Fraud and scams: common tricks (and how to protect yourself)

Topic: Life Planning Reading time: 2 min

Scammers are professional manipulators. Getting fooled isn’t a sign of being “stupid”—it’s a sign you were targeted at the right moment. The goal is simple rules that protect you.

Common scams

Urgency scams: “Act now or you’ll lose access / owe fees.”
Grandparent/family emergency: “Don’t tell anyone.”
Tech support: pop-ups claiming your device is infected.
Romance scams: slow build, then requests for money.
Fake charities after disasters.

Simple protection rules

Never send money or gift cards to someone you haven’t verified independently.
If someone pressures you, hang up. Call back using a known number.
Set up account alerts with your bank/credit card.
Use strong, unique passwords and two-factor authentication where possible.

Best sentence to practice: “I don’t do money decisions on the phone. I’ll call you back.”

If you think you’ve been scammed

Contact your bank/credit card right away.
Change passwords on affected accounts.
Report to relevant authorities in your country/region.

This is stressful. Ask a trusted person to help you make calls and track steps.

Ask your clinician (starter questions)

“What’s the most likely explanation in my case?”
“What serious causes are we ruling out?”
“Could any medications or supplements contribute?”
“What’s the simplest next step?”
“What should make me call you sooner or seek urgent care?”

If you want to prepare for a visit, try the Doctor Visit Checklist. For general support, browse Topics.