Stay Safe

Smart tips to recognize and avoid online and phone scams

When disaster hits, scammers come out in full force.

In the aftermath of a hurricane, flood, or wildfire, fake charity scams explode. Keep your money safe by giving only to well-known, reputable charities you’ve personally checked out first.

Watch out for shady contractors who demand large cash payments upfront or try to talk you out of filing an insurance claim.

Always verify offers and organizations through trusted sources like:

FEMA (fema.gov)
Better Business Bureau (bbb.org)
Federal Trade Commission (ftc.gov)

If you spot a scam, report it right away to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov or to the FBI at ic3.gov.

a couple of people standing next to a car

Use the STOP technique to stay one step ahead:

S – Stay sharp. Never let your guard down when someone suddenly needs your personal info, money, or urgent action.
T – Take your time. Pressure is a scammer’s best friend. Slow down, breathe, and refuse to be rushed into decisions.
O – Only trust what you verify. Check everything through official websites, phone numbers you look up yourself, or people you already know and trust.
P – Protect your details. Keep personal and financial information locked down—never share it unless you’re 100% certain who’s on the other end and why they need it.

Red Flags That Scream “Scam”

Out-of-the-blue contact An unexpected call, text, email, or DM demanding money, personal details, or immediate action? Huge warning sign.
Impersonating people or organizations you know They’ll fake being the IRS, your bank, tech support, a grandchild in trouble, or even a friend whose account was “hacked.” Spoofed caller IDs and copied logos don’t prove anything—verify separately.
High-pressure urgency “Act in the next 10 minutes or lose everything!” Real organizations almost never threaten or rush you like this.
Tugging at your emotions Fear (“Your account will be deleted”), guilt (“Grandma, I’m in jail”), or greed (“You’ve won a prize!”) are all classic manipulation tricks designed to short-circuit your judgment.
Weird payment demands Legitimate businesses and government agencies do NOT ask for payment via gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or apps like Zelle, Venmo, or Cash App for “fees,” “fines,” or “prizes.” If they insist on any of these, it’s a scam
“We detected fraud—send money NOW to secure your account!”
Real banks and agencies never ask you to transfer money to “protect” it or to “stop fraud.” That frantic urgency is pure scam theater.
“I’ll send a courier to pick up your card or check.”
No legitimate bank, police department, or company will ever send someone to your door to collect your debit/credit card, cash, or checks. Ever.
“Download this app right now” or “Let me install software on your computer.”
If someone you didn’t call is pushing you to install an app, click a link, or grant remote access (AnyDesk, TeamViewer, etc.), it’s almost certainly a scammer trying to take over your device or accounts.
Cold calls demanding passwords, PINs, full card numbers, or remote access. Your bank already has your account info—they will never call and ask you for it. Government agencies don’t either. Hang up and call back using the official number on their website or your card.

Your 3-Step Defense: Stop. Check. Protect.

Stop
Freeze the moment you feel rushed, scared, or pushed to decide fast. Scammers thrive on panic—don’t give it to them.
Check
Never trust the number showing on caller ID or a link in a message. Hang up or ignore it, then look up the real phone number (on the official website, your bank card, or a bill) and call them directly to verify.
Protect
Treat one-time passcodes, PINs, passwords, or full card numbers like gold—nobody legitimate who contacts you out of the blue will ever ask for any of them. If they do, it’s a scammer. End the conversation immediately.