Something happened online. Start here.

No scare tactics. No lecture. Pick the closest situation and take the next safe step.

If someone is in immediate danger, call local emergency services. If money is moving, call the bank or payment provider first. Reports can come after you stabilize the situation.

Open the 5-minute checklist

The first question

What happened?

You do not need to know the scam name. Choose the closest door.

🧭 I need the shortest checklist Money. Accounts. Devices. Evidence. In that order. 📩 I got a message, call, or pop-up Pause, verify, and decide what to do without engaging. 🚨 I clicked, paid, or shared information Limit the damage first. Sort out the details after. 🔐 My email or account was hacked Lock out the attacker and check what they changed. 💻 Someone controlled my computer Disconnect, preserve evidence, and recover from remote access. 📱 My phone number stopped working Handle a possible SIM swap or port-out attack. ❤️ Someone I love may be targeted How to help without shame, panic, or pushing them away. 📣 I need to report it Who needs the report, and who probably cannot help.

Texts Unpaid toll or parking fee Do not tap the payment link. Go to the real agency site yourself. Calls Bank fraud department impersonation Hang up and call the number on your card. Family AI voice emergency call Use your family code word or call their real number.

If nothing happened and you just want to get safer

Learn the one rule that stops most scams The PUSHED/VERIFY framework — simple enough to remember, powerful enough to use every day

Understand how AI changed the game The old advice doesn't work anymore — here's what does

Secure your accounts 30 minutes of setup that protects you for years

Start here after a click, payment, account takeover, remote access session, or phone-number hijack. These pages are sequenced for stressed brains.

Emergency Scam Checklist

The shortest path when you are scared, rushed, or not sure what to read

I Think I Was Scammed

The main recovery checklist for money, passwords, identity, and devices

My Email Was Hacked

Lock it down, kick out the attacker, and check what they changed

My Account Is Messaging People

Stop scam messages sent from your email, social, or messaging account

I Installed Remote Access

What to do after AnyDesk, TeamViewer, browser remote support, or a fake tech support session

My Phone Number Was Taken

Recover from a SIM swap or port-out and protect accounts tied to text codes

Save Evidence Without Spiraling

A small evidence log for screenshots, payments, timelines, and account details

Where To Report A Scam

Official reporting paths after money, identity, devices, or accounts are stabilized

Secure Your Accounts

30 minutes of setup that protects your email, phone, and highest-risk accounts

Step-by-step guides that build your skills, one at a time. Start at the top and work your way down — or jump to whatever feels most relevant.

The One Rule That Stops Most Scams

When you feel PUSHED, stop and VERIFY — the framework that catches every trick

Spot Phishing Emails

Recognize fake emails before they trick you — including AI-generated ones

Recognize Phone Scams

Handle suspicious calls with confidence — even AI voice clones

Spot Fake Websites

Tell the difference between real sites and convincing fakes

Protect Your Passwords

Create strong passwords and manage them without the headache

Safe Online Shopping

Buy with confidence and avoid scam websites

Social Media Safety

Protect your privacy on Facebook, Instagram, and more

AI-Powered Scams

What's changed, what the old advice gets wrong, and what actually works now

QR Code Safety

How to safely scan QR codes without getting scammed

Messaging App Scams

WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal attacks to watch for

Every scam follows a pattern. Once you see the pattern, you can't unsee it. These guides break down exactly how each scam works — and how to shut it down.

Scams that come to you

📱

Text Message Scams

Fake bank alerts, delivery notices, toll fees, and wrong-number messages

📦

Package Delivery Scams

Fake "missed delivery" texts designed to steal your information

🚗

Toll & Parking Ticket Scams

Fake unpaid toll texts and QR-code parking payment traps

💻

Tech Support Scams

Scary pop-ups and calls claiming your computer is infected

🏦

Bank Impersonation

Convincing calls and texts pretending to be your bank

👨‍👩‍👧

"Hi Mom" Text Scams

Criminals pretending to be your children or grandchildren

🏛️

Government Impersonation

"Your SSN has been suspended" and other fake agency threats

🏥

Medicare & Healthcare Scams

Fake benefit calls, medical equipment offers, and insurance phishing

💵

Tax Refund & IRS Scams

Fake refunds, tax debt threats, and identity theft during tax season

🎤

AI Voice Clone Scams

They cloned your family member's voice — here's how to tell

🔒

Sextortion

Blackmail threats using real or fake intimate content — you're not alone

Scams that lure you in

💔

Romance Scams

Fake relationships built to steal your money and heart

💼

Job Offer Scams

Fake employment that costs you money or your identity

📈

Investment Scams

Guaranteed returns that guarantee you lose everything

🛒

Marketplace Scams

Fake buyers and sellers on Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, and Craigslist

📱

Fake Apps & Subscriptions

Copycat apps and free trial traps that drain your wallet

Scams around purchases, housing, and giving

🏡

Rental & Housing Scams

Fake listings, deposit pressure, and application-fee identity theft

🎫

Ticket & Event Scams

Fake concert, sports, and festival tickets sold through social media

🤝

Charity & Disaster Relief Scams

Fake fundraisers that weaponize your compassion after a crisis

For work and small business

💼

Small Business Scams

Fake invoices, payroll changes, domain renewals, and vendor impersonation

The hardest part of security isn't the technology — it's the conversation. These guides help you protect the people you care about without making them feel stupid or scared.

Having the Conversation

How to talk to a parent or grandparent about scams without being condescending

Family Security Setup

The 30-minute checklist you do together — not a lecture, an activity

Set Up a Family Code Word

One simple trick that defeats AI voice clones and fake emergency calls

When They Won't Listen

What to do when someone you love insists "it won't happen to me"

Protecting Kids Online

Age-appropriate guidance for gaming scams, social media, and more

Someone Is Being Scammed Right Now

The warning signs and how to help without pushing them away

Supporting Someone After a Scam

No "I told you so." How to actually help them recover

Official reporting links

When you are ready to report it

You do not have to report before you stabilize the situation. When you do report, type official addresses yourself or use these links.

Not sure where it belongs? Use the reporting guide →

FTC ReportFraud Most scams, fraud, and bad business practices FBI IC3 Internet crime, cyber-enabled fraud, and larger losses IdentityTheft.gov Identity theft recovery plans and reports AARP Fraud Watch Helpline Free support for anyone, not just AARP members

Test What You've Learned

Can you spot the fake emails? Test yourself with real examples and learn to recognize the warning signs.

Take the Quiz

AI fakes are getting harder to spot. Learn to identify synthetic images, deepfake videos, and AI-generated text.