Scam Red Flags Checklist
One warning sign alone does not prove a scam. Several together are a reason to stop, verify independently and avoid sending money or sensitive information.
Unexpected contact
You did not initiate the message, job offer, investment discussion, payment request or account alert.
Urgency or threats
You are told to act immediately, pay today, avoid telling anyone, or face account closure, arrest, penalties or service shutoff.
Unusual payment method
The sender insists on gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfer, payment apps or another hard-to-reverse method.
Request for codes or credentials
You are asked for a password, one-time code, PIN, seed phrase, Social Security number or banking login.
Look-alike link or domain
The URL imitates a brand or agency but uses a misspelled, unrelated or unusually new domain.
QR code hides the destination
A QR code asks you to pay, log in or verify an account without showing where it will send you first.
Too-good-to-be-true money promise
The offer promises guaranteed returns, easy income, huge discounts, prizes or unusually high pay for simple work.
Pay to get paid
You must deposit money, pay a fee, unlock a task, buy equipment or cover taxes before receiving earnings or a refund.
Identity cannot be verified independently
The person, business, agency, recruiter or seller can only be reached through the same message, number or link that contacted you.
Pressure to move platforms
A new contact quickly pushes you to WhatsApp, Telegram or another private channel and away from the original platform.
What to do if you check several boxes
Stop using the contact details in the message. Find the company, agency or person through a separate trusted source. Do not send money or codes while the claim is still unverified. You can also use the scam text checker, scam link checker or QR code checker as one additional piece of evidence.
This checklist is educational and cannot prove that an item is safe or fraudulent. Verify important identities, payments and claims independently.