Government agencies do NOT call people unexpectedly. They send letters.

These companies don't monitor your computer or call you about problems.

Banks DO sometimes call about fraud, but scammers pretend to be banks too.

Scammers use AI to copy voices or claim to be officials.

They bill Medicare fraudulently. You may get low-quality products or nothing.

This is a scam. The "virus" doesn't exist. The number connects to criminals.

Scammers create fake login pages to steal passwords.

The attachment or link contains malware (viruses).

Gift cards are like cash - once the number is given, money is gone forever.

These payment methods are untraceable and irreversible.

"Romance scammers" build fake relationships over weeks or months, then request money for "emergencies." This is called "pig butchering."

If it sounds too good to be true, it is. These are often Ponzi schemes or outright theft.

You cannot win contests you didn't enter. They ask for "fees" or "taxes" upfront - then disappear.

They may take deposits and never return, or do shoddy work.

Scammers create urgency to bypass your judgment.

"Smishing" (SMS phishing) tricks you into giving information.

The check is fake. It will bounce after you've sent real money. You're responsible for the bounced check.

Scammers use pressure to stop you from thinking or checking with others.

Isolation is a scammer's best tool. They don't want you to have help thinking it through.

Scammers are professionals. They trick smart people every day. Shame helps them continue.