Independent consumer advocacy Not a government agency
Scams change the story, not the mechanics. Urgency, secrecy, an unusual payment method and a request for information you should never hand over. Learn the pattern before you need it.
No list can name every scam. These are the structures that recur — and the detail that usually gives them away.
Someone claims to be from a tax office, benefits office, court or law enforcement agency. They say there is a warrant, a fine or a problem with your benefits, and they need payment or information immediately.
A caller says you owe a debt you do not recognize, or threatens arrest, wage seizure or a lawsuit within hours. The details may be vague, or they may include a scrap of real personal information.
A caller claims a relative is in trouble — an accident, an arrest, a hospital — and needs money fast. They may use a voice that sounds familiar, or hand the phone to someone pretending to be a lawyer or officer.
A pop-up or caller says your device is infected and offers to fix it. They ask you to install a remote-access tool, buy software, or log into your bank while they watch.
A message looks like your bank, a delivery company or a login page. It asks you to confirm a password, update a payment method or read back a one-time code.
You are told you won a prize you do not remember entering. To release it, you must pay a fee, a tax or a shipping charge — often by gift card, crypto or wire.
Someone sends a check or deposit that is too large and asks you to return the difference, or to pay a “vendor” from the proceeds. The check later bounces and the money you sent is gone.
One sign is not proof. Several together are a reason to stop and verify through a channel you control.
Move in order. Stop the contact first, then protect the accounts and preserve the record. If you are in immediate danger, contact local emergency services.
Hang up, close the window, or stop replying. Do not send more money to “fix” the first payment. Scammers often return with a recovery offer.
Find the real number or website yourself — from a statement, a card, or a search you control. Do not use the contact details in the suspicious message.
Change passwords you may have shared, turn on multi-factor authentication, and contact your bank or card issuer about unauthorized payments. Never share a one-time code.
Save the messages, emails, receipts, call times, account numbers and screenshots. Do not edit or “clean up” the originals. Write down what happened while it is fresh.
Report to the appropriate government agency, your state attorney general, or local law enforcement. Your bank may also have a fraud-reporting process. Keep the report numbers.
Shame is a tool scammers rely on. Tell a person you trust, and consider an intake with us if you want help organizing the record and understanding the options.
You do not need every document to begin. Start with the outline, and do not send identity documents or account credentials through the form.
General consumer-protection information, not legal advice. We are not a government agency and are not affiliated with the FTC.