How can I tell if a text or call to my parent is a scam?
Look for pressure, secrecy, and an unusual way to pay. A real bank, agency, or company does not rush you, does not ask you to keep it from your family, and does not ask for gift cards, a wire, cryptocurrency, or cash handed to a courier. The one rule that stops most scams: never call back, click, or reply using the number, link, or email in the message. Hang up, then call the real company at a number you look up yourself.
Updated September 25, 2026
The warning signs
- Act right now. "Your account will be closed today." "Your grandson needs bail in an hour."
- Keep it secret. "Don't tell your children." Real problems survive a phone call to family.
- Strange ways to pay. Gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, a payment app, or cash picked up at the door.
- A government threat. A call from "Social Security," "Medicare," or "the IRS" that threatens arrest or lost benefits.
- A family emergency from a voice that sounds right. Scammers can copy a real voice from a short clip online.
- A prize that costs money to collect.
- A "fraud department" that wants the money moved to a "safe account."
- A computer pop-up with a phone number, or a request to let someone into the computer.
How to check, for certain
| It claims to be from | Check it this way |
|---|---|
| A bank or credit card | The number on the back of the card or on a paper statement |
| Social Security | 1-800-772-1213, or ssa.gov typed in by hand |
| Medicare | 1-800-633-4227, or the number on the Medicare card |