Prevent • Verify • Protect

Scam prevention starts before the scam works.

Learn the practical habits that help you avoid scams before money, passwords, identity, or account access are at risk. This public guide now includes prevention articles and printable checklists for the most common scam types people face online, by phone, by text, by mail, and through fake websites and ads.

Start Training Scam Lookup What to Do
Build safer habits first
Best rule of thumb: if a message, caller, website, ad, letter, or online relationship wants you to act quickly, stop first. Scammers depend on urgency, pressure, and rushed decisions.
1) Pause
Do not click, reply, pay, download, or share information while feeling rushed.
2) Verify
Use official websites, apps, and known phone numbers — not the message itself.
3) Protect
Guard passwords, one-time codes, MFA prompts, payment details, and identity data.
4) Refuse pressure
Legitimate organizations do not need panic, secrecy, or gift cards.
Core scam prevention checklist
Use these habits across almost every scam type.
Prevention First

Best steps to take before you get scammed

Simple actions that lower risk across email, texts, calls, websites, social media, and payment scams.
  • Use a unique password for your email and all important accounts.
  • Enable multi-factor authentication wherever it is available.
  • Keep your phone, browser, apps, and computer updated.
  • Do not trust caller ID, profile photos, logos, or polished websites by themselves.
  • Be suspicious of urgency, threats, prizes, romantic pressure, and guaranteed returns.
  • Verify payment requests, account changes, and “fraud alerts” through a second trusted channel.
  • Do not let a stranger keep you on the phone while you move money or log in.
  • Protect your email first because it is often the reset path to everything else.
Scam prevention articles and printable checklists
Read the prevention guide, use the training module, and print a checklist for each scam category.
Article Hub

Email Scam Prevention

Prevent phishing emails, fake invoices, suspicious password resets, and account alerts before you click.
  • Check the full sender address, not just the display name.
  • Hover over links before clicking to inspect the real destination.
  • Be skeptical of urgent password resets, invoices, or account warnings you did not expect.
  • Do not open unexpected attachments from unknown or unusual senders.
  • Sign in by typing the official website yourself instead of using email links.
Read Prevention Article Open Module Article Hub Printable Checklist

SMS / Text Scam Prevention

Avoid smishing links, package texts, bank alerts, and one-time passcode scams before they work.
  • Do not tap links in unexpected texts about deliveries, banking, or account issues.
  • Treat one-time passcode requests as high risk.
  • Verify account alerts through the official app or website, not the text.
  • Block and delete suspicious texts instead of replying.
  • Be cautious of “wrong number” texts that quickly turn personal or urgent.
Read Prevention Article Open Module Article Hub Printable Checklist

Phone Scam Prevention

Learn how to stop spoofed caller ID, fake bank calls, tech support scams, and urgent payment pressure.
  • Do not trust caller ID alone because numbers can be spoofed.
  • Hang up on callers demanding immediate payment, secrecy, or account verification.
  • Never share passcodes, PINs, or MFA approvals on an incoming call.
  • Call the real organization back using its official phone number.
  • Do not let a stranger keep you on the phone while you log in or move money.
Read Prevention Article Open Module Article Hub Printable Checklist

Mail Scam Prevention

Avoid fake notices, debt letters, official-looking threats, prize mailers, and identity theft by mail.
  • Be suspicious of mailed threats, prizes, or urgent payment notices.
  • Do not send money because a letter looks official.
  • Verify debts, legal claims, or account notices independently.
  • Shred sensitive documents before throwing them away.
  • Be careful with QR codes or reply instructions included in suspicious mail.
Read Prevention Article Open Module Article Hub Printable Checklist

Advertisement & Popup Scam Prevention

Prevent fake virus popups, malicious ads, scareware, refund scams, and fake support pages.
  • Do not trust popups claiming your device is infected or your account is locked.
  • Do not call numbers displayed in popups or fake warning pages.
  • Close suspicious tabs instead of interacting with them.
  • Download software only from official vendor sites or trusted app stores.
  • Be skeptical of ads promising instant prizes, refunds, or guaranteed results.
Read Prevention Article Open Module Article Hub Printable Checklist

Romance Scam Prevention

Protect yourself from fake online relationships, emotional manipulation, emergency requests, and money loss.
  • Be cautious when a relationship becomes intense very quickly online.
  • Never send money, gift cards, or crypto to someone you have not met in real life.
  • Watch for repeated emergencies, travel problems, or requests for secrecy.
  • Verify identity outside the platform and reverse-search profile photos.
  • Be extra cautious when the person pushes the conversation off-platform quickly.
Read Prevention Article Open Module Article Hub Printable Checklist

Website & Social Media Scam Prevention

Avoid fake websites, cloned login pages, impersonation accounts, fake stores, and social media scams.
  • Type important website addresses manually instead of logging in from links.
  • Check for misspellings, odd domains, and poor login page quality.
  • Be cautious of fake stores, impersonation accounts, and giveaway scams.
  • Do not share personal or payment details through DMs just because a profile looks polished.
  • Use strong unique passwords and MFA on important accounts.
Read Prevention Article Open Module Article Hub Printable Checklist

Crypto & Investment Scam Prevention

Stop fake trading platforms, guaranteed returns, recovery scams, and high-pressure crypto fraud before you invest.
  • Be skeptical of guaranteed returns or pressure to invest immediately.
  • Do not trust “mentors” or strangers who move the conversation to private apps.
  • Research platforms, wallets, and companies through official sources before sending funds.
  • Assume recovery services and fake dashboards may be part of the scam.
  • Never connect wallets or transfer funds because of urgency alone.
Read Prevention Article Open Module Article Hub Printable Checklist
Printable scam prevention checklists
Print the checklist you want, keep it near a desk, or use it in training and outreach.
Print Ready
Scam prevention FAQ
Quick answers to the prevention questions people ask most.
FAQ
What is the best first step to avoid a scam?
Pause before acting, then verify the request independently.
What should I never share unexpectedly?
Passwords, one-time passcodes, MFA approvals, PINs, recovery codes, or rushed payments.
Which account should I protect first?
Your email account, because it is commonly used to reset other accounts.
What if I’m not sure whether something is real?
Assume it is unverified until you confirm it through an official source you found yourself.
Want stronger scam prevention habits?
Train by scam type, use the prevention articles, and print the checklists that fit your risk areas.
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