How To Spot A Scam

Easy Guide: How to Spot a Scam Common Warning Signs

  • You get a message, call, or email out of nowhere from an organization you recognize, but you weren’t expecting it.

  • Someone says you won a contest or prize you never entered.

  • You can’t easily call them back or verify who they are.

  • Their message has poor grammar or wording that feels “off.”

  • They say there’s a problem with your account, even though everything seems fine.

  • They pressure you to act quickly.

  • They ask you to pay with gift cards, bitcoin, wire transfers, or anything unusual.

  • They tell you to keep the situation a secret from family or the police.

  • They push for personal or financial information.

  • They insist you stay on the phone and not hang up.

  • They use scary words like “emergency,” “jail,” “fees,” or “penalties".

  • More and more scammers prefer being paid with cryptocurrency, because it’s hard to trace.


Grandparent (Emergency) Scams

  • You receive a call from someone claiming to be a grandchild in trouble.

  • They may use the real name of your grandchild.

  • They beg you not to tell their parents.

  • If you notice their voice sounds different, they’ll say they’re sick, scared, or the phone connection is bad.

  • A fake “officer” or “lawyer” may join the call and demand money for bail or legal fees.

Romance Scams

  • Someone contacts you online through a dating site or social media.

  • They use a fake identity — sometimes pretending to be a celebrity or someone with an impressive job.

  • They spend months building trust and bonding over shared “interests.”

  • They talk about future plans, shared goals, and may even suggest starting a business with you.

  • They never meet in person and always have excuses:

    • “I’m out of town for work.”

    • “My business is overseas.”

    • “The military sent me abroad.”

    • “I’m offshore for work.”

Tech Support Scams

  • You get a call, message, or pop-up warning you that your computer has a virus.

  • It looks like it comes from a real company (Microsoft, Apple, etc.).

  • They ask for remote access to your computer or personal information.

  • They’ll try to get you to pay for fake repairs or services.

Government Impersonation Scams

  • They contact you pretending to be the IRS, Medicare, Social Security, FBI, or police.

  • They claim you owe money or need to “verify information.”

  • They often use threats, like jail time or penalties, to scare you into paying.

Fake Prize or Lottery Scams

  • You get a message saying you won a prize, money, or sweepstakes.

  • They ask you to pay shipping fees or taxes before you can claim it.

  • Sometimes they send a fake check that is more than the prize amount and ask you to send back the “extra.”

  • The check later bounces, leaving you responsible.

Home Repair Scams

  • Someone offers home repairs door-to-door or calls you unexpectedly.

  • They ask for payment upfront or offer suspiciously cheap financing.

  • They take the money and never finish the work — or never even start.

TV/Radio Scams

  • Scammers use fake ads that look like legitimate services (reverse mortgages, credit repair, etc.).

  • The services are not real or not as advertised.

Family Caregiver Scams

  • A family member or someone close to the victim misuses trust or access to take their money or assets.