You're not the target of scams because you're gullible or careless. Scammers are good at what they do. They've practiced thousands of times, they study how people think, and they use tricks that work on everyone — from college students to retired professionals.
The good news? Once you know what to look for, you can spot a scam quickly. And AI can be your extra set of eyes.
Your phone rings. The person says they're from your bank, the IRS, Apple, or your internet provider. There's usually a sense of urgency: "We've detected suspicious activity on your account" or "Your membership is about to expire."
The goal is to get you to either (1) give them information like passwords or card numbers, or (2) install software on your device that lets them take control remotely.
Red flags for phone scams:
• The caller pressures you to act fast ("Do this right now or your account will be locked") • They ask you to "verify" personal information like your Social Security number, PIN, or bank account details • They ask you to go to your computer or phone to install something or check your account • The phone number looks familiar but slightly off (like your bank's real number with one digit changed) • You don't recognize the person, but they act like they know you
A scammer sends you an email or text that looks like it's from Amazon, your bank, PayPal, or Apple. It usually says something like: "Confirm your password," "Update your payment method," or "Verify your identity."
The message has a link in it. If you click it, you land on a fake website that looks almost identical to the real one. You type in your login information — and the scammer now has it.
Red flags for phishing:
• The email or text asks you to "click here" or "confirm" something urgent • The sender's email address is slightly off (like "amaz0n.com" instead of "amazon.com") • The message says your account will be closed, limited, or locked if you don't act • There are spelling or grammar mistakes • You weren't expecting this message • It asks for passwords, card numbers, or other personal details
You see a pop-up on your computer that says something like: "WARNING: Your computer is infected with a virus." It gives you a number to call for tech support, or a button to click to "repair" your device.
If you call or click, a scammer pretends to be tech support. They talk you through giving them remote access to your computer, and then they either install malware or charge you money to "fix" something that was never broken.
Red flags for fake tech support:
• Pop-ups appear out of nowhere with scary-sounding warnings • You're told you must call right now • A "technician" asks you to download software or give them remote access • They ask for credit card information to "fix" your device • The pop-up won't go away when you try to close it
Someone on a dating app or social media site seems interested in you. After chatting for a while, they ask for money — maybe for an emergency, maybe to travel to meet you, or maybe to "invest" in something with you.
Red flags for romance scams:
• The person's profile looks too good to be true • They move very quickly to private messaging • They avoid video calls or always have an excuse why they can't meet • They eventually ask you for money • The story keeps changing or doesn't quite add up
Most scams fail because they trigger one simple feeling: something doesn't feel right.
If a message or call offers something amazing ("You've won a prize!"), uses pressure tactics ("Act now!"), or asks for something private (passwords, money, personal details), pause and ask yourself:
"Is this too good to be true? Would a real company contact me this way? Is someone trying to pressure me into something?"
If you answer yes to any of those, it's probably a scam.
Read these three messages. Which one is most likely a scam?
Try It Yourself
A) "Hello, this is Amazon. We noticed suspicious activity on your account. Click here immediately to verify your password: [link] If you don't act in 1 hour, your account will be locked." B) "Hi, your order #12345 has shipped. It will arrive on March 31. Click here to track it." C) "You have a package that requires a signature. Please click here to reschedule delivery."
Answer: A is the scam. It uses pressure ("immediately," "1 hour"), asks you to verify a password (something Amazon never does), and includes a suspicious link. Messages B and C are normal order updates.
Not sure if something is a scam? Copy and paste it into an AI chatbot and ask: "Is this a scam?" AI is trained to spot these red flags. It can't be 100% certain, but it's a great second opinion.
We'll show you exactly how to do this in Module 3.
You now know the four most common types of scams: phone calls, phishing emails and texts, fake tech support, and romance scams. You understand their red flags, and you know the universal test: if it feels too good to be true, seems urgent, or asks for private information, pause and double-check.
In the next module, we'll show you how to protect your information so that even if a scammer tries, they can't access your accounts.