Learn to Spot Scams Before They Reach You

Free guides and safety tips for every type of fraud — written in plain language for real people.

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Featured Guides

Banking & Finance

How to Spot a Bank Impersonation Scam

Learn the warning signs when someone claims to be calling from your bank — and how to verify independently.

4 min readRead guide
Government & IRS

What the IRS Will and Won't Do

The IRS never demands immediate payment by gift card. Here's what real IRS contact looks like.

3 min readRead guide
Family & Grandparent Scams

The Grandparent Scam: What It Is and How to Stop It

A caller claims your grandchild is in trouble and needs money urgently. Here's exactly what to do.

5 min readRead guide
Payment Safety

Why Scammers Ask for Gift Cards

Gift cards are untraceable and irreversible. If anyone asks you to pay with a gift card, it's a scam.

3 min readRead guide
Tech Support

Fake Tech Support: How to Recognize and Respond

Pop-ups, phone calls, and emails claiming your computer is infected are almost always scams.

4 min readRead guide
Identity Theft

What to Do If Your Social Security Number Was Stolen

Step-by-step guidance for protecting yourself after your SSN has been exposed.

6 min readRead guide

Quick Safety Tips

1

Never use contact information provided in a suspicious message to verify that message.

2

Legitimate organizations will never ask you to pay with gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.

3

If someone tells you to keep a payment secret, that is a major warning sign.

4

Hang up and call back using a number you find independently — not the one given to you.

5

Take your time. Scammers create urgency to prevent you from thinking clearly.

Something Doesn't Feel Right?

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