Scammers are clever, and anyone can be fooled. These warning signs will help you pause and check before you act.
The warning signs
- Rushing you. “Act now or your account will be closed.” Real companies give you time.
- Asking for unusual payment. Gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or payment apps are big red flags.
- Asking you to keep it secret, even from family.
- Asking for codes or passwords. No real bank, Medicare, or tech company will ask you to read back a code sent to your phone.
- Links and attachments you didn’t expect, especially about packages, refunds, or “problems” with your account.
- A familiar voice in trouble. A call from a “grandchild” who needs money urgently. Voices can now be faked.
What to do
- Stop. Don’t click, don’t pay, and don’t give any information.
- Hang up or close the message. It’s not rude. It’s smart.
- Call the company or person back using a number you already know, like the one on the back of your card.
- Agree on a family “safe word” so you can check if a call is really from a loved one.
- If you already paid or shared information, call your bank right away, then report it at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
Built-in phone helpers
- iPhone: Settings → Apps → Phone → Silence Unknown Callers (on older versions: Settings → Phone). Calls from numbers not in your contacts go to voicemail.
- Android: In the Phone app, tap the three dots → Settings → look for Caller ID & spam (wording varies by phone maker).
- You can forward scam texts to 7726 (spells “SPAM”) to report them to your carrier.
Last reviewed: October 2026