Artificial urgency or threats
“Act now or your account will be closed.” Pressure is the point — to stop you from checking.
Learn the common red flags
If you notice two or more of these, pause and verify independently. Don’t click, call, or pay until you’re sure.
Educational guidance only. We don’t track your searches.
1
Pause — don’t click links or call numbers in the message.
2
Verify on the company’s official site or app, not the link you got.
3
Compare with our examples. If it matches a pattern, report it.
Top red flags to watch for
Short, plain explanations you can share with family.
Links don’t match the company
Hover or long-press: if a link looks odd or misspelled, don’t tap it. Go to the site yourself.
Lookalike website or domain
Extra letters, swapped characters, or different endings (e.g., “.co” instead of “.com”).
Suspicious “from” address
Display name looks right, but the actual email isn’t from the company.
Caller ID can be faked
Don’t trust the number that called you. Hang up and dial the official one.
QR codes in “urgent” notices
Scammers use QR codes to dodge link filters and send you to fake sites.
Gift cards or crypto payments
No real company asks for gift cards or crypto to fix a problem or pay a bill.
Odd payment instructions
Wires, “refund processing fees,” or moving money between apps = red flag.
“Update your card” via a link
Never update payment info from a link in a message. Go to the site/app directly.
Requests for codes or 2FA
No legitimate support agent needs your verification codes. Ever.
Asking for passwords or SSN
Treat any request for sensitive info as a scam until proven otherwise.
Too good to be true
Unexpected prizes, guaranteed returns, or surprise refunds are classic bait.
What to do when you spot a red flag
Verify safely
- Use the official website/app or a saved bookmark.
- Call the number on the company’s site, not the message.
- Ask a trusted friend to sanity-check before you act.
Protect your device
- Don’t install remote-access software on request.
- Don’t open unexpected attachments or enable macros.
- Update your device and browser regularly.
Report it
- Report to the Scam Archive with screenshots.
- Block and delete the message after saving evidence.
- If you paid, contact your bank or card issuer immediately.
Turn one report into protection for many
Share a scam you’ve seen, or explore examples to learn the warning signs.