DIY Scam Flowchart
Answer a few questions to help determine if you're dealing with a potential scam.
Is your suspicious interaction a...
About the phone call:
Did the caller claim to be from:
High Scam Risk!
Government agencies like the IRS, Social Security, or FBI will not call you unexpectedly demanding immediate payment or personal information.
This is very likely a government impersonation scam. The caller may threaten you with arrest, deportation, or legal action unless you pay immediately - these are scare tactics.
Warning Signs to Watch For:
- Requests for gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency
- Urgent demands for immediate payment
- Threats of arrest or legal action
- Requests for personal information like SSN or banking details
High Scam Risk!
Unsolicited calls from "tech support" claiming issues with your computer are almost always scams.
This is likely a tech support scam. Scammers impersonate tech companies like Microsoft or Apple to trick you into giving them remote access to your computer or paying for fake services.
Warning Signs to Watch For:
- Unsolicited calls about technical problems you didn't report
- Claims they've detected viruses or problems on your computer
- Requests for remote access to your computer
- Pressure to purchase security software or support services
Recommended Actions:
- Hang up immediately
- Never give remote access to your computer to someone who called you
- Do not provide any personal information or payment details
- If concerned about your computer, contact a company directly using their official number
High Scam Risk!
Delivery scams have become very common, with scammers impersonating shipping companies to collect personal information or payments.
This is likely a delivery scam where someone is pretending to be from a delivery company to trick you into providing information or making a payment.
Warning Signs to Watch For:
- Claims about a package you weren't expecting
- Requests for additional delivery fees or customs charges
- Requests to verify personal information to "complete delivery"
- Pressure to act quickly to avoid package return
Recommended Actions:
- Never provide payment information over the phone to delivery companies
- Track packages through official company websites or apps
- If concerned, hang up and call the delivery company directly using their official number
- Check with friends or family if they sent you an unexpected package
Potential Scam Risk!
Any unexpected call asking for personal information, payment, or urgent action should be treated with caution.
Without more details it's difficult to identify the exact scam type, but many scams start with unexpected calls from unfamiliar entities.
General Warning Signs:
- Pressure to make immediate decisions
- Requests for payment in gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency
- Requests for personal or financial information
- Calls that seem too good to be true or create unnecessary fear
Why did you call them?
Moderate Scam Risk!
Scammers often post fake phone numbers online or in advertisements to trick people into calling them.
This could be a callback scam where scammers post false contact information to impersonate legitimate businesses.
Warning Signs to Watch For:
- The person seemed overly eager to collect personal information
- They requested payment through unusual methods (gift cards, wire transfers)
- They offered unrealistic deals, refunds, or services
- The call seemed unprofessional or the number redirected multiple times
Recommended Actions:
- Always verify phone numbers from the company's official website
- Be wary of numbers found through search engine ads or third-party sites
- Never provide payment information if you're unsure about legitimacy
- If concerned, hang up and call the official number listed on your bill or card
Low to Moderate Risk
Calling official customer service numbers is generally safe, but it's important to verify you called the correct number.
The risk level depends on how you found the number and what was discussed during the call.
Things to Consider:
- Did you get the number from the company's official website, bill, or product?
- Did they ask for unusual information not typically needed for customer service?
- Did they pressure you to make payments or share sensitive information?
- Did they offer unexpected refunds or require upfront fees?
Recommended Actions:
- Always call customer service numbers from official sources
- Be wary of providing sensitive information unless you're certain of legitimacy
- Check your accounts directly to verify any claimed issues
- Report suspicious interactions to the company's official fraud department
High Scam Risk!
Most robocalls that you didn't explicitly sign up for are illegal and many are scams.
This is very likely a robocall scam. These automated calls often impersonate government agencies, banks, tech companies, or offer fake services.
Warning Signs to Watch For:
- Pre-recorded message claiming to be from the IRS, Social Security, or other government agency
- Alerts about "suspicious activity" or problems with accounts
- Offers for lower interest rates, free vacations, or investment opportunities
- Prompts to "press 1" to speak with a representative
Recommended Actions:
- Hang up immediately without pressing any buttons
- Never provide personal information or payment details
- Register your phone number with the National Do Not Call Registry
- Report illegal robocalls to the FTC
High Scam Risk!
Banks rarely call customers unexpectedly asking for account information or passwords.
This is likely a bank impersonation scam. Legitimate banks would never ask for your full password, PIN, or to transfer money to a "safe account".
