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?!How to Adult

Lesson

How to recognize scams

Published:
October 12, 2026
Review status:
Needs verification — carefully written, not yet checked by a qualified professional

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Needs verification

  • Specific current scam trends, since tactics evolve quickly and official warnings change over time.

We left these specific numbers out until they're checked against current official sources.

AThe super simple explanation

Scammers often pretend to be a trusted source, like a bank, government agency, or family member.

Common warning signs include urgent pressure, requests for gift cards or wire transfers, and offers that seem too good to be true.

Legitimate organizations won't demand immediate payment through gift cards or threaten arrest over the phone.

If something feels off, pause, verify independently, and don't act immediately.

BWhy does this even matter?

  • Scams cost Americans billions of dollars every year and can target anyone, regardless of age or education.
  • Recognizing common tactics before you're in the moment makes it much easier to pause and avoid falling for one.
  • Knowing how to verify and report scams can help protect you and others.

COkay, how does it work?

A scammer reaches out by phone, text, email, social media, or in person, often impersonating someone trustworthy.

DShow me an example

A fake IRS call

Someone calls claiming to be from the IRS, saying Lupe owes back taxes and must pay immediately with gift cards or face arrest.

Lupe hangs up and calls the IRS directly using the number on their official website, confirming there's no such debt — it was a scam.

Illustrative example with made-up people and numbers — not current rates or rules.

EWords you should know

Phishing
Fake messages designed to trick you into giving up personal or financial information.
Imposter scam
A scam where someone pretends to be a trusted person or organization, like a government agency or relative.
Spoofing
Faking caller ID or an email address to look like it's from someone legitimate.
Phishing link
A fraudulent link designed to steal login or payment information when clicked.
More in “Words everyone pretends to know” →

FCommon mistakes

  • Acting immediately out of fear or urgency without verifying the claim.
  • Sending payment via gift cards, wire transfer, or crypto to someone you don't personally know and trust.
  • Trusting caller ID or a familiar-looking email address as proof of identity.
  • Giving out personal or financial information to someone who contacted you first.
  • Feeling too embarrassed to report a scam after falling for it.

GThings to know

  • You can report scams to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, which helps track and warn about scam patterns.
  • Legitimate government agencies generally don't demand immediate payment by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency.
  • Scammers can fake caller ID and email addresses, so familiarity alone isn't proof of legitimacy.
  • If you shared financial information with a scammer, contact your bank or card issuer immediately to protect your accounts.

HQuick recap

  • Scams rely on urgency, fear, or too-good-to-be-true offers to rush your decisions.
  • Unusual payment requests like gift cards or wire transfers are a major red flag.
  • Verify independently using contact information you look up yourself, not information given by the caller.
  • Report scams to the FTC to help protect yourself and others.

IQuestions people are too embarrassed to ask

JQuiz me

Totally optional. Nobody's grading you.

Question 1

Q1. What's a common red flag of a scam?

Question 2

Q2. Why do scammers create urgency?

Question 3

Q3. Where can you report scams in the U.S.?

KWhat next?

  1. 1.Save your bank's official phone number in your contacts so you never rely on a caller's number.
  2. 2.Bookmark ReportFraud.ftc.gov in case you need to report a scam.

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LTrustworthy resources