Almost every scam has three ingredients: it arrives out of the blue, it creates pressure or panic, and it asks for money, codes or personal details. Spot one of these and stop.
Stop, check, tell
Stop: do not reply, click or pay. Check: contact the person or company using a number you already know. Tell: talk to a family member or friend before doing anything. Genuine people are happy to wait.
Step by step
- Notice how you feel: rushed, scared or excited are warning signs.
- Do not act on a call, text or email you were not expecting.
- Hang up or close the message.
- Check using a number or website you know.
Common mistakes
- Staying on the line because the caller sounds kind or official.
Try it yourself
- Write “Stop, check, tell” on a note by your phone.
Printable cheat sheet: The Three Warning Signs
- Notice how you feel: rushed, scared or excited are warning signs.
- Do not act on a call, text or email you were not expecting.
- Hang up or close the message.
- Check using a number or website you know.
Print this page and keep the sheet by your device. Never write passwords or PINs on it.
Good to know: Take your time and go at your own pace. Nobody genuine will ever ask you for a password, PIN or one-time code, and you never need to share them to follow this lesson. If anything on your screen looks unexpected, stop and ask a family member or your Tech Helper.