By Tonya Stratton
A suspicious message can look polished, personal, and urgent. It may appear to come from a bank, delivery company, government office, relative, or familiar business. The safest response is to slow down. You are allowed to verify a message, ignore it, or ask someone you trust before taking action.
Recognize the pressure signals
Scammers often create urgency: “Act now,” “Your account will close,” “You owe a fee,” or “Do not tell anyone.” Be cautious when a message demands payment, gift cards, cryptocurrency, passwords, a verification code, or personal information. Unexpected requests are a warning even when the caller knows your name.
Do not trust caller ID or a familiar logo
Caller ID can be altered, and a text can copy the appearance of a real company. A phone number or logo is not proof of identity. If someone claims to be from your bank, hang up and call the number on your card or official statement. Do not use a number or link supplied in the unexpected message.
Inspect links without opening them
On a computer, move your pointer over a link without clicking to view its destination. On a phone, avoid tapping links in unexpected texts. Watch for misspellings, extra words, unusual endings, or a domain that is close to—but not exactly—the organization’s official domain.
When in doubt, open the official app or type the organization’s known website into your browser yourself. Never enter a password or payment information after following an unexpected link.
Use a pause-and-verify routine
- Stop responding.
- Do not click, download, or call back from the message.
- Contact the person or organization through a trusted method you find independently.
- Ask a trusted family member or friend if the situation feels confusing.
- Save evidence only if it is safe, then report and delete the message.
The Federal Trade Commission’s guidance on spam texts explains reporting options. The FTC also provides advice on recognizing and avoiding phishing scams.
Know common scenarios
A fake delivery message may ask you to pay a small redelivery fee. A fake bank alert may request a one-time code. A “grandchild” emergency may ask for secrecy and immediate money. A tech-support caller may claim your computer is infected. In each case, end the contact and verify independently.
If you already clicked or shared information
Act promptly without blaming yourself. Close the page, disconnect from the internet if malware is a concern, and contact your bank or card issuer using an official number. Change compromised passwords from a trusted device, beginning with email, and enable multifactor authentication. Monitor accounts and keep notes about what happened.
If money or identity information was involved, report the incident through the FTC’s official reporting service and consider contacting the relevant financial institution immediately. A trusted person can help you organize the steps.
Make safety easier every day
Turn on automatic updates, use a screen lock, and keep contact information for your bank and close family in a safe place. Consider telling relatives that you will never make an urgent financial decision without calling them directly. That simple family rule can interrupt a scam.
Confidence comes from taking your time
Scams work by rushing people. A pause is a protection, not a failure. Verify unexpected requests through a trusted channel, refuse secrecy, and ask for help when something feels wrong. With a few habits, you can use your phone and the internet with greater confidence after 55.