Why three steps?
Almost every scam — by phone, text, email, mail or at the door — depends on one thing: getting you to act before you think. Scammers create a feeling of emergency, excitement or fear so that you skip the normal checks you would make on any other day.
You do not need to memorize every kind of scam. If you remember three steps, you can protect yourself from scams that haven't even been invented yet.
Step 1: Stop
When something feels urgent, unusual or emotional, pause.
- End the call. Hang up the phone. You do not need permission, and you do not need to be polite.
- Don't click links, open attachments, or press any buttons ("Press 1 to speak to an agent").
- Close the email or text. Don't reply — not even "STOP" or "Who is this?"
- At the door, keep it closed. You can talk through the door or not at all.
Stopping is not rude. It is the single most effective thing you can do.
Step 2: Verify
Check the story yourself, using contact details you find on your own.
- Call the number on the back of your card, on your statement, or on the organization's official website that you type in yourself.
- Never use the phone number, link or "supervisor" the contact gives you. Those lead back to the scammer.
- If the message says it's a family member in trouble, call that person (or their parents) directly on the number you already have.
- Sign in to your account through the official app or website you normally use — not through a link in a message.
Step 3: Ask for help
Talk to someone you trust before you send money or share information.
A family member, a friend, your bank's branch staff, or a trusted advisor can often see warning signs that are hard to notice when you're under pressure. Scammers often say "keep this between us" for exactly this reason.
A realistic example
Margaret (a fictional example) gets a phone call. The caller ID says it's her bank. A calm, professional voice says there's suspicious activity and she must move her savings to a "protected account" today.
- Stop: Margaret says, "I'll call the bank myself," and hangs up.
- Verify: She turns her debit card over and calls the number on the back. The real bank says there's no problem — and that the bank never asks customers to move money to protect it.
- Ask for help: She tells her daughter, who helps her report the call.
Warning signs that mean "Stop"
- Pressure to act right now
- A request to keep it secret
- A demand for an unusual payment — gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, cash pickup, or payment apps
- A request for passwords, verification codes, or account numbers
- A story that makes you frightened, excited, or embarrassed
Your practical action
Write these three words on a card and keep it by your phone and computer: Stop. Verify. Ask for help. Add the phone number on the back of your bank card and the number of one trusted person.
If you think you already responded
It happens to careful, intelligent people. Stop any further contact, then call your bank or card company using the number on your card. The lesson "If you already sent money or shared information" walks you through what to do next, and you can open the Urgent Help page at any time.