Keep this by your desk or near your phone!
Scammers rely on two things: speed and emotion. When they can make you feel panicked or excited, your logical brain takes a backseat. This checklist is designed to be your “logic anchor” to help you slow down and evaluate the situation.
🛑 The “Instant Red Flag” Test
If the answer to any of these is YES, it is 100% a scam.
- [ ] Did they ask you to pay via Gift Card (Apple, Google Play, etc.)?
- [ ] Did they ask you to send money via Cryptocurrency (Bitcoin ATM)?
- [ ] Did they ask you to move money to a “Safe Warehouse” or a “Secured Account”?
- [ ] Do they want you to keep the conversation a secret from your family or bank?
- [ ] Did they ask for Remote Access to your computer or phone?
🛡️ Daily Digital Defense
- [ ] Enable MFA/2FA: Use Multi-Factor Authentication (text code or app) on every account—especially banking and email.
- [ ] Silence Unknown Callers: Go to your phone settings and toggle this on. If it’s important, they will leave a voicemail.
- [ ] Check the Link: Hover your mouse over any link in an email before clicking. Does the address look “funky” (e.g., service-paypal-secure-login.net instead of paypal.com)?
- [ ] Use a Password Manager: Stop reusing the same password! If one site gets breached, the scammers have the “skeleton key” to your entire life.
📞 If You Get a “Urgent” Call or Text…
Before you do anything, take a deep breath and follow these steps:
- The “Call Back” Rule: Hang up. Find the official number for the company (on the back of your credit card or their official website) and call them back yourself.
- The “Family Check”: Call a trusted friend or family member and tell them the story. Scams fall apart the moment you explain them out loud to someone else.
- The Google Test: Type the phone number or the specific “story” they told you into Google with the word “scam” (e.g., “Amazon account locked calling from 800-number scam”).
Trixie’s Golden Rule: > Legitimate companies and government agencies will never pressure you to act immediately or threaten you with arrest over the phone. If they are rushing you, they are scamming you.
Useful Links for Your Bookmarks
- Report Fraud: FTC.gov
- Check Data Breaches: HaveIBeenPwned.com
- Identity Theft Help: IdentityTheft.gov