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Plain answers about suspicious calls, texts and emails

A donation envelope and a pen on a kitchen table beside a telephone

A caller or text asks for a donation. How to check the charity

Pressure to donate by phone, text or gift card is a sign of a charity scam. A simple way to check a charity, pay safely and report a fake.

The EditorsNov 6, 20263 min read

A small SIM card tray and a paperclip on a wooden table next to a smartphone

Code and verification scams

Your phone number can be taken over. How SIM swap fraud works

In a SIM swap, a criminal moves your number to their phone to catch your codes. How it happens, what carriers must now do, and how to protect yourself.

The EditorsNov 4, 20263 min read

A laptop screen showing a simple line chart on a desk with a notepad and pen, no people visible

Payment scams

A stranger offers to manage your crypto. Is it real?

A message from an investment manager or friendly stranger promises crypto profits with little risk. How the scam works and the steps that keep your money safe.

The EditorsNov 2, 20264 min read

A landline telephone handset resting beside a notepad and pen on a quiet desk

Going around now

A caller says the FTC will deactivate your phone number

The FTC warned on 22 October 2026 about callers who say your number is being used for scams, then pass you to a fake police officer. What to do.

The EditorsOct 29, 20263 min read

A Medicare-style paper statement and reading glasses on a kitchen table beside a telephone

Government scams

A caller asks for your Medicare number. Is it real?

Medicare does not call to sell you anything or ask for your number out of the blue. How to spot the fake call, and who to ring to check.

The EditorsOct 26, 20264 min read

A closed front door seen from inside with a small hallway table, a landline telephone and an envelope on it

Bank scams

A caller says a courier will collect your cash, gold or card

A caller sends someone to your door to collect cash, gold or a card "for safekeeping". Why this is a scam, and the simple step that ends it.

The EditorsOct 19, 20264 min read

A smartphone screen showing a plain approval prompt with approve and deny buttons, resting on a desk

Code and verification scams

Your phone keeps asking you to approve a login. What now?

Repeated approval prompts on your phone, or a caller who asks you to tap approve, are a sign that someone has your password. What to do, step by step.

The EditorsOct 14, 20264 min read

A landline telephone and a large print address book on a sideboard in a quiet living room

How to check

How to help a parent who keeps getting scam calls

Kind, practical ways to support a parent who is getting scam calls, from call blocking to a calm plan for the next call, without taking away their independence.

The EditorsOct 12, 20264 min read

A smartphone on a sofa cushion with its screen showing an incoming call, no faces visible

Family and romance scams

A call sounds exactly like your son or grandchild. Is it cloned?

Scammers can copy a voice from a short clip and use it in a family emergency call. How the call goes, what the FBI and FTC advise, and how to check.

The EditorsOct 8, 20264 min read