Common scam tactics in 2026: phrases that mean it's a scam
"Easy work, high pay" job offers, commission-for-tasks schemes, fake police calls, "update your biometrics" requests… and the warning signs of each.
Staying safe online is staying safe in real life. The 28 articles below explain, in plain language, the latest scam tactics, how to spot fake websites and Facebook pages, and how to protect your whole family's phones.
New to cybersecurity? These three articles will help you avoid most of today's common scams.
"Easy work, high pay" job offers, commission-for-tasks schemes, fake police calls, "update your biometrics" requests… and the warning signs of each.
Signs of websites impersonating banks and e-commerce platforms, and how to check a site before entering your details.
Lock down your profile, verify account holders, block unknown calls and check links before you tap.
Scammers constantly change their scripts and domain names and pose as trusted authorities. The articles below help you recognize the signs of a scam before you lose money.
"Easy work, high pay" job offers, commission-for-tasks schemes, fake police calls, "update your biometrics" requests… and the warning signs of each.
Deepfakes that mimic a relative's voice, trust-building scams that run for months, and impersonation of banks and government agencies.
Signs of websites impersonating banks and e-commerce platforms, and how to check a site before entering your details.
Cloaking, geo-targeting, single-use URLs, SEO poisoning — why scam sites slip past moderation.
Names that mimic government agencies, suspicious name-change histories, and payment accounts that don't match the company name.
How ad targeting works, common scam messages and the signs of a fake ad.
Scammers exploit weaknesses in 2G networks to send fake text messages — how to spot them and protect yourself.
Understand the most common threats and the small habits that expose your personal data.
Lock down your profile, verify account holders, block unknown calls and check links before you tap.
Phishing, malware, ransomware, online scams, data leaks, public Wi-Fi and social engineering.
Weak passwords, saving passwords in the browser, skipping 2FA and granting app permissions carelessly.
How viruses, trojans, keyloggers and ransomware work and how they spread.
Check the download source, permissions and phone performance to catch data-stealing apps.
First-party vs. third-party cookies and how to limit tracking.
Outdated software, cracked software, phishing emails, loose processes — and how to prevent them.
Older adults and children are the most frequently targeted groups. Here's how to protect your family members, even from afar.
Block calls from anyone not in your contacts, no blacklist needed — ideal for elderly parents.
Get instant alerts so you can step in before a scammer manipulates them.
Get notified when your children or parents open a suspicious link.
Screen time limits, location tracking, harmful content filtering and scam link blocking for kids.
Scam call blocking, remote assistance and simple interfaces for your parents.
Objective reviews of popular call blocker, website blocker and parental control apps on Android.
Antivirus, scam website blocking, app locks, VPNs and permission management.
Truecaller, Hiya, Call Blacklist, Should I Answer? and SafePhone.
BlockSite, Chrome Safe Browsing and SafePhone: anti-phishing and malicious domain blocking.
Qustodio, Norton Family, Bark, Google Family Link and SafePhone.
Boost productivity and stay protected from phishing emails and links.
Exchanges, wallets, charting and security against fake exchanges and wallet-draining sites.
Why an anti-scam app needs these permissions, and how Android differs from iPhone.
How SafePhone checks phone numbers and links against a blacklist, even when you're offline.
What Call Screening is and why iPhone can't block calls automatically the way Android can.
Why a scam website blocker needs to be set as your default browser.
SafePhone identifies fake websites, suspicious domains and malware distribution sources, and blocks scam calls before your phone even rings. See the user guides.