US scam safety handbook
Start with the situation in front of you: USPS delivery texts, Zelle bank alerts, IRS refund messages, Social Security calls, PayPal invoices, Marketplace buyers, AI voice calls and family emergency scams.
If it already happened
Stop communication, do not send more money and contact the bank immediately.
This is not a block of links. Follow the steps in this order.
US scam guides
I received something that looks like a usps text scam
USPS Text Scam explained in plain English: what to watch for, what to do, and how to practice safely.
I received something that looks like a fedex delivery scam
FedEx Delivery Scam explained in plain English: what to watch for, what to do, and how to practice safely.
I received something that looks like a ups delivery scam
UPS Delivery Scam explained in plain English: what to watch for, what to do, and how to practice safely.
I received something that looks like a package delivery scam
Package Delivery Scam explained in plain English: what to watch for, what to do, and how to practice safely.
I received something that looks like a fake tracking number scam
Fake Tracking Number Scam explained in plain English: what to watch for, what to do, and how to practice safely.
I received something that looks like a missed delivery text scam
Missed Delivery Text Scam explained in plain English: what to watch for, what to do, and how to practice safely.
Marketplace
Situation: You receive a delivery SMS saying the address is incomplete and a small 30 cent or 1.99 dollar fee is required.
Banking
Situation: An SMS or call says someone is trying to send money through Zelle and asks you to urgently confirm cancellation.
Banking
Situation: An email or SMS promises a tax refund if you enter bank details today.
Banking
Situation: A call says your Social Security number is suspended or your Medicare card must be updated urgently.
Marketplace
Situation: You receive an invoice, fake refund notice or message saying an accidental payment must be returned.
Marketplace
Situation: A buyer says delivery is already paid and asks you to enter a card to receive the money.
A message, voice or recruiter can sound real without being real. Treat urgency, secrecy and money movement as verification triggers.
Could this be AI-assisted pressure? Verify through a known channel before acting.
AI scams
Situation: The voice sounds like a relative, friend or manager, but the call comes from an unusual number.
Why this is dangerous: A voice can be imitated. Urgency and blocking a callback make identity verification harder.
How to check: Hang up and call the saved number yourself. Use a family code word or a second channel.
Safe action: Do not send money based only on a voice.
AI scams
Situation: A professional error-free email asks you to update access.
Why this is dangerous: AI helps write convincing emails without typical mistakes.
How to check: Check the request in the work system or with the sender through a known channel.
Safe action: Do not update access through the email. Use the official portal.
AI scams
Situation: The voice sounds like a relative or manager, but asks you to transfer money urgently.
Why this is dangerous: A voice can be imitated, and urgency prevents verification.
How to check: Hang up and call back using the saved number.
Safe action: Do not send money based on a voice request without independent verification.
AI scams
Situation: A recruiter writes personally, but asks you to pay for a check or send documents.
Why this is dangerous: AI makes the message personal, but the scheme is still an upfront payment.
How to check: Check the job on the company's official website and the recruiter's LinkedIn.
Safe action: Do not pay for employment and do not send documents before verification.
AI scams
Situation: The message imitates a manager's style and asks to pay an invoice today.
Why this is dangerous: AI can imitate writing style, while urgency bypasses payment processes.
How to check: Confirm the request through the established finance process or a call to a known number.
Safe action: Do not pay outside the process, even if the message looks like it came from a manager.
AI scams
Situation: A support chatbot sounds convincing and asks for a one-time code.
Why this is dangerous: Even if no password is requested, a one-time code can give access to the account.
How to check: Open support manually from the official app or website.
Safe action: Do not share one-time codes in chat.
Marketplace
Situation: You receive a delivery SMS saying the address is incomplete and a small 30 cent or 1.99 dollar fee is required.
Why this is dangerous: The small amount feels harmless, but the form may steal card details and your address.
How to check: Open USPS, FedEx or UPS manually and check the tracking number in the official account.
Safe action: Do not pay delivery fees through an SMS link. Check status only through the official site or app.
Banking
Situation: An SMS or call says someone is trying to send money through Zelle and asks you to urgently confirm cancellation.
Why this is dangerous: A scammer may trick you into approving a real transfer or sharing a one-time code.
How to check: Close the message and open the bank app manually, or call the number printed on your card.
Safe action: Do not confirm codes or open the link. Check transactions only in the official app.
Banking
Situation: An email or SMS promises a tax refund if you enter bank details today.
Why this is dangerous: The expectation of money back lowers caution, while the form may steal banking data.
How to check: Check refunds through your official IRS account or tax professional, not through a message link.
Safe action: Do not enter details through the link. Open IRS.gov manually.
Banking
Situation: A call says your Social Security number is suspended or your Medicare card must be updated urgently.
