If you see even ONE of these signs, stop the transaction immediately!

1. The Payment Red Flags

• The “Unconventional” Request: They insist on payment via Zelle, Venmo “Friends & Family,” Cryptocurrency, or Retail Gift Cards.
  
• The Overpayment: A buyer sends you a check for more than the asking price and asks you to “refund” the difference to a third party.
  
• The “Safety” Deposit: You are told you must pay a “tax,” “insurance fee,” or “activation fee” before you can withdraw your own winnings or investment profits.

2. The Communication Red Flags

• Artificial Urgency: They use threats like “Your account will be deleted in 1 hour” or “The police are on their way” to force you to act before you can think.
  
• The “Wrong Number” Pivot: A stranger texts you by “mistake,” then tries to strike up a friendly relationship that eventually turns into investment advice.
  
• The Secretive Nature: They tell you not to tell your bank, your spouse, or the police about the transaction because it’s “confidential” or “a glitch.”

3. The Technical Red Flags

• The Spoofed Caller ID: The call looks like it is coming from your bank, but the caller asks for your password or a one-time MFA code sent to your phone.
  
• The Look-Alike URL: The website address is slightly off (e.g., wellsfargo-secure-login.net instead of wellsfargo.com).
  
• The QR Code Trap: You are asked to scan a QR code to “verify” an account or “receive a gift,” which then takes you to a login page.

4. The Psychological Red Flags

• Guaranteed High Returns: Any investment promising “zero risk” and “guaranteed daily profits” is a mathematical impossibility and a certain scam.
  
• The “Official” Impersonator: Someone claiming to be from the FBI, IRS, or SSA asks you for your Social Security Number or payment to “clear your name.”
  
• The Emotional Hook: They claim to be a romantic interest or a distressed family member (often using AI voice cloning) who needs immediate financial help.

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What to Do if You See a Red Flag

1. Hang Up or Close the Tab: You are under no obligation to be polite to a scammer.
   
2. Verify Independently: Call the company or person back using a trusted number from an official website or your physical ID card.
   
3. Check the Playbook: Consult our Victim Recovery & Reporting guide to see if your experience matches a known scam pattern.

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