'Is this a scam?': The Nature and Quality of Reddit Discussion about Scams

People often use social media platforms to seek advice about scams like ecommerce fraud or phishing; however, little research has investigated the nature of such discussion. We conducted a multi-stage thematic analysis of 1,525 posts made to four communities focused on scam discussion on Reddit, primarily from /r/Scams. We found that posters use Reddit to identify scams, discuss the strategies employed by scammers, and obtain advice on coping with victimization. The scams discussed are primarily mediated by the internet or related technologies. Users in the communities we studied especially provide informational support and reassurance to victims, although some comments reinforce victim-blaming attitudes. We also observed qualitative differences in the types of support sought and given based on the community, with the board /r/Sextortion especially being used for emotional support. We conclude that Reddit's scam discussion communities serve as a valuable resource for scam prevention and remediation. Additionally, we discuss the potential for future research and law enforcement engagement on Reddit.