You get a text from your "bank" saying your account is locked, with a link to verify your identity. What is the safest move?

Ignore the link and contact the bank using the number on your card or official app

Click the link but only enter your username, not your password

Reply STOP to find out if the message is real

Call the phone number listed in the text

A text says you owe $6.99 in unpaid tolls and will face a late fee unless you pay today via the link. What should you do?

Pay it quickly since the amount is small

Don't click; check your balance on the toll agency's official website or app

Click the link to check, but don't enter card details

A caller says they are from a government agency and that you'll be arrested today unless you pay a fine immediately. This is most likely:

An impostor scam using fear and urgency

A legitimate warning you should act on quickly

A billing error you can fix by paying now

Your "grandson" calls in a panic, his voice sounds exactly right, and he needs bail money wired now. What's the best first step?

Send a small amount first to test if it's real

Ask him to text you a photo as proof

Wire the money since you recognize his voice

Hang up and call him or another family member on a number you already know

Which payment method is a major red flag when someone you don't know asks you to use it?

Credit card through a well-known store

A check mailed to a business address

An invoice paid through your accounting software

An online investment promises "guaranteed" returns of 2% per week with no risk. What should you conclude?

It's a rare opportunity worth trying with a small amount

It's almost certainly a scam: real investments don't guarantee high returns

It's safe if the website looks professional

It's fine as long as early withdrawals work

An unsolicited WhatsApp message offers a remote job: get paid to "rate products" or "like videos". After a few small payouts, you're told to deposit your own money to unlock bigger earnings. What is this?

A normal onboarding step for gig work

A legitimate side hustle if the first payouts were real

A tax requirement before withdrawing earnings

A task scam: real jobs never make you pay to get paid

A buyer on a marketplace "accidentally" overpays you by check and asks you to send back the difference. What's going on?

It's a genuine mistake you should refund quickly

It's safe once the funds appear in your account

It's a fake-check scam: the check will bounce after you send the money

What does a padlock icon or "https" in a browser address bar actually tell you?

The site has been verified as safe by your bank

The business is legally registered

The site cannot steal your information

The connection is encrypted, but the site itself could still be fake

You receive a code by text that you didn't request, and then someone calls asking you to read it back to "confirm your identity". You should:

Read it back since they already have your phone number

Share only the first half of the code

Never share it: it's likely someone trying to break into your account

Share it if the caller knows your full name

Which email detail is the strongest sign of a phishing attempt?

The sender's address is a lookalike domain, such as paypa1-support.com

The email includes the company logo

The email was sent on a weekday

The email has an unsubscribe link

At a parking meter, you notice a QR code sticker that says "Scan to pay". What's the safest way to pay?

Scan it, since QR codes can't contain viruses

Scan it and pay if the page shows the city's logo

Use the meter itself or the city's official parking app instead

Scan it but pay with a debit card instead of credit

A pop-up says your computer is infected and tells you to call "tech support" right away. The best response is:

Call the number so they can remove the virus

Let them connect remotely but watch what they do

Pay for the fix if the price is low

Close the browser and don't call the number

If you realize you've sent money to a scammer, what should you do first?

Wait a few days to see if the money comes back

Contact your bank or payment provider immediately, then report the scam

Pay a "recovery service" that promises to get it back

Confront the scammer and demand a refund

What's Your Scam-Spotting IQ? Test How Well You Can Spot Fraud

Could you spot a scam before it costs you? From AI-cloned voices and fake toll texts to QR-code tricks and "guaranteed" crypto returns, today's scams are built to feel real.

Work through 15 real-world scenarios in 3 rounds, get an instant Scam-Spotting score, see why each answer is right or wrong, and leave with a simple protection plan. Ideal for financial coaches, advisors, banks, educators and community groups.