Scams can be hard to recognize from the inside—especially when fear, trust, loneliness, urgency, or embarrassment are involved. This page can help you spot concerning patterns, ask the right questions, and support someone without making them feel judged.

You do not have to prove it is a scam before you ask questions.
Sometimes helping someone starts with one calm sentence:
“Something about this feels off. Can we check it together?”

• Signs it may be time to step in — secrecy, sudden money transfers, gift cards, crypto, repeated emergencies, a new online relationship asking for help, strange “bank” or “government” calls, unusual account activity.

• What to say instead of “You’re being scammed” — give readers softer conversation starters such as, “Would you mind if we check this together?” or “Can we verify this another way before you send anything?”

• Questions to ask — “Have you met this person?” “Why do they need the money today?” “Can we call the company directly?” “What happens if you wait?”

• What not to do — don’t shame them, mock the situation, threaten to cut them off, or immediately take control unless there is a genuine safety or legal reason.

• If money has already been sent — link them to your recovery post and give a short checklist: contact bank/payment service, change passwords, save evidence, report it.

• A second set of eyes — this is where your brand can shine. Encourage the reader to pause, review the situation together, and independently verify.