Recommended Actions:
- Hang up and call your bank directly using the number on your card
- Don't share passwords, PINs, or one-time codes
- Never transfer money based on an unexpected call
About the message:
About the email:
About the website or pop-up:
For other types of suspicious situations:
We recommend using our detailed analysis tools for a more personalized assessment.
About the account problem email:
High Scam Risk!
Legitimate companies rarely send unexpected emails asking you to verify your account information.
This is likely a phishing attempt to steal your login credentials or personal information.
Warning Signs to Watch For:
- The email asks for your password, social security number, or full credit card information
- The email contains links to unfamiliar websites
- The sender's email address doesn't match the company's official domain
- The email has spelling errors or poor grammar
Recommended Actions:
- Never click links in suspicious emails
- Contact the company directly through their official website or phone number
- Check the sender's email address carefully
- Report phishing attempts to the company and delete the email
High Scam Risk!
Companies don't typically send unexpected emails asking you to update payment information unless you've recently made a purchase.
This is likely a payment information phishing scam trying to steal your credit card or banking details.
Warning Signs to Watch For:
- Unexpected request to update payment when you haven't made a purchase
- The email contains suspicious links or attachments
- A sense of urgency to act immediately
- Generic greeting instead of using your name
Recommended Actions:
- Never enter payment information through links in emails
- Go directly to the company's official website and log in there
- Contact customer support using the official company phone number
- Report the email as phishing
High Scam Risk!
Cybercriminals often create a false sense of urgency by claiming there's a security problem with your account.
This is likely a security alert phishing scam designed to trick you into revealing sensitive information or downloading malware.
Warning Signs to Watch For:
- Urgent language about unauthorized access or suspicious activity
- Requesting you to "confirm" personal information
- Attachments claiming to be security updates
- Links to websites that don't match the official company domain
Recommended Actions:
- Never click on links or download attachments from suspicious emails
- Go directly to the company's website through your browser
- Check your account security directly on the official website
- Contact the company's official customer service
High Scam Risk!
Scammers often use threats of account suspension or deletion to create panic and urgency.
This is likely an account suspension phishing scam trying to manipulate you into taking immediate action without thinking.
Warning Signs to Watch For:
- Threatening immediate account suspension unless you act now
- Short deadlines to respond (often within 24-48 hours)
- Request to "verify" your account by providing personal information
- Poor grammar or spelling errors
Recommended Actions:
- Never respond to threatening emails with urgent deadlines
- Log into your account directly through the official website
- Look for any legitimate notifications within your account
- Contact customer service through official channels if you're concerned
What seems off about the email?
High Scam Risk!
Scammers often use email addresses that look similar to legitimate company domains but contain subtle differences.
This is likely an email spoofing scam where someone is impersonating a legitimate company.
Examples of Suspicious Email Addresses:
- Using numbers instead of letters (e.g., amazon@amaz0n.com)
- Adding extra words (e.g., paypal-secure@account-verify.com)
- Using hyphens or misspellings (e.g., support@face-book.com)
- Using completely different domains (e.g., microsoft@gmail.com)
Recommended Actions:
- Always check the email sender's address carefully
- Never respond to emails from suspicious addresses
- Report the email as phishing to your email provider
- Contact the company directly through their official website
High Scam Risk!
Unexpected email attachments are one of the most common ways to distribute malware.
This is likely a malware distribution attempt that could install ransomware, spyware, or other harmful software on your device.
Warning Signs to Watch For:
- Unexpected attachments, especially executable files (.exe, .zip, .js)
- Urgency to open the attachment immediately
- Vague explanations about what the attachment contains
- Email claims to be from a delivery service, bank, or government agency
Recommended Actions:
- Never open attachments from unknown senders
- Contact the sender through a known phone number to verify
- Scan attachments with antivirus software if you must open them
- Report suspicious emails to your IT department or email provider
High Scam Risk!
Creating a false sense of urgency is a classic scam tactic to pressure you into acting without thinking.
This is likely an urgent action phishing scam trying to manipulate you into making a mistake.
Warning Signs to Watch For:
- Extreme urgency or countdown timers
- Threats of negative consequences if you don't act immediately
- Claims of unauthorized charges or suspicious activity
- Requirement to provide personal or financial information urgently
Recommended Actions:
- Take a moment to pause and evaluate - legitimate businesses rarely demand immediate action
- Contact the company directly through their official website or phone number
- Never click on links in urgent emails
- Report suspicious urgent emails as phishing
High Scam Risk!