Why this is dangerous: The scam uses fear of losing benefits or legal trouble to get money or personal data.
How to check: Hang up and call SSA or Medicare yourself using an official number.
Safe action: Do not share SSN, Medicare number, bank details or codes on an incoming call.
Marketplace
Situation: You receive an invoice, fake refund notice or message saying an accidental payment must be returned.
Why this is dangerous: A fake invoice pushes you to call the scammer or send money back based on a false story.
How to check: Open PayPal, Venmo or Cash App manually and check activity in the app.
Safe action: Do not call the number in the invoice and do not return money outside the official app.
Marketplace
Situation: A buyer says delivery is already paid and asks you to enter a card to receive the money.
Why this is dangerous: You do not need a card to receive money. The form may steal card details while pretending to release payment.
How to check: Check payment only inside Facebook Marketplace or in your own bank account.
Safe action: Do not enter a card to receive money and do not move into third-party payment or shipping forms.
Social media
Situation: A message supposedly from a child or grandchild asks you to use a new number and not call.
Why this is dangerous: The scammer first builds trust in the new number, then asks for an urgent transfer, gift cards or personal data.
How to check: Call the old saved number or ask another family member through a known channel.
Safe action: Do not send money until the identity is verified outside this conversation.
AI scams
Situation: The voice sounds like a relative, friend or manager, but the call comes from an unusual number.
Why this is dangerous: A voice can be imitated. Urgency and blocking a callback make identity verification harder.
How to check: Hang up and call the saved number yourself. Use a family code word or a second channel.
Safe action: Do not send money based only on a voice.
Children and games
Situation: A child sees a site promising free Robux for logging in.
Why this is dangerous: The site may steal the child's account and linked payment methods.
How to check: Open Roblox only through the official app or website.
Safe action: Do not enter the login. If the child already logged in, a parent should change the password and enable 2FA.
Children and games
Situation: The link comes from a familiar account, but asks you to log in again.
Why this is dangerous: The friend's account may be hijacked, and the link may steal a token or password.
How to check: Ask the friend through another channel and check the gift inside Discord.
Safe action: Do not log in through the link. Tell the friend their account may be hijacked.
Social media
Situation: An account similar to an influencer says you won a prize.
Why this is dangerous: Fake contests use an influencer's name and a small delivery fee.
How to check: Check the contest on the influencer's official profile and in the giveaway rules.
Safe action: Do not pay delivery and do not send documents.
Children and games
Situation: Someone says your account was reported and items must be moved for verification.
Why this is dangerous: A scammer may steal items through a trade disguised as verification.
How to check: Check notifications only inside Steam and on the official support page.
Safe action: Do not send items for verification. Block the contact.
AI scams
Situation: A professional error-free email asks you to update access.
Why this is dangerous: AI helps write convincing emails without typical mistakes.
How to check: Check the request in the work system or with the sender through a known channel.
Safe action: Do not update access through the email. Use the official portal.
AI scams
Situation: The voice sounds like a relative or manager, but asks you to transfer money urgently.
Why this is dangerous: A voice can be imitated, and urgency prevents verification.
How to check: Hang up and call back using the saved number.
Safe action: Do not send money based on a voice request without independent verification.
Social media
Situation: An unknown number claims to be your child, parent or acquaintance and says the old phone was lost or broken.
Why this is dangerous: The scammer first builds trust in the new number, then asks for an urgent transfer, personal data or sends a harmful link.
How to check: First call the person on their usual saved number or ask another family member through a known channel.
Safe action: Do not message the provided number, open links or send money until the identity is verified independently.
AI scams
Situation: A recruiter writes personally, but asks you to pay for a check or send documents.
Why this is dangerous: AI makes the message personal, but the scheme is still an upfront payment.
How to check: Check the job on the company's official website and the recruiter's LinkedIn.
Safe action: Do not pay for employment and do not send documents before verification.
AI scams
Situation: The message imitates a manager's style and asks to pay an invoice today.
Why this is dangerous: AI can imitate writing style, while urgency bypasses payment processes.
How to check: Confirm the request through the established finance process or a call to a known number.
Safe action: Do not pay outside the process, even if the message looks like it came from a manager.
AI scams
Situation: A support chatbot sounds convincing and asks for a one-time code.
Why this is dangerous: Even if no password is requested, a one-time code can give access to the account.
How to check: Open support manually from the official app or website.
Safe action: Do not share one-time codes in chat.
Emergency help
Situation: You opened a link, entered data or sent money.
Why this is dangerous: After data is entered, minutes matter: you may still stop the card, sessions and further damage.
How to check: Check bank operations and active sessions only in official apps.
Safe action: Stop communication, do not send more money and contact the bank immediately.