One of the most common things we hear from ProtectMyCircle members is: "I set this up for my mom and it has already saved her twice." This guide walks you through exactly how to do that — including how to have the conversation if your parent is skeptical.
Step 1: Sign up for the Family plan yourself
Go to protectmycircle.com/signup and create your account. The Family plan is $7/month and covers up to 5 people including yourself. You'll be the account owner.
Step 2: Share your family access code
After you sign up, we'll email you a unique family access code. Send that code to your parent along with the link to protectmycircle.com. They just enter the code and their own email address on the Check a Message page — no account or password to set up on their end. If they don't have email or aren't comfortable typing it in themselves, you can enter the code and their email for them and walk them through it together.
Step 3: Do a practice check together
The most important thing you can do is sit with them — in person or on a video call — and do a practice check together. Find an old suspicious email in their inbox (there will be one) and paste it in together. Seeing it work in real time, on a message they actually received, makes it real for them.
Step 4: Bookmark it on their phone or computer
Go to protect_my_circle_app_v2.html on their device and bookmark it, or add it to their home screen. The easier it is to access, the more likely they are to use it when they get a suspicious message.
Step 5: Give them one rule to remember
Don't overwhelm them with information. Give them one rule: "Before you click anything, call me or check ProtectMyCircle first." That's it. This single instruction will protect them from the vast majority of scams.
If they push back
Some parents resist because they feel it implies they can't take care of themselves. Frame it differently: "I use this too. These scams are so sophisticated that even IT professionals get fooled. I just want us both to have a second set of eyes." This removes the condescension and makes it a shared family habit rather than a correction.
As the account owner, you can see your family members' recent check history from your dashboard. You don't have to wait for them to tell you about a suspicious message — you'll be able to see what they've been checking and reach out if something concerning comes up.
Got a message that looks like this?
Paste it into ProtectMyCircle and get an instant plain-English verdict — free, no account needed.
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