Learn the tricks, so you can spot them first.
These people fool careful, smart people every day. It's their full-time job. Here's how they do it, in plain words, so you and the people you love can pause and ask.
Already clicked, paid or told them something?What to do now, step by step. No blame.Almost every scam follows the same four steps
Learn these and you'll spot ones you've never seen before.
Step 1
A scary alarm
Your account, your benefits, your record or your computer is in trouble.
Step 2
Hurry
Act now, stay on the line, don't tell anyone.
Step 3
Only one fix
Theirs. Do exactly what they say.
Step 4
Money that can't come back
Gift cards, a Bitcoin machine, a wire, or cash handed to a courier.
Only scammers ask you to pay this way
- Gift cards
- A Bitcoin or crypto machine
- Cash or gold handed to a courier
- Moving your money to a "safe account"
No real bank, sheriff, court, Medicare office or company asks for these. If someone does, hang up and ask someone you trust.
The guides
Phone calls
New guides every week. In each one you watch the scam play out and make the call yourself, because trying it in a safe place helps more than reading about it.
Ask me first. Got something that isn't here, or still not sure? Send it to me. It's on me, and it stays between us.
General help from a neighbor, not legal, financial or police advice. I can't get money back, and anyone who offers to for a fee is running a second scam. In an emergency, call 911.