Pop-ups claiming your computer is infected are almost always scams designed to trick you into downloading malware or paying for fake security software.
This is a tech support scam that aims to frighten you into calling a fake support number or downloading harmful software.
Warning Signs to Watch For:
- Alarming pop-up with flashing colors or warning symbols
- Claims of multiple viruses or system damage detected
- Countdown timers creating urgency
- Phone numbers to call for "immediate assistance"
Recommended Actions:
- Close the browser or force quit the application
- Never call phone numbers displayed in pop-ups
- Do not download any suggested "repair" software
- Run a scan with legitimate antivirus software
High Scam Risk!
Unexpected messages with links are a common phishing tactic to steal information or install malware.
This is likely a smishing (SMS phishing) attempt trying to get you to visit a malicious website.
Warning Signs to Watch For:
- Shortened URLs that hide the actual destination
- Urgent messages about account problems
- Messages claiming to be from a bank, delivery service, or government agency
- Offers that seem too good to be true
Recommended Actions:
- Never click on links in unexpected text messages
- If the message claims to be from a company, contact them directly through their official app or website
- Block and report the number
- Delete the message
High Scam Risk!
Messages about money or payments that you weren't expecting are almost always scams.
This is likely a payment scam trying to trick you into sending money or providing financial information.
Common Payment Scam Types:
- Fake payment notifications (you received/sent money)
- Requests to confirm payment information
- Requests for money from "friends" (hacked accounts)
- Offers to receive a large sum of money in exchange for a small payment
Recommended Actions:
- Ignore and delete unexpected messages about money
- If it's from a "friend," contact them through a different method to verify
- Never provide payment information or send money based on unexpected messages
- Check your accounts directly through official apps or websites
High Scam Risk!
Legitimate companies rarely send text messages claiming your account needs attention.
This is likely an account phishing scam attempting to steal your login credentials or personal information.
Warning Signs to Watch For:
- Messages claiming your account has been compromised or suspended
- Requests to "verify" your identity by providing personal information
- Links to login pages that may look legitimate but are fake
- Urgent language creating pressure to act immediately
Recommended Actions:
- Never click on links in such messages
- Go directly to the official company website or app and log in there
- Contact customer service through official channels if you're concerned
- Report the scam to the purported company
High Scam Risk!
Unexpected prize notifications on websites are almost always scams.
This is likely a prize scam trying to collect your personal information or get you to pay a "processing fee" for a non-existent prize.
Warning Signs to Watch For:
- You never entered any contest or sweepstakes
- Requests for payment to "claim" your prize
- Requests for extensive personal information
- Claims you've won an expensive prize (iPhone, vacation, etc.)
Recommended Actions:
- Close the website immediately
- Never provide payment information to claim a "prize"
- Remember: legitimate prizes don't require you to pay money to receive them
- Clear your browser cache and run a security scan
High Scam Risk!
Fake login pages are a common way for scammers to steal your account credentials.
This could be a phishing website designed to look like a legitimate login page to steal your username and password.
Warning Signs to Watch For:
- The URL doesn't match the official website (check carefully for misspellings)
- No HTTPS/security lock icon in the browser address bar
- Poor design, spelling errors, or unprofessional appearance
- You received a direct link to this login page from an email or message
Recommended Actions:
- Always type the company's URL directly in your browser
- Check for HTTPS and the security lock icon before entering credentials
- If you suspect you've entered information on a fake site, change your passwords immediately
- Use two-factor authentication whenever possible
Analysis Needed
For detailed analysis of specific websites or online alerts, please use our main analysis tool.
Our AI-powered scam detector can analyze screenshots and provide a more thorough assessment.
High Scam Risk!
Tech support offers on unexpected pop-ups or suspicious websites are almost always scams.
This is likely a tech support scam designed to trick you into paying for fake services or downloading malware.
Warning Signs to Watch For:
- Unexpected pop-ups or websites claiming your device has problems
- Offers to "scan" your computer for free, then finding numerous "issues"
- Phone numbers to call for "immediate assistance"
- Claims to be from Microsoft, Apple, or other major tech companies
Recommended Actions:
- Close the browser or force quit the application
- Never call phone numbers displayed in pop-ups
- Do not download any suggested "repair" software
- If concerned about your device, contact official support directly
Moderate Scam Risk!
Fake tech support scams are common, especially when the number is found through search results.
This could be a fake tech support scam if you found the number through search rather than the company's official website.
