Plain-English articles from Garland A. Hurt — 40 years in information security, written for everyday families.
Callers are impersonating Medicare representatives and asking for your Medicare number to "activate" new benefits. Here's exactly what they say — and how to shut them down.
Read the full alertA $1–$3 "redelivery fee" is all it takes. The link steals your full card number and billing address. Here's what the text looks like and how to spot it.
Read moreStep-by-step guide to getting your mom or dad protected — from signing up to inviting them to your Family plan and walking them through their first check.
Read moreScammers are calling grandparents pretending to be a grandchild in jail, needing bail money. The calls are convincing and moving fast. Here's the script they use.
Read moreIt takes 30 seconds and could save you thousands of dollars. This single habit is the most effective scam prevention tool that doesn't cost anything.
Read moreTime is critical. Here are the exact steps to take in the first 24 hours — who to call, what to freeze, and how to start recovering your money and identity.
Read moreThe FTC's latest report shows scam losses hit a record high, with adults over 60 losing the most per incident. The numbers every family needs to see.
Read moreMost people don't know these settings exist. Turning them on takes less than 5 minutes and filters out a huge percentage of scam calls and texts automatically.
Read moreScammers are posing as staffing agencies and charging "registration fees" of $100–$300 to desperate job seekers. Real agencies never charge you. Here's how to spot them.
Read moreThis conversation matters — but done wrong, it damages trust and makes them hide future incidents. Here's how to have it in a way that actually helps.
Read moreScammers spend months building fake relationships before asking for money. Here is exactly how they do it and how to protect someone you love.
Read moreA caller claims to be from the IRS and says you owe back taxes. Pay now or face arrest. This is always a scam.
Read moreNo legitimate government agency or business ever asks you to pay with gift cards. No exceptions. Ever. Here's the full list of scams that use them.
Read moreYour phone shows your real bank's name — but the caller is a criminal using phone spoofing. Here's how they do it and what to do.
Read moreAn email says your Amazon order for $400 is confirmed. Call to cancel. This is a scam designed to steal your Amazon password or credit card details.
Read moreThe platform looks real. The profits grow in your account. Then you try to withdraw — and everything disappears. Here's how to spot it.
Read moreFake delivery notices, charity fraud, gift card drains, and fake shopping sites all peak during the holidays. The complete list and how to avoid each.
Read moreA terrifying warning fills your screen. An alarm blares. "Call Microsoft immediately." This is the tech support scam — here's how to escape it.
Read moreCallers claim your Social Security number has been suspended and you will be arrested. Social Security numbers cannot be suspended. This is always a scam.
Read moreMost account takeovers are completely preventable. Here are the five most common mistakes and the fixes that take under 10 minutes.
Read moreZelle fraud losses hit $440 million last year, and unlike credit card fraud, banks often refuse to reimburse victims. Here's how the most common Zelle scams work.
Read moreWe collected 10 real scam text messages that have hit American phones in the past 30 days. Here they are word for word — and exactly what to look for in each one.
Read morePhishing emails are the #1 way scammers steal money and identity information. Here's exactly how to spot them — with real examples.
Read moreScammers call millions of Americans every day. These are the five scripts they use most, the psychological tricks behind each one, and the one word that ends every scam call.
Read moreMedicare open enrollment runs October 15 to December 7 every year. Scammers know this and flood seniors with fake plan comparison calls. Here's what they say and how to stay safe.
Read moreTennessee seniors lose an estimated $87 million to fraud each year. Here's why older adults are targeted, the most common scams, and what adult children can do right now.
Read moreNashville and Davidson County fraud reports are up sharply. Here are the scams most active in Middle Tennessee right now and how to protect your family.
Read moreThe scams most actively targeting Memphis and Shelby County residents this month — including fake utility calls, Medicare fraud, and job offer scams.
Read moreLosing money to a scam is devastating — but the emotional damage can be worse than the financial loss. Here's what victims experience and how to support someone who was scammed.
Read moreUnlike credit card fraud, wire transfers are nearly impossible to reverse. Here's how scammers exploit this and why you should never wire money to someone you haven't verified in person.
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