Learn the patterns
Fake emails or texts that ask you to click, sign in, confirm payment, or fix an account problem.
Safe move:Do not click the message link. Open the company's app, type its website address yourself, or call the number printed on your card, bill, or statement.
Prize, tax, charity, loan, or emergency stories that demand fast payment.
Safe move:Never pay by gold, gift card, crypto, or wire transfer to solve an urgent surprise.
Someone pretends to be a bank, government office, tech support, or family member.
Safe move:Hang up. Call back using a phone number from your card, bill, statement, official letter, or saved contact.
Fake stores, counterfeit goods, recalled items, unsafe marketplace pickups, and off-platform payment requests.
Safe move:Check the seller, use protected payment, and avoid deals that are far below normal price.
Scammers misuse insurance, Medicare, or personal health information.
Safe move:Do not share Medicare or insurance details with unsolicited callers.
Scammers may pose as USCIS, ICE, DHS, police, or immigration officers and threaten arrest or deportation.
Safe move:Do not pay in gold, cash, gift cards, crypto, or wire transfer. Check your case by signing in to MyUSCIS or typing uscis.gov, ice.gov, or dhs.gov yourself.
Weak passwords and missing two-factor authentication make account takeover easier.
Safe move:Use unique passwords, turn on MFA, and keep devices updated.