How to spot a scam text or email

Scam messages are built to rush you. Knowing the signs can help you pause. Here are the common ones.

1. Urgency or threats. "Your account will be closed today." "Act now or you will be arrested." Real companies give you time.
2. A surprise prize or refund. If you did not enter a contest or expect money, be careful.
3. The sender does not match. The name may say "Your Bank," but the address underneath is a string of odd letters. Tap the name to see the real address.
4. A request for codes, passwords, or gift cards. No real company asks for these in a message or on a call.
5. A link that goes somewhere else. A link can say one thing and open another. When in doubt, do not tap it.
6. Small mistakes. Odd spelling, a greeting like "Dear customer," or a strange phone number.

What to do instead

1. Do not tap links or open attachments.
2. Contact the company using a phone number you already have, such as the one on a bill or the back of your card. Do not use a number from the message.
3. Delete the message if you are sure it is fake.

Want us to look? Take a screenshot or a photo of the message and email it to check@hometowntechhelp.com. A person will read it for you. We will tell you plainly what it looks like and what to do next. We never click the links.

Still stuck? Call us at (540) 613-1472.