Unexpected contact
A message, call or social-media approach arrives without a normal reason and quickly asks you to take action.
Common scam warning signs
Urgency or fear
You are told an account will close, a parcel will be returned, a payment will fail, police action is coming or an opportunity will disappear unless you act immediately.
Impersonation
The sender claims to be a bank, employer, government agency, marketplace, delivery company, relative or major technology company.
Unusual payment method
Gift cards, crypto, wire transfers or payments to a “safe account” are requested instead of a normal commercial process.
Sensitive information
The person asks for passwords, one-time codes, recovery codes, identity documents or full card information.
Secrecy and isolation
You are told not to contact the bank, employer, family member, cashier or another person who could challenge the story.
Suspicious link or sender
The visible brand does not match the actual domain, the address is a lookalike, or a short link hides the destination.
Sources
Primary prevention references
Related
Continue checking
Check suspicious links and sender addresses
Use the same homepage field for a URL or email address.
Scam warning signs that matter across channels
Unexpected contact
A message, call, social profile, or email arrives without a normal reason for the contact.
Artificial urgency
You are pushed to act immediately, keep the conversation secret, or avoid checking the story independently.
Impersonation
The sender claims to be a bank, government agency, employer, celebrity, support agent, friend, or family member.
Unusual payment method
Gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, cash, or payment apps are demanded because reversal is difficult.
Account or identity pressure
The message says your account is locked, compromised, suspended, or must be “verified” through a supplied link.
Too-good-to-be-true offer
A prize, job, investment return, refund, giveaway, or opportunity requires money or sensitive data first.
Suspicious destination
The visible brand and the actual domain do not match, or a shortened/redirected link hides the real destination.
Move off-platform
A seller, recruiter, romantic contact, or support account insists on moving to another channel to avoid platform protections.
A safer verification rule
Do not verify a suspicious contact using the phone number, reply address, profile link, QR code, or website supplied by that same contact. Find the organization independently and use contact information you already trust.
Official references: FTC — How to avoid a scam and CISA — Secure Our World.