About Is This Call Real

Plain answers about suspicious calls, texts and emails, for readers 60 and over and the families who look out for them.

What you will find here

How to check. Step by step ways to tell whether a call, text or email is real.

Bank scams. Fake fraud departments, safe account stories and bank messages.

Government scams. Calls and texts that pretend to be tax, benefits, police or immigration.

Tech support scams. Pop-ups, fake virus warnings and callers who want to control your computer.

Payment scams. Gift cards, crypto machines, wire transfers and other payments that cannot be undone.

Family and romance scams. Calls and messages that borrow a loved one's voice or heart.

Code and verification scams. Requests for one-time codes and app approvals.

Going around now. Scam patterns reported right now.

How we work

We start every article with the answer, then show the reasoning so you can check it. We explain trade-offs in plain words and say when the answer changes for your situation. We do not claim to have lab-tested products. Where a topic touches health, safety or money, we keep claims general, point to official sources and suggest you ask a qualified professional.

If we get something wrong, tell us and we will fix it and update the date on the article.

How we make money

The site is free to read. It is paid for by advertising and by affiliate links to shops. If you buy through one of those links we may earn a small commission, and it costs you nothing extra. Products are chosen because they fit the question being answered, not because of who pays.

Who writes here

The Editors, Editorial team. Every guide is checked against official consumer warnings and shows its sources and review date.

Get in touch

Corrections, questions and ideas are welcome on the contact page.