Scam library
The plain-English scam library
The short answer
Most scams follow the same script. Someone pretends to be a company or agency you trust, says there is a problem or a prize, rushes you, and asks you to pay in a specific way, like a gift card or a wire (FTC).
When a message checks any of those boxes, stop. Don’t click, don’t call back the number they gave you, and check by going to the real website or calling a number you already know.
People told the FTC they lost $15.9 billion to fraud in 2025, up from more than $12 billion the year before (FTC). People 60 and older filed 201,266 complaints with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center in 2025, reporting $7.748 billion in losses (FBI IC3).
These guides explain one scam at a time: what it looks like, how to check, and what to do if you already clicked or paid. Every fact links to the government or nonprofit source it came from. Bookmark this page, or forward a guide to someone you look out for.
Start here
Scam texts
- Unpaid toll textsThat text about an unpaid toll is almost always a scam. How to check.
- Fake USPS delivery textsReal USPS texts don't include links unless you asked for tracking.
Scam calls and messages
- Fake FTC, IRS, and government callsReal agencies don't call to demand money. How to tell the difference.
- 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.
Accounts and money
- 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.
After a data breach
- What to do after a data breachGot a breach notice? The steps depend on what was exposed. Here's the checklist.
- How to freeze your creditFree, fast, and doesn't hurt your score. How to freeze at all 3 bureaus.
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).
- Want to talk it through with a person? The AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline is at 877-908-3360.
Sources
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