FREE FAMILY SCAM SAFETY GUIDE
Before you click,
call, or pay.
An urgent call. A small bill. A voice that sounds like someone you love. Choose a situation below and get a few practical steps you can use right now.
A little space to stop.
A clear next step.
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01A call from my bankThey say my money is at risk.
Hang up. Contact your bank yourself.
The caller sounds professional. The number may even look familiar. Then comes the instruction: move your money to a safe account.
- End the call. Use the number printed on your bank card or your bank’s official app to check what is happening.
- Do not transfer money, withdraw cash, or buy cryptocurrency because an unexpected caller says it will protect your savings.
- Do not give an incoming caller a password or a verification code. Caller ID can be faked.
Words you can use
I’m going to end this call and contact my bank using the number on my card.
02A family emergencySomeone I love supposedly needs money.
Verify the person through another route.
Someone sounds frightened and says they are your child or grandchild. They need money immediately and ask you to keep it secret. A familiar-sounding voice is not proof of identity.
- End the call and call your relative on a number you already have. If you cannot reach them, call another trusted family member.
- Do not send money while someone pressures you to stay on the line or keep the request secret.
- Agree on a private family code phrase in advance. Treat it as one extra check, not a replacement for calling back.
Words you can use
I care about you. I’m going to call you back on your usual number and check with the family.
03A suspicious textA toll, traffic ticket, or delivery fee.
Check the claim without using the message.
The amount looks small, but the text threatens a late fee or another consequence. Its link or QR code leads you to a payment page.
- Do not reply, use the link, or scan the QR code in an unexpected payment demand.
- Open the real agency’s website or app independently, or call a number you know is correct. Check whether you actually owe anything.
- Use your phone’s report-junk feature, or forward an unwanted text to 7726. Then delete it.
Words you can use
I can check this in the official app or website. I do not need to pay through this text.
04A bill or computer warningThey want me to call or install something.
Find the company yourself before responding.
An unexpected bill or alarming computer message tells you to call for help. The person who answers asks for payment or access to your computer.
- Do not call a number in an unexpected warning or bill. Check your account through the company’s official app or website.
- Do not give an unexpected caller remote access to your device or install software at their direction.
- For travel help, use the airline’s official app or your booking confirmation. A phone number appearing in search results is not proof it belongs to the airline.
Words you can use
I’ll check my account and contact the company through its official app.
05An online friend wants moneyA relationship turns into an investment pitch.
Keep an online relationship separate from your money.
Someone builds a connection over weeks or months, then offers to teach you an investment strategy. A convincing website or an early withdrawal does not prove an investment is legitimate.
- Do not send money or cryptocurrency to an online love interest you have not met in person.
- Pause an investment introduced through an unexpected message or online relationship. Get an independent second opinion.
- Do not pay an extra tax or fee to unlock supposed profits on a suspicious platform. Save the messages and report the account.
Words you can use
I don’t send money or make investments through people I’ve met online.
06A job asks me to pay firstI must deposit money to unlock earnings.
Stop when the job requires your money.
A recruiter offers simple online tasks. A small early payment makes it feel real. Then you must deposit your own money to continue or withdraw your earnings.
- Do not pay a deposit to unlock wages or complete another level of tasks.
- Check a job through the employer’s real careers page and independently verified contact information.
- Keep the offer and payment records if you have already paid. Contact the payment provider promptly.
Words you can use
I won’t deposit money to receive pay. I’ll verify this job directly with the employer.
TAKE THE NEXT STEPAlready clicked, shared information, or paid?
Start with the action that matches what happened. You do not need to tell your story publicly.
If money left your account
Contact your bank, card issuer, or payment service immediately. Describe the transaction and ask whether it can be stopped or reversed. Recovery is not guaranteed.
If you shared a password or device access
Change the affected password from a trusted device, and change it anywhere else you reused it. If you allowed remote access, disconnect the affected device and get help from a trusted support provider.
If you shared identity information
Go directly to IdentityTheft.gov for a recovery plan. Keep messages, receipts, and dates. Do not post account numbers or identity documents in comments.
Report what happened
Report the scam at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Internet crime can also be reported at IC3.gov. Someone who asks you to pay upfront to recover lost money may be trying to scam you again.
If someone is in immediate danger, call 911. For guidance specific to what you shared, visit the FTC’s recovery guide.
KEEP IT CLOSE
Give your family
a plan to follow.
Save the printable guide. Choose a trusted person to call. Keep the phone checklist somewhere you can find it when a message feels urgent.
Download the family checklistFree four-page PDF · Large, readable type
KEEP BY YOUR PHONE
You can end the conversation.
“I’m going to hang up and check this through a number I already trust.”
- Pause before paying or sharing.
- Contact the person or company yourself.
- Talk it through with someone you trust.
FROM JOHN TO YOUR INBOX
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About this guide and its sources
This educational guide adapts situations covered on Intelligence For Your Life. It cannot verify an individual caller, message, transaction, or investment. For urgent financial or account problems, contact the relevant institution directly.
Guidance reviewed September 29, 2026. Each topic includes an official source. Additional references:
How we measure use of this guide
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