How to Spot a Scam: Check for the 4 Tactics

A woman in a yellow raincoat sits on a park bench in bright daylight holding her phone at arm's length with a skeptical squint and one eyebrow raised.

Most scams give themselves away if you know what to feel for.

  • Is something pushing you to act immediately?

  • Is the message borrowing its authority from a name you recognize and trust?

  • Is someone telling you that you are special or that this opportunity is just for you?

  • Are you being asked to keep all of this quiet?

One of those things is worth pausing over. More than one and you are looking at the playbook. This is the P in PAUSE: Pressure is the signal. When something is rushing you toward a decision, that feeling is the warning. Stop before you do anything else.

Take Quiz