Scams & Fraud
Scammers count on you not knowing your rights. Learn to recognize the most common scams, what to do the moment you’ve been defrauded, how to claw money back from your bank or card, and where to report fraud so you can actually recover.
All Scams & Fraud guides
- Gift Card, Zelle, or Crypto Payment Demands: How to Spot a Scam
No court, agency, or utility ever demands gift cards, Zelle, or crypto. Learn why that's the top scam red flag and how to verify and report it.
- Is This Website a Scam? Free Scam Website Checker Steps
Free step-by-step scam website checker: use WHOIS, SSL, reviews, and payment red flags to vet a site before you pay, plus how to report fraud.
- Is This Text a Scam? How to Tell If a Text Message Is From a Scammer
Got a suspicious text? Learn the red flags of smishing scams, how to verify a message, and how to report it to the FTC and FCC. Calm, step-by-step guide.
- Is This a Scam? How to Tell If Something Is Legit
A universal checklist to tell if a call, text, email, or offer is a scam or legit, plus how to verify, document, and report fraud safely.
- Can a Fraudulent Wire Transfer Be Reversed? Steps to Recover Your Money
A fraudulent wire transfer can sometimes be recalled if you act within hours. Learn the federal rules, the 24-hour window, and exactly who to call first.
- Signs You're Dealing With a Scammer: 12 Red Flags
Worried it's a scam? Learn the 12 behavioral red flags of fraud, how scammers pressure you, and the practical steps to verify, document, and report.
- How to Avoid Debt Collection Scams: Red Flags and Your Rights
Spot debt collection scams, know your FDCPA rights, demand written validation, and report fake collectors to the CFPB, FTC, and your state Attorney General.
- Can a Creditor or Debt Collector Garnish Your Venmo Account?
Can a creditor or debt collector garnish your Venmo? Usually only with a court judgment. Learn your FDCPA rights, exemptions, and how to protect your money.
- Can Debt Collectors Be Scams? How to Spot a Fake Debt Collector
Yes, fake debt collectors are a common scam. Learn how to spot phantom-debt fraud, verify a real collector, and protect your money and your rights.
- Is This Phone Number a Scammer? How to Check a Suspicious Caller
Got a suspicious call? Learn how to reverse-look-up a number, spot spoofing, and check whether a phone number is a scammer before you call back.
- What Is Wire Fraud? How Wire Transfer Scams Actually Work
Wire fraud explained in plain English: how wire transfer scams work, the federal law behind them, and the real steps to take if you have been targeted.
- 'You Missed Jury Duty - There's a Warrant': Text and Call Scams Explained
A text or call claiming you missed jury duty and owe a fine or face arrest is almost always a scam. Here's how it works and how to verify and report it.
- Common Wire Fraud Scams to Watch For (and How to Avoid Them)
Spot common wire fraud scams—real estate closing, business email, romance—before you send money. Practical prevention steps and what to do if you've been hit.
- Is This Email From a Scammer? How to Identify Phishing Emails
A real-time checklist to spot phishing emails: check the sender, links, urgency, and grammar before you click. Plus how to report scams to the FTC and CFPB.
- Is the Apple Security Alert a Scam? (Yes, Here's Why)
That "Apple Security Alert" pop-up is a scam. Apple never locks your browser or asks you to call a number. Here's how to close it safely and report it.
- Is That DMV Text a Scam? How to Spot Fake DMV Messages
Got a text claiming you owe the DMV? It's almost certainly a scam. Learn how to spot fake DMV smishing texts, what to do, and where to report it.
- What to Do If You're a Victim of Wire Fraud (Emergency Checklist)
Lost money to wire fraud? Act fast: contact your bank, file with the FBI's IC3 and the FTC, document everything, and know when to call a lawyer.