Stop the conversation.
Don’t pay, click, install software, or share a code. Hang up or close the message. Use a different device if someone may be controlling yours.
Stay Safe
Pause first. Then verify.
Scams are designed to rush, confuse, and isolate people. Asking for help isn’t embarrassing—it’s a smart way to interrupt the pressure.
Move quickly, without blame.
Call the bank, card issuer, retailer, or payment app using its official number. Ask whether the payment can be stopped. Save receipts and messages.
Lead with calm questions.
Don’t shame them or take over. Ask what happened, help verify the story independently, and contact the relevant organization together.
Scam guide library
Recognize the situation
Showing 15 of 15 guides
01Utility shutoff
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What it may look or sound like
A caller says your electric or water service will be disconnected in 30 minutes unless you pay by gift card, payment app, or cryptocurrency.
Warning signs
A deadline measured in minutes, a demand for an unusual payment method, and a number supplied by the caller.
What to do immediately
Hang up. Call the utility using the number on your bill or its official website. If shutoff is a real concern, ask the utility about your account directly.
What not to do
Don’t pay through the caller, read out card details, or call the number they provide.
If money or information was sent
Call your bank or payment provider immediately. Keep receipts and messages, then report the impersonation to the utility and local police if money was lost.
Who to contact
Your utility, bank or payment app, and police when theft occurred.
You’re not the first person this has happened to. Embarrassment should never stop you from asking for help.
02Family emergency or grandchild
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What it may look or sound like
Someone claims a child or grandchild was arrested, injured, stranded, or in an accident and needs money kept secret.
Warning signs
Secrecy, panic, a voice that sounds slightly wrong, or payment by courier, gift card, wire, or crypto.
What to do immediately
Pause and call the relative on a number you already know. Ask a question only family would know. Contact another family member.
What not to do
Don’t follow instructions to stay on the line or send money before checking independently.
If money or information was sent
Contact the bank, wire service, retailer, or payment app at once. Save call details and make a police report.
Who to contact
Your financial provider, gift-card retailer, and local police.
You’re not the first person this has happened to. Embarrassment should never stop you from asking for help.
03Facebook impersonation
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What it may look or sound like
A familiar local person, church member, relative, or community account suddenly asks for money, a code, or help claiming a prize.
Warning signs
A new account, unusual writing, a rushed request, or a request for a verification code.
What to do immediately
Contact the person another way. Report the profile or message to Facebook and warn the real person.
What not to do
Don’t send codes, money, or screenshots of account messages.
If money or information was sent
Change your password, review signed-in devices, enable two-factor authentication, and contact your payment provider if needed.
Who to contact
Facebook, your bank or payment app, and police if money was stolen.
You’re not the first person this has happened to. Embarrassment should never stop you from asking for help.
04Marketplace buying and selling
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What it may look or sound like
A buyer or seller for a mower, couch, game system, vehicle part, or appliance asks for a verification code, deposit, advance fee, or unusual payment.
Warning signs
Overpayment, a courier story, payment screenshots instead of cleared funds, or pressure to leave the platform.
What to do immediately
Stop the conversation. Keep communication and payment inside the marketplace. Meet safely and verify funds yourself.
What not to do
Don’t refund an overpayment, pay a fee to receive money, or share a login code.
If money or information was sent
Contact the payment provider and marketplace immediately. Preserve the listing and messages.
Who to contact
The marketplace, bank or payment app, and police for theft or threats.
You’re not the first person this has happened to. Embarrassment should never stop you from asking for help.
05Bank and payment-app
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What it may look or sound like
A caller claims there’s fraud and tells you to move money to a “safe account” or approve a transfer to reverse it.
Warning signs
Pressure to transfer money, share a code, install an app, or keep the call secret from bank staff.
What to do immediately
Hang up and call the number on the back of your card. Lock cards or transfers through the official app if needed.
What not to do
Don’t move money or share one-time codes. Banks don’t protect funds by moving them to a stranger’s account.
If money or information was sent
Call the bank’s fraud department immediately and ask whether transfers can be stopped or recalled.
Who to contact
Your bank or payment app, then police and the FTC.
You’re not the first person this has happened to. Embarrassment should never stop you from asking for help.
06Government, court, tax, or police
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What it may look or sound like
A caller claims there’s a warrant, missed jury duty, unpaid fine, or tax problem and demands immediate payment.
Warning signs
Threats of immediate arrest and payment by gift card, crypto, wire, or kiosk.
What to do immediately
End the call. Look up and call the court, agency, or police department directly.
What not to do
Don’t pay or provide your Social Security number to an incoming caller.
If money or information was sent
Notify the payment provider, preserve records, and report the impersonation to the real agency and police.
Who to contact
The named agency using its official number, your financial provider, and police.
You’re not the first person this has happened to. Embarrassment should never stop you from asking for help.
07Tech-support pop-ups
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What it may look or sound like
A browser page locks the screen, plays an alarm, and shows a number claiming to be Microsoft, Apple, Google, or antivirus support.
Warning signs
A loud full-screen warning, a phone number, claims your computer is blocked, or instructions to install remote-control software.
What to do immediately
Don’t call. Close the browser; if it won’t close, restart the device. Disconnect from the internet if someone already connected remotely.
What not to do
Don’t install software, share the screen, log into banking, or pay the caller.
If money or information was sent
Contact your bank, change important passwords from a clean device, remove remote-access tools, and request a security check.
