Resource
Safety guide
Read a practical safety guide covering Medicare, phone, tech support, romance, recovery, payment, and identity warning signs.
Reviewed June 10, 2026
Focus on repeatable safety habits
The safest scam-prevention habits are simple and repeatable: pause, verify through a known channel, avoid unusual payments, and ask a trusted person before sending money or sharing codes.
Families can help without taking over. A calm second-opinion routine can make it easier for someone to ask for help before responding to a call, text, email, or letter.
- Medicare will not call unexpectedly to sell plans or ask for a Medicare number.
- Tech support pop-ups should not be trusted as phone numbers.
- Gift cards, crypto, payment apps, and cash pickup are warning signs.
- Recovery offers after a loss should be treated carefully.
High-priority pages for families
Start with the scams that create the most urgency or ask for sensitive information.
Trusted sources
Phone Scams
Federal Trade Commission
FTC guidance explains common phone scam signs, including pressure, threats, spoofed caller ID, and unusual payment demands.
Medicare fraud affects everyone, so here's what to know and do
Federal Trade Commission
FTC 2026 guidance warns against sharing a Medicare number with unexpected callers and explains fake Medicare plan and hospice fraud risks.
How To Spot, Avoid, and Report Tech Support Scams
Federal Trade Commission
FTC guidance says real security warnings do not ask you to call a number or give remote access to fix a sudden problem.
Recovery Scams: Fraud Victims Hit Again by Scammers Promising to Recover Stolen Cash
AARP
AARP guidance explains how recovery scammers retarget people after losses and pose as firms, advocates, or government agencies.
Common questions
What scam signs should families watch for first?
Urgency, secrecy, unusual payments, one-time codes, Medicare numbers, remote access, and requests to move money are high-priority warning signs.
How can I help without embarrassing someone?
Use a shared pause rule and frame the review as a normal second opinion, not a judgment.
Are these warning signs only for one age group?
No. Anyone can be targeted. Use this guide as a shared routine for checking urgent requests with someone you trust.
Should we report failed scam attempts?
Yes. Reports help agencies and platforms track scam patterns even if no money was lost.