Guides: simple fixes that keep scammers out

A scam page tells you what a bad text or call looks like. A guide is different: it’s a fix you do once, at your own pace, that makes the next scam less likely to work. Each guide takes the steps one at a time and links every fact to the official source it came from.

You don’t need to do everything today. Pick one guide, set aside some quiet time, and work through it. If a step asks for something you don’t have handy, it’s fine to stop and come back later.

What each guide covers

How to freeze your credit: what a freeze does, how to place one at Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, how to lift it when you apply for a loan or an apartment, and how a freeze compares with a fraud alert or a credit lock. A freeze is free and doesn’t affect your credit score (CFPB).

What to do after a data breach: a checklist sorted by what was exposed, from a password to a Social Security number, so you only do the steps that apply to you. If someone has already used your information, IdentityTheft.gov builds a personal recovery plan.

Both guides work well together. If a breach notice says your Social Security number was exposed, the data breach checklist will point you to the credit freeze guide as one of the next steps.

The guides

• How to freeze your creditFree by law, doesn't touch your score. Equifax, Experian, TransUnion, and the optional extras.
• What to do after a data breachGot a breach notice? The steps depend on what was exposed. Here's the checklist.

Start here: the scam pages people use most

Not sure where to begin? These pages cover the texts, calls, and requests that show up most often. Each one shows what the scam looks like, how to check it safely, and what to do if you already clicked or paid.

• Is this a scam?The 4 warning signs, and a 60-second way to check any text, call, or email.
• Unpaid toll and E-ZPass textsIs that toll text a scam? Almost always. How to check, and what to do if you paid.
• USPS redelivery textsReal USPS texts don't have links. How to spot the fake redelivery text.
• Fake voter registration textsA text says you're not registered to vote? Check it yourself at vote.gov.
• Verification code and account recovery scamsNever share a code. How to get a hacked account back, and avoid fake 'recovery' help.
• Gift card scamsOnly scammers ask you to pay with gift cards. What to do if you already did.
• Grandparent and family emergency scamsA panicked call from a 'grandchild'? Hang up and call them back directly.
• Medicare scam callsMedicare doesn't call to sell you anything. What to know during Open Enrollment.

How to report a scam

• Report any scam to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Online scams can also go to the FBI at IC3.gov.
• Forward scam texts to 7726 (SPAM) so your carrier can block the sender (FTC).