Scammers push urgency, secrecy, and weird payment methods. Real companies are the opposite: slow enough to verify, clear in writing, and easy to call back. Use this as your quick gut check when a text, call, email, or doorstep pitch feels off. If one of these shows up, stop and verify with a number you look up yourself.
1. Demand Gift Cards, Crypto, or Wire as “Payment”
No real company asks for store cards or Bitcoin to fix a bill. That’s a classic tell, spelled out in the FTC’s guide to gift card scams. Pay only with traceable, reversible methods after you verify the business.
2. Threaten Arrest, Deportation, or Shutoff if You Don’t Pay Now
Pressure is the point. Government and utilities say to pause and follow basic steps on how to avoid a scam. Hang up, find the real number on a bill or .gov site, and call back.
3. Ask for Your Full SSN, Passwords, or 2FA Codes by Text or Email
Legit reps don’t want your login codes. If someone pushes for “verification” details, treat it like a Social Security imposter play and review SSA’s scam warnings. Share only what a secure, official site requests after you sign in yourself.
4. Tell You to Pay or Fix Issues Through a Payment App Only
Zelle, Cash App, and Venmo offer little recourse once money moves. The CFPB explains common payment app scams. If a seller insists on instant P2P, walk.
5. Refuse to Let You Hang Up and Call Back on the Official Number
Spoofed caller ID is cheap. The FCC’s page on robocalls and spoofing shows why scammers keep you on the line. Real companies welcome a call-back using a number you look up.
6. Send “Verify Your Account” Links by Text Out of the Blue
Cold texts with login links are phishing. Use the company’s app or type the site address yourself. If the message feels off, treat it as fraud and report it.
7. Charge You a Fee to Get a Job or Ask You to Buy Starter Kits
Hiring doesn’t require “processing fees.” The FTC’s primer on job scams flags fake recruiters and equipment schemes. Real employers pay you, not the other way around.
8. Overpay With a Check and Ask You to Refund the Difference
That “extra” money is fake and the bank will reverse it. See the FTC’s breakdown of fake check scams. Never send funds back until your bank confirms a deposit has fully cleared.
9. Pop Up Uninvited to “Fix” Your Computer and Ask for Remote Access
Tech giants don’t cold-call about viruses. The FTC shows how tech support scams reel you in. If you didn’t start the help request, don’t install anything.
10. Guarantee a Loan or Credit Repair if You Pay Upfront
No one can promise approvals or scrub accurate negatives for a fee. Legit lenders disclose rates in writing, and credit bureaus handle disputes. Skip anyone who asks for money before results.
11. Ask You to Pay Your Taxes or “Release Funds” Through Nontraditional Methods
The IRS doesn’t demand gift cards, wires, or crypto. Check current warnings on tax scams and consumer alerts. If it’s real, you’ll find it in your IRS online account or in official mail.
12. “Confirm” a Change of Address or Mail Forwarding by Link or Text
USPS changes happen on USPS.com, not through random links. The Postal Inspection Service explains change-of-address scams. If your mail shifts unexpectedly, contact USPS directly.
13. Tell You to Keep the Deal Secret “So It Doesn’t Get Canceled”
Secrecy protects the scammer, not you. Real businesses encourage you to compare, read, and ask questions. If they push silence, walk away.
14. Refuse to Send a Written Contract, Receipt, or Return Policy
Legit companies put promises on paper. You should get terms, dates, and contacts before you pay. No paperwork means no deal.
15. Charge for Free Government Forms or “Priority Access” to Benefits
Official forms and applications are free. If someone offers a shortcut, verify on your state site or USA.gov. Pay only for value you can’t get yourself.
16. Push You to Move a Marketplace Deal Off-Platform
Taking it “offline” kills buyer protections. Pay inside the platform and keep messages there. Scammers want you in cash or P2P where disputes fail.
17. Hide Their Physical Address and Real Customer Service Number
Legit businesses are easy to reach and easy to research. If contact details are vague or constantly changing, assume risk. Search state business records before sending money.
18. Ask for Photos of Both Sides of Your Credit Card to “Verify”
No real business needs that. Use secure checkout pages only, and set transaction alerts. Freeze your card if you already shared images.
19. Ask You to Read Back One-Time Passcodes “To Confirm Your Identity”
Those codes move money or take over accounts. Never share OTPs, recovery phrases, or authenticator codes. If a rep insists, it’s a scam.
20. Say Medicare Needs Your SSN or Bank Info to “Reissue Your Card”
Medicare doesn’t cold-call for that. HHS-OIG lists common Medicare fraud hooks to avoid. Call the number on your card if you’re unsure.
21. Keep Changing the Story When You Ask Basic Questions
Shifting terms and fuzzy answers signal trouble. Real companies welcome scrutiny and stay consistent. If it feels off, stop and verify before you spend a cent.
