Scammers are everywhere. Here’s how to avoid accidentally giving them your money. | Expert Opinion

The world is full of con artists. And they’re now using AI to create convincing fake websites, emails, texts, audio, and video for their scams.

Fraud losses reported to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) hit a record $15.9 billion in 2025, up 27% from the previous year. The FTC’s Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book 2024 reports that investment scams, romance scams, crypto scams, and impostor scams are driving much of the increase. Nearly 30% of those who lost money said the scam started on social media, with reported losses reaching $2.1 billion.

Based on nonprofit Consumers’ Checkbook’s decades of consumer reporting and talking with thousands of scam victims, here are 12 strategies for staying safe.

Question everything: Telemarketing calls, mail solicitations, email offers, unknown websites, social media posts, and all advertisements. Con artists can make their scams look and sound legitimate, using phony claims, bogus testimonials, and forged seals of approval.

Don’t let greed override common sense. Take your time, think things through, and check it out before you respond. Trust your gut.

Thieves prefer to hack the weakest link in a security chain — and that link often is you. They’ll “phish” for your login credentials by sending you an email, text, instant message, or online pop-up that looks like it comes from your financial institution, credit card company, delivery service, or other trusted business. Click on one and you’ll land on a bogus website that looks legit, where you will be asked to log in to your account or provide payment info. Obey and you’ve let the thieves in.

Always access your online accounts, especially financial accounts, by typing the legitimate URL into the browser’s address bar, or by using a browser bookmark or the official app for that company or financial institution.

Financial institutions and government agencies will send important notices via the U.S. Postal Service. If someone is attempting to drain your retirement account, you’ll likely get a letter about it, as well as email or text alerts, if you’ve signed up for those. If your personal information has been compromised in a data breach, you’ll learn about it in a letter mailed to you.

A credit card gives you better fraud protection than a debit card. Under the federal Fair Credit Billing Act, if you pay with a credit card and there’s a problem after the sale — you don’t receive the merchandise, get charged for something you didn’t order, the item is defective, or you’re unhappy with the service — you can dispute the charge with the credit card company.

These types of payments are instant and irreversible and therefore preferred by scammers. Government agencies and legitimate businesses accept credit and debit cards; they don’t insist on payment via gift cards, payment apps, crypto, or wire transfers.

If there’s a problem with your account, Medicare, the IRS, Social Security, or other government agencies will mail you a letter; they will never demand instant payment via phone, text, or email. Only scammers threaten consequences if you don’t pay immediately via methods like gift cards, wire transfer, a payment app, or cryptocurrency. Government agencies don’t accept those payment methods.

Armed with your bank account number and login information, a con artist can drain your savings. Phone bandits often pose as bank employees who say they need your Social Security number or PIN to resolve a problem with your account. Or they’ll ask you to provide them with the code you receive from your bank via text or email. Don’t do it.

Caller ID is no longer trustworthy; it can easily be spoofed to display any name and number the caller wants. By spoofing a number, scammers can make you think they’re with your bank or credit card company, the local police department, or a government agency. If the number isn’t familiar, let the call go to voicemail. Scammers will often hang up.

No-risk offers are confidence builders designed to encourage you to make a purchase without thoroughly evaluating the product or service. With most “free trial” offers, you need to provide a credit or debit card number to cover shipping. Bad actors will use that payment information to automatically enroll you in an ongoing subscription, which can be difficult to stop.

It’s illegal to require payment or purchase to enter a sweepstakes. That’s why legitimate contests include a “no purchase necessary” option. Don’t give any financial information to claim a prize you supposedly won — especially from a contest you didn’t enter.

Verbal promises don’t count. If a salesperson promises that a fitness center will add a pool next year, have that added to your contract before you sign. If a car dealership promises oil changes for life, have them write it up and sign it. Most contracts specifically state that verbal promises are not binding.

Anyone can fall victim to a scam. Fraudsters know what buttons to push to get you off balance, exploit your emotions, and scare you into responding quickly without thinking. If you’re told the deal is off if you walk out the door or hang up the phone, do just that. Don’t respond to calls, texts, letters, or emails that require an immediate response. That’s a big red flag.

Before you do anything: Slow down, avoid going into panic mode, and check it out. Talk to a friend or family member, get advice from the AARP Fraud Watch Network helpline at 877-908-3360 (you don’t have to be an AARP member to use this service), or contact your local Better Business Bureau.

Delaware Valley Consumers’ Checkbook magazine and Checkbook.org is a nonprofit organization with a mission to help consumers get the best service and lowest prices. It is supported by consumers and takes no money from the service providers it evaluates. Until June 5, readers can access Checkbook’s ratings and advice free at Checkbook.org/Inquirer/scams.