Who to contact
Your bank, the real software provider, the FTC, and police if money was lost.
You’re not the first person this has happened to. Embarrassment should never stop you from asking for help.
08Romance
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What it may look or sound like
An online relationship becomes serious quickly, but the person repeatedly has travel, medical, military, or account emergencies.
Warning signs
They avoid live meetings, have constant crises, and request money, crypto, gift cards, or access to accounts.
What to do immediately
Stop sending money and talk to someone you trust. Reverse-image-search profile photos if possible.
What not to do
Don’t borrow money, open accounts, receive packages, or send intimate images for them.
If money or information was sent
Contact your bank, preserve chats and receipts, and report the account to the platform.
Who to contact
The platform, financial provider, FTC, and police when appropriate.
You’re not the first person this has happened to. Embarrassment should never stop you from asking for help.
09Jobs and work from home
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What it may look or sound like
A job in a local Facebook group sends a check, asks you to buy equipment, reship packages, or pay for training.
Warning signs
Hiring by chat only, a check before work begins, personal banking requests, or pay that’s far above the role.
What to do immediately
Verify the employer through its official website and contact information. Ask your bank to examine any check.
What not to do
Don’t spend deposited-check funds, buy gift cards, or reship packages.
If money or information was sent
Tell your bank immediately; a check can appear available before it’s found fraudulent. Report the listing.
Who to contact
Your bank, the job platform, the FTC, and Postal Inspection Service for reshipping.
You’re not the first person this has happened to. Embarrassment should never stop you from asking for help.
10Prizes and sweepstakes
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What it may look or sound like
Someone says you won a prize but must first pay taxes, delivery, or processing fees or provide banking information.
Warning signs
A prize you didn’t enter, upfront fees, secrecy, or payment by gift card or crypto.
What to do immediately
Stop. Verify through the organization’s independently found contact details.
What not to do
Don’t pay to receive a prize or give bank information.
If money or information was sent
Contact your payment provider and report the message or call.
Who to contact
Your bank or payment app, the FTC, and the real organization being impersonated.
You’re not the first person this has happened to. Embarrassment should never stop you from asking for help.
11Charity, church, and tragedy
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What it may look or sound like
A fundraiser appears after a local fire, illness, funeral, storm, or community tragedy.
Warning signs
A copied story, a new payment account, pressure to give immediately, or organizers who can’t explain where funds go.
What to do immediately
Verify with the family, church, or established local organization using contact information you already trust.
What not to do
Don’t rely only on shares, comments, or a familiar profile photo.
If money or information was sent
Contact the platform and payment provider. Tell the real organization so it can warn others.
Who to contact
The fundraiser platform, payment provider, and local organizers.
You’re not the first person this has happened to. Embarrassment should never stop you from asking for help.
12Delivery and package texts
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What it may look or sound like
A text says a package can’t be delivered until a small fee is paid through a link.
Warning signs
An unexpected tracking notice, shortened link, odd web address, or request for card details for a tiny fee.
What to do immediately
Delete the message. Check delivery status in the retailer or carrier’s official app or site.
What not to do
Don’t open the link or enter card and login information.
If money or information was sent
Lock the card, contact the issuer, and change any password you entered.
Who to contact
The card issuer, real delivery company, and FTC.
You’re not the first person this has happened to. Embarrassment should never stop you from asking for help.
13Account recovery and codes
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What it may look or sound like
Someone asks you to read back a code sent by text or email, often while claiming to verify your identity or purchase.
Warning signs
An unsolicited code and anyone asking you to repeat it. Those codes usually approve a login or password reset.
What to do immediately
Don’t share the code. Change the account password from the official app and review signed-in devices.
What not to do
Don’t forward code screenshots or approve an unexpected login prompt.
If money or information was sent
Secure the account, recovery email, and phone account. Contact the platform’s official support.
Who to contact
The account platform and your mobile carrier if your number may be compromised.
You’re not the first person this has happened to. Embarrassment should never stop you from asking for help.
14Investment and cryptocurrency
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What it may look or sound like
A social-media contact promises guaranteed returns and pressures you to move money quickly to a trading site or wallet.
Warning signs
Guaranteed profit, fake account balances, celebrity impersonation, coaching over chat, or fees required to withdraw.
What to do immediately
Stop sending funds. Don’t pay another fee to unlock money. Save wallet addresses, messages, and transaction records.
What not to do
Don’t trust a dashboard as proof your money exists, and don’t hire a recovery service that contacts you unexpectedly.
If money or information was sent
Contact the exchange or bank immediately and report the wallet or account.
Who to contact
Your exchange or bank, the platform, FBI IC3, and FTC.
You’re not the first person this has happened to. Embarrassment should never stop you from asking for help.
15Contractor and home repair
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What it may look or sound like
Someone arrives after a storm or says your roof, driveway, HVAC, or home needs immediate work and asks for a large deposit.
Warning signs
Door-to-door pressure, cash-only terms, no written scope, an out-of-area vehicle, or refusal to provide references and insurance information.
What to do immediately
Pause. Get written estimates and verify the business independently. Ask your insurer before storm-related work.
What not to do
Don’t sign immediately, hand over insurance checks, or pay a large cash deposit.
If money or information was sent
Document the work and payment, contact the payment provider and insurer, and seek local legal or police guidance if fraud is suspected.
Who to contact
Your insurer, bank, Missouri Attorney General consumer protection, and police for theft.
You’re not the first person this has happened to. Embarrassment should never stop you from asking for help.
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