitive financial information to fraudulent companies.
13. “Free Ringtones for Your Phone”
Rahul Chakraborty from Unsplash
When flip phones and early smartphones were trendy, these ads promised custom ringtones. Clicking through meant unknowingly subscribing to premium text services that charged per message. Many teens ended up with shocking phone bills.
14. “Get a Free Cruise Vacation”
Alonso Reyes from Unsplash
Banners showed luxurious cruise ships with promises of all-expenses-paid trips. In reality, users had to pay hidden fees, attend aggressive timeshare pitches, or never got a booking at all. The dream vacation turned into a financial nightmare.
15. “This Game Will Ruin Your Life”
Andras Vas from Unsplash
Strange banners advertised online games with shocking taglines like this one. They often showed exaggerated cartoon graphics or provocative characters. The ads linked to low-quality browser games filled with pop-ups and spyware.
16. “Celebrity Gossip: You Won’t Believe What She Did”
Math from Unsplash
These banners baited users with scandalous celebrity claims. The images were often stolen paparazzi shots paired with misleading text. Clicking led to malware-laden gossip sites disguised as news portals.
17. “Lose 20 Pounds in 3 Weeks—Guaranteed”
i yunmai from Unsplash
These bold ads appeared across fitness and lifestyle sites. They pushed pills and powders that made impossible promises without any scientific backing. Buyers usually got ineffective supplements, recurring charges, and no results.