Top 5 Tips to Stop Most Phone Scams

These five habits stop almost every scam that originates from a phone call:

1. Slow down. Scams create a sense of urgency to prevent you from exercising sound judgment or seeking help. You hear the words “vulnerable account,” “arrested grandchild,” and “limited-time prize” and your pulse quickens. Your breath becomes shallow and you may begin to shake. Logic goes out the window. But it’s important to remember that real institutions rarely demand instant action. If you feel rushed, that’s a warning sign.

   
   

2. Hang up and call back. If someone calls claiming to be your bank, the IRS, Medicare, or a family member, hang up and call a number you can verify from a statement, the back of your card, or your own contacts. Never use the number the caller gives you.

   
   

3. Pay attention to payment methods. The IRS, Social Security, Medicare, and your bank will never ask you to pay with gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. Any request to pay through these methods is a scam.

   
   

4. Verify with a trusted source. Tell the caller, "I need to talk to my family, attorney, or bank first." A legitimate request will allow a delay. A scammer won’t. Scammers will push back hard if you mention seeking external assistance. This should validate your suspicion.

   
   

5. Guard your personal information. Your Social Security number, Medicare number, bank PIN numbers, and passwords should never be given out over an unsolicited call, text, or email, even if the caller already seems to know some of your information.