Warning Signs to Watch For:
- They requested remote access to your computer right away
- They claimed to find numerous serious problems
- They pressured you to purchase expensive software or support plans
- They wanted payment in gift cards or unusual payment methods
Recommended Actions:
- Only contact tech support through official company websites
- Be wary of the top search results, which can be advertisements for scammers
- If you've allowed remote access, disconnect immediately and run security scans
- If you've paid, contact your payment provider to report fraud
Analysis Needed
For detailed analysis of specific phone calls, please use our main analysis tool.
Our AI-powered scam detector can analyze the specific details of your conversation.
About the person who sent the message:
High Scam Risk!
Romantic messages from people you've never met in person have a high likelihood of being scams.
This could be a romance scam. These scammers build emotional relationships to manipulate victims into sending money or sharing personal information.
Warning Signs to Watch For:
- They profess strong feelings very quickly
- Their profile photos look too perfect (often stolen from models)
- They always have excuses for why they can't video chat
- They eventually ask for money for emergencies, travel, or medical issues
Recommended Actions:
- Never send money to someone you haven't met in person
- Reverse image search their profile pictures
- Insist on video chats before developing a relationship
- Be wary of sob stories or requests for financial help
Low to Moderate Risk
Messages from people you know in real life are less likely to be scams, but account hacking is still possible.
If the message seems unusual for this person, their account may have been compromised.
Warning Signs to Watch For:
- Sudden requests for money or gift cards
- Writing style that doesn't match how they usually communicate
- Sending suspicious links or requesting unusual information
- Claims of being stranded or in an emergency situation
Recommended Actions:
- Contact the person through another method to verify it's really them
- Never send money based solely on messages without verbal confirmation
- Be suspicious of unexpected financial requests, even from friends
- Report potentially hacked accounts to the platform
High Scam Risk!
Online-only relationships have a high risk of being romance scams, especially if you've never met in person or video chatted.
This could be a long-term romance scam. These scammers invest significant time building emotional connections before requesting money.
Warning Signs to Watch For:
- They avoid video chats or meeting in person
- They claim to work overseas, often in the military or on oil rigs
- They have repeated emergencies requiring financial help
- They promise to visit but always have last-minute complications
Recommended Actions:
- Insist on regular video chats to confirm identity
- Never send money, cryptocurrency, or gift cards
- Be wary if they request intimate photos (which can lead to extortion)
- Share your situation with trusted friends or family for perspective
High Scam Risk!
Legitimate companies have professional communications with proper grammar and spelling.
This is likely a phishing email. Poor grammar and spelling errors are hallmarks of scam messages.
Warning Signs to Watch For:
- Multiple spelling and grammar mistakes
- Awkward phrasing or unusual word choices
- Inconsistent formatting or misaligned text
- Mismatched company name or brand inconsistencies
Recommended Actions:
- Delete the email without clicking any links
- Report it as phishing to your email provider
- Contact the company directly through their official website if concerned
- Never respond to the email or provide any information
High Scam Risk!
Scammers often create emails with logos and formatting that look similar to legitimate companies, but with subtle differences.
This is likely a brand spoofing attack attempting to impersonate a trusted company.
Warning Signs to Watch For:
- Blurry or slightly distorted company logos
- Colors that don't match the company's official branding
- Layout that resembles the legitimate company but feels "off"
- Inconsistent fonts or sizing throughout the email
Recommended Actions:
- Compare the email to known legitimate emails from the company
- Don't click any links - go directly to the company's website by typing the URL
- Report the email as phishing to your email provider
- Contact the company directly if you're concerned about your account
High Scam Risk!
Legitimate companies typically address you by name in important communications.
This is likely a mass phishing attempt sent to thousands of people at once, using generic greetings like "Dear Customer" or "Dear User."
Warning Signs to Watch For:
- Generic greetings like "Dear User" or "Valued Customer"
- No personalization despite claiming to be about your specific account
- Incorrect name or information about you
- Request for action on an account you don't have with them
Recommended Actions:
- Delete the email without clicking any links
- Report it as phishing to your email provider
- Never provide personal information in response to such emails
- Check your actual accounts by logging in directly through official websites
Analysis Needed
For detailed analysis of specific emails that don't fit the common patterns, please use our main analysis tool.
Our AI-powered scam detector can analyze the complete email content for more accurate results.
Analysis Needed
For detailed analysis of specific text messages or social media communications, please use our main analysis tool.
Our AI-powered scam detector can analyze the specific content and context of your message.