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The safest way to handle a suspicious online message is to pause, avoid its links and payment instructions, and verify the claim using contact details you find independently. No app or device blocks every scam, but a few habits can make it harder for scammers to get your money, passwords, or personal information—and quick action can limit damage if you have already responded.
Use this pause, verify, protect routine
- Pause. Treat unexpected contact and pressure to act immediately as reasons to stop. The FTC’s scam-signs guidance puts it plainly: “Scammers tell you to hurry.” FTC: What are the signs of a scam?
- Verify independently. Do not rely on a phone number, link, or website included in the message. Find the organization’s contact information yourself, or use an app or website you already know is genuine. Caller ID and familiar branding do not prove who contacted you.
- Protect your information and money. Do not share passwords or sensitive information in response to an unexpected request, and do not pay an unexpected contact using a method they insist on. If there may be a real account problem, reach the organization through a trusted channel.
What are the signs of an online scam?
Look at the situation and the request, not just how polished the message appears. Scammers may impersonate government agencies, businesses, friends, relatives, or romantic interests. An official-looking logo, familiar name, or convincing writing does not establish that a message is genuine.
- Unexpected contact: A message or call arrives out of the blue and asks you to take action, provide information, or send money.
- Urgency or pressure: The sender says you must act immediately, keep the matter secret, or avoid checking with anyone else. Stop and talk to someone you trust if you feel rushed.
- A link or attachment tied to a threat or problem: The message claims your account is in trouble, a payment is overdue, or a delivery is delayed, then directs you to click or open something.
- Unusual payment instructions: The sender demands cash, a gift card, wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or a payment app—especially if they insist on one of these methods. Such payments can be difficult to trace or recover.
- A request for sensitive information: A message asks for a password, account number, Social Security number, or other personal details through an unexpected contact.
Spelling mistakes are not required for a message to be fraudulent. When a message could be legitimate, check the claim through a contact route you find independently rather than deciding based on appearance alone. See the FTC’s warning signs and verification advice.
How can I check whether an email or text is really from my bank?
- Do not tap the message’s link or open its attachment. Phishing messages may claim an account problem, overdue payment, or delivery issue. Links and attachments can lead to credential theft or other harm. The FTC says phishing can be used to steal passwords, account numbers, or Social Security numbers.
- Open the bank’s established app or type its known web address yourself. Check for the claimed issue there. Do not use contact details supplied in the suspicious message.
- Call a number you independently know is the bank’s. Use a number from a bank card or a trusted statement or source, not the number in the message.
- Report and delete the suspicious message. You can report phishing email to the Anti-Phishing Working Group at reportphishing@apwg.org; suspicious texts can be forwarded to 7726 (SPAM). You can also report the scam to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
These checks apply even when the message appears to come from a bank or another familiar organization. Read the FTC’s phishing guidance for more on recognizing and avoiding phishing.
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Protect your accounts in layers
Use a different strong password for every account
Reusing a password lets a stolen password put more than one account at risk. Use a distinct, hard-to-guess password for each account. If a password is exposed, change it promptly everywhere it was reused.
Enable multifactor authentication
Multifactor authentication (MFA) asks for another proof of identity in addition to a password. The factors generally involve something you know, something you possess, or something inherent to you, such as a biometric. A code, an authenticator credential, or a physical security key may serve as a possession factor, depending on what the service supports. The FTC says, “Multi-factor authentication makes it harder for scammers to log in to your accounts if they do get your username and password.” It adds a layer of protection, not a guarantee.
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- TEST THE CARD: Test the card is working at your local supermarket. At the self-service checkout machines, combine the card and a contactless card on the payment reader. Payment with the contactless card will be blocked and an error message should occur on the reader.
A FIDO-compatible hardware security key is an optional physical second factor for accounts that support that key and its authentication standard. Check the service’s requirements and the key’s compatibility before relying on one; a key is not a scam scanner or complete protection system.
Keep software updated and back up important data
Install software and security updates, and keep backups of important data. These steps are part of sensible account and device protection, but they do not replace checking unexpected requests independently.
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What should I do if I already clicked, paid, or shared information?
Act promptly. Choose the steps that match what happened; if more than one applies, take all relevant steps.
If you sent money
- Contact the bank, card issuer, wire-transfer service, payment app, or other provider you used.
- Explain that the payment was connected to a scam and ask whether it can be stopped or reversed.
- Report the fraud to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
A provider may have options, but a refund or recovery is not guaranteed. The FTC’s scam recovery guidance describes steps to take based on what you shared or paid.
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If you shared a password
- Change the password on the affected account and on any other account where you reused it.
- Turn on two-factor authentication if the service offers it.
- If you cannot get into the account, use the service’s official account-recovery process.
If you shared identity information
If you shared your Social Security number or other identity information, go to IdentityTheft.gov for a recovery plan tailored to your situation.
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If you gave someone remote device access or downloaded a suspicious file
- Update your device’s security software, run a scan, and remove any detected problems.
- From a device you trust, change passwords that may have been exposed.
- If you need help, contact the device maker or another support source you trust.
If you reported nothing or lost no money
You can still report the attempt to ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Forward suspicious texts to 7726 (SPAM) and phishing email to reportphishing@apwg.org.
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What recent FTC reports show—and what they do not
FTC figures offer context, not a prediction of what any one person will encounter. In its 2026 report on 2025 reports, the FTC recorded more than 1 million imposter-scam reports and said reported losses increased nearly 20% to $3.5 billion. Those are reports and reported losses, not a count of every scam or a complete measure of money lost. FTC: New trends in reports of imposter scams.
In a separate 2026 report about 2025, the FTC said more people reported scam contact by text than by any other method, while reported losses overall were highest for scams originating on social media. Contact frequency and total reported losses are different measures. FTC: How are scammers trying to reach you?.
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