Threats
Phishing & scams
Nine scams families run into most, mocked up so the red flags are obvious, plus who each one usually targets and where to report it.
What do the most common scams look like?
Phishing email targets everyone
What does a phishing email scam look like?
From: [email protected]
Subject: URGENT: your account will be suspended
Dear Valued Customer, we detected unusual activity. Verify your account now or it will be permanently closed within 24 hours.
A fake email posing as a bank, retailer, or service claims there's a problem with your account and pushes you to "verify" by clicking a link.
- Sender's domain is misspelled or slightly off, like paypa1-secure.com
- Urgent or threatening subject line
- A generic greeting such as "Valued Customer" instead of your name
- The button or link leads to a fake look-alike site
Smishing (text) targets everyone
What does a smishing text scam look like?
A text pretending to be a delivery service, bank, or government agency asks you to click a link and pay a small "fee" to release a package.
- Sent from an unknown or random-looking number
- A tiny fee is used to create urgency
- A shortened or unfamiliar link
- Real delivery services don't text you to collect fees
Tech support popup targets parents and grandparents
What does a tech support scam look like?
5 VIRUSES DETECTED
Your computer is at risk. Do not close this window. Call 1-800-555-0142 immediately for support.
A browser popup claims your computer is infected and tells you to call a number immediately, aiming to get remote access or payment.
- A loud, alarming warning takes over the whole screen
- An exaggerated claim like "5 viruses found"
- A countdown timer pressures you to call right away
- It warns you not to close the window, a classic isolation tactic
Grandparent / family emergency targets grandparents
What does a grandparent emergency scam look like?
"Grandma? It's me. I'm in trouble and need you to keep this quiet. Can you send money by gift card right now?"
A caller pretends to be a grandchild or relative in trouble, sometimes using a cloned voice, and pressures the victim to send money quietly and fast.
- Caller ID is blocked or unknown
- The caller says "it's me" and waits for you to supply a name
- You're asked to keep it secret from the rest of the family
- Payment is requested by gift card, untraceable once shared
Romance scam targets adults on dating and social apps
What does a romance scam look like?
A new online match builds an intense, fast-moving relationship, then invents a crisis and asks for money, often through gift cards or crypto.
- A polished, model-like profile photo
- Strong feelings declared unusually fast
- A convenient excuse for never meeting or video calling
- Eventually, a request for money, gift cards, or crypto
Gift card / prize scam targets everyone, especially teens and seniors
What does a gift card or prize scam look like?
A message claims you've won a prize you never entered, then asks for a small fee or your card details before you can "claim" it.
- You're told you won something you never entered
- A countdown clock pressures a fast decision
- A fee or personal information is required to claim a free prize
- Legitimate prizes never require payment to receive
Investment & crypto scam costs victims the most money of any category
What does a crypto investment scam look like?
Balance: $14,382.50 (+312%)
Withdrawals require a final deposit to "unlock funds"
A slick trading app, or a new online friend, walks you through guaranteed fast returns on crypto, then blocks withdrawals until you deposit more.
- Guaranteed, unusually high returns with "no risk"
- The pitch starts with a relationship, a text to the wrong number, or a social DM
- A fake dashboard shows gains that grow the more you deposit
- Withdrawals always require "one more" payment first
Job & task scam targets teens and job seekers
What does a job or task scam look like?
An unsolicited text or DM offers easy pay for simple online tasks. Early payouts build trust, then either the real job never appears or you're asked to pay for a starter kit you'll never see again.
- The offer arrives by unsolicited text or DM, not through an application you submitted
- Vague tasks, like "rating products" or "optimizing apps," for surprisingly high pay
- Small early payments build trust before the real ask
- You're asked to pay upfront for training, a kit, or software
Gaming platform scam targets kids and teens on Roblox, Discord, and Fortnite
What does a gaming platform scam look like?
A message, often posing as a friend or as platform "support," offers free in-game currency or a great trade, then asks for your login, a trade that only benefits them, or a click on a link that steals your account.
- An offer of free Robux, V-Bucks, or rare items that seems too generous
- A request to "trade first" or send an item before getting anything back
- A link to a look-alike login page asking for your username and password
- A message claiming to be platform "support" asking for your account details
Spot one of these? Report it.
Forward phishing emails to [email protected], forward scam texts to 7726 (SPAM), and file a report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or IC3.gov.
Report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov