Simple, practical knowledge to help you recognize scams and stay safe.
Most scams share common warning signs. Learning to recognize these red flags can help you avoid falling victim — no matter how convincing a message might seem at first.
Creates artificial time pressure to make you act without thinking.
Watch for phrases like “Act now!”, “Limited time offer!”, “Expires today!”, “Immediate action required”.
Uses fear tactics to manipulate you into action.
Watch for phrases like “Account suspended”, “Legal action will be taken”, “Arrest warrant issued”, “Your files will be deleted”.
Offers unrealistic rewards or deals.
Watch for phrases like “You've won!”, “Free money”, “Guaranteed returns”, “No risk investment”.
Asks for payment through untraceable methods.
Watch for phrases like “Gift cards”, “Wire transfer”, “Cryptocurrency”, “Money order”.
Contains obvious errors that legitimate companies would catch.
Watch for phrases like “Misspelled company name”, “Grammatical errors”, “Odd phrasing”, “Mixed languages”.
The sender identity does not match the claimed organization.
Watch for phrases like “Generic sender name”, “Mismatched email domain”, “Spoofed address”, “Unknown number”.
Asks you to keep the communication secret.
Watch for phrases like “Don't tell anyone”, “Keep this between us”, “Act alone”, “Don't discuss with family”.
Asks for sensitive data that legitimate companies already have.
Watch for phrases like “Social Security Number”, “Password”, “Bank account details”, “Credit card number”.
Scammers use many different tactics. Here are the most common types of scams you might encounter online, by phone, or through text messages.
Attempts to steal your login credentials or personal information by impersonating legitimate companies.
Phishing attacks delivered via text message.
Claims your computer has a virus and offers to "fix" it for a fee.
Builds a fake relationship to eventually ask for money.
Claims you've won a prize but must pay fees to claim it.
Poses as IRS, SSA, or other government agencies to threaten or steal.
Fake package delivery notices designed to steal your information.
Promises unrealistic returns on investments.
Fake charitable organizations soliciting donations.
Fake job offers designed to steal information or money.
Fake property listings to collect deposits for properties that don't exist.
Claims a family member is in trouble and needs money urgently.
Fake subscription renewals or free trial offers.
Content created by AI to deceive, including deepfakes.
You don't need to be a tech expert to stay safe. These six habits can significantly reduce your risk of falling for common scams.
If you receive a message claiming to be from a company or government agency, contact them directly using the phone number or website you already know — not the one in the message.
Scammers want you to act fast. Legitimate companies typically do not pressure you to make an immediate decision. If someone says you must act now, that itself is a warning sign.
Before sending money or sharing personal information, talk to a family member, friend, or advisor. A second opinion can help you see through a scam.
Never share your Social Security Number, passwords, bank account details, or credit card numbers in response to an unexpected message or call.
Be suspicious if someone asks for payment by gift card, wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or money order. These methods are nearly impossible to reverse.
If something feels wrong, it probably is. You are not being rude by hanging up, deleting a message, or refusing to engage. Your safety comes first.
No matter how official a message looks, a real company or government agency will never ask you for:
If someone asks for any of these, stop the conversation immediately and contact the company directly using a number you trust.
These are general guidelines. Scammers continuously evolve tactics.
If you've received a suspicious message, paste it into our free scam checker and get an instant AI-powered analysis.