The safe response is the same even when a message may be real: stop, and contact the organization or person on a number or website you found yourself. To report a scam, see moraph.org/commons/help.
Card 1: A text about a pending payment. Likely a scam.
- It arrives out of the blue and pushes you to act now.
- It gives you its own number to call. Whoever sent the message controls that number.
- Sender names and caller ID can be faked, so “your bank” at the top proves nothing.
- A message about a payment you didn’t make is a common way to get you to call a scammer.
Safe step: Don’t call the number in the message. Check your account in your bank’s app or on its website, typed in yourself, or call the number on the back of your card.
Card 2: A text saying your health card will be canceled. Likely a scam.
- A threat with a deadline: canceled today.
- A link to click in an unexpected message.
- It asks for your details. Real health services don’t rush you or threaten you.
Safe step: Don’t click the link. Go to your health service’s official portal or website directly, or call the number on your card or a letter you already have.
Card 3: A text about a tax refund. Likely a scam.
- A refund offered by text, with a link to click.
- Money you didn’t expect, with a deadline to make you hurry.
- The web address is not your government’s official address. Look-alike addresses are easy to make.
Safe step: Don’t click. Type your tax authority’s official web address yourself, or search the main government portal, and check your account there.
Card 4: A letter from your bank about a card payment. Likely genuine: still check through official channels.
- It sends you to a number you already have, on your card, instead of giving you a new one.
- It doesn’t ask for a code, a password or money.
- Letters can be faked too, which is why the safe step is the same as for every other card.
Safe step: Call the number on the back of your card, not a number printed in the letter.
Card 5: A screenshot about the library closing on Mondays. Can’t tell from the message: check the source.
- No source: you can’t see who published it.
- No date: it could be old news shared as new.
- No link to the original notice, so there is nothing to check it against.
Safe step: Check the library’s or your local government’s own website, or call them on a number you found yourself. If you can’t check it, don’t share it.
Card 6: A call from your bank’s “fraud team”. Likely a scam.
- A real bank won’t ask you to move money to a “safe account”.
- It asks you to read out a one-time code. Never read out a code you didn’t ask for.
- Caller ID can be faked, even when it shows your bank’s real name or number.
- Urgency: your money is in danger and you must act now.
Safe step: Hang up. Wait a moment, then call the number on your card, ideally from a different phone. Don’t share the code.
Card 7: A call offering a free test kit. Likely a scam.
- A free offer in return for your health number and bank details.
- Real programs don’t cold-call to ask for these.
- Nobody needs your bank details to send you something free.
Safe step: Don’t give any details. Hang up. If you want a test, ask your clinic or official health service on a number you already have.
Card 8: A council letter about road repairs. Likely genuine: still check through official channels.
- It asks nothing of you: no payment, no details, no link.
- It points you to the council’s main number, which you can look up yourself.
- A notice like this is usually also on the local government’s own website, so you can check it.
Safe step: If you want to check, look for the notice on your local government’s own website, or call its main number found yourself, not one from the letter.
Card 9: An email from your landlord about new bank details. Likely a scam.
- New bank details are the warning sign, even from an address you know: email accounts can be taken over.
- A deadline adds pressure not to check.
- A transfer to the wrong account can be very hard to recover.
Safe step: Before you pay, call your landlord on a number you already have, not one in the email, and check the new details.
Card 10: A pop-up selling medicines without a prescription. Likely a scam.
- It sells prescription medicines without a prescription, or with only an online questionnaire.
- Prices that seem too good to be true.
- No street address, phone number or license details.
- Fake medicines can contain the wrong ingredient or none at all.
Safe step: Buy only from a licensed pharmacy, and only take medicines prescribed for you. Ask your pharmacist or prescriber about cheaper options.
Card 11: A call threatening arrest over tax. Likely a scam.
- A threat of arrest over tax.
- Payment demanded by gift card. Tax authorities don’t ask for gift cards, cryptocurrency or payment apps.
- Urgency and secrecy: pay today, stay on the line, tell nobody.
Safe step: Hang up. If you are worried about tax you owe, contact your tax authority using the details on its official website, found yourself.
Card 12: A friend from online who needs money. Likely a scam.
- Met online, never met in person, and now a crisis needs money.
- A fee to release money, and a promise to pay you back.
- Secrecy: don’t tell anyone.
- The relationship can feel completely real. That is how these scams work.
Safe step: Don’t send money, and talk it over with someone you trust. If you have already sent money, call your bank on the number on your card straight away.
Card 13: A letter from your clinic about a routine check. Likely genuine: still check through official channels.
- It is routine: no hurry and no threat.
- It sends you to the clinic’s official website for the number.
- It asks for no payment and no personal details.
Safe step: Find the clinic’s website yourself, or use a number you already have for the clinic, and book from there.
Card 14: A post saying your polling place has moved. Can’t tell from the message: check the source.
- No source and no link to an official notice.
- Where and how to vote comes from your official election office, not from a post, message or call.
- It may be true, out of date, or wrong. The post alone can’t tell you.
Safe step: Check your polling place with your official election office, on its website typed in yourself or on its phone number. Don’t share the post until you have checked.
Card 15: A text offering a guaranteed loan. Likely a scam.
- A fee before you receive the loan. Advance-fee loan scams take the fee and never pay out.
- Approval guaranteed whatever your credit.
- Payment by gift card.
Safe step: Don’t pay or reply. If you need to borrow, check that a lender is licensed or authorized on your country’s official register, found yourself, and ask about the total cost before you sign.
Card 16: A call about an overdue medical bill. Can’t tell from the message: check the source.
- You may really owe a bill, but fake bills and fake debt collectors exist.
- They called you, then asked for card details. Never give card details to someone who called you first.
- Pressure to pay today.
Safe step: Hang up, then call the billing office on the number on the provider’s official website or on a bill you already have. Ask about financial help or a payment plan before you pay.
Card 17: A call from the “benefits office” about your bank details. Likely a scam.
- An unexpected call asking for personal and bank details.
- A threat to something you rely on: your payments.
- Caller ID can be faked, so a familiar name or number proves nothing.
Safe step: Hang up and contact the benefits office using details you found yourself, such as a letter from them or the official website. If you already gave your bank details, contact your bank.
Card 18: An investment advert with guaranteed returns. Likely a scam.
- Guaranteed high returns, often in crypto.
- A small withdrawal first, to build trust.
- Later come fees or taxes before you can take your money out.
Safe step: Don’t pay in through the advert or link. If you or your friend have already paid, call the bank on the number on the card and report it.
Card 19: A job receiving and sending on payments. Likely a scam.
- A job that pays you to receive money and send it on.
- Passing on money for someone else can make you part of a crime.
- Easy money with nothing to check: too good to be true.
Safe step: Don’t accept, and never let anyone use your account to move money. If money like this has already arrived, call your bank on the number on your card.