Situation guides: what to do about the suspicious
Step-by-step guides from the NoCall team for acting in each suspicious situation.
A call from a relative in trouble with an AI-cloned voice: how to verify it
The voice on the phone sounds exactly like your son, your granddaughter, or your partner, and they need money right now. AI voice cloning makes the old family emergency scam far more convincing. Here's how to verify the call and protect your family.
Selling on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist and the "buyer" asks for a code or sends a link
You list something for sale and a buyer wants to pay through a link, asks for a verification code, or sends a fake Zelle email asking you to upgrade your account. Here's how the fake buyer scam works on US marketplaces and what to do.
"You’ve won a prize": the fake sweepstakes call or text that asks you to pay
A call or text says you've won a car, cash, a phone, or a gift card, and you just need to pay a small fee, taxes, or shipping to claim it. Legitimate sweepstakes never charge winners. Here's how to spot the scam and what to do if you already paid.
Job offer by text, WhatsApp, or Telegram: the "task" scam
A recruiter texts you out of the blue offering easy remote work: liking videos, rating products, or "optimizing apps" for a commission. Soon you have to deposit your own money to keep earning. Here's how the task scam works and what to do.
Fake unpaid toll or traffic ticket text: what to do and how to check if it's real
A text says you owe an unpaid toll or a traffic ticket, with a link to pay before late fees or a license suspension. It's one of the most widespread text scams in the US. Here's how to spot it, how to check whether you really owe anything, and what to do if you entered your card.
"I sent you a code by mistake": how your WhatsApp or Google Voice gets hijacked
Someone asks you to read back a six-digit code that just arrived by text. That code is the key to your WhatsApp, your Google Voice number, or another account. Here's how the takeover works, how to turn on two-step verification, and what to do if you already sent it.
An international number is calling me: what to do and how to block it
A call from a country code you don't recognize, or from an area code like 876 or 809 that looks domestic but isn't. Here's why these calls happen, whether answering costs money, what never to do, and how to block and report them.
"The sheriff" or "a federal agent" is calling me: the fake law enforcement scam
A caller says they're from the sheriff's office, the U.S. Marshals, the FBI, or a court, and that there's a warrant for your arrest unless you pay today. Real law enforcement doesn't work that way. Here's how to spot the fake officer scam and what to do.
"Can you hear me?": the call that tries to record you saying "yes"
A caller opens with "Can you hear me?" or "Is this the homeowner?" and waits for you to say "yes." The fear is that your recorded voice will be used to sign you up for something. Here's what's actually true about this call, what the real risks are, and how to answer.
"Hi Mom, this is my new number": what to do if your "kid" texts asking for money
An unknown number texts you or messages you on WhatsApp claiming to be your son or daughter, with a new phone and an urgent bill to pay. Here's how to check it in a minute, what to do if you already sent money, and how to report it.
Fake Microsoft tech support: the call or pop-up saying your computer "has a virus"
Someone calls claiming to be from Microsoft, Apple, or your internet provider, or a pop-up tells you to call a number because your computer is infected. It's the tech support scam. Here's how to spot it, what to do if you gave them remote access, and where to report it.
Fake debt collectors: threatening calls about a debt you don't owe
A caller says you owe money on an old loan or credit card and threatens arrest, a lawsuit, or wage garnishment unless you pay today. Some are real collectors breaking the rules; many are scammers. Here's how to tell, what your rights are, and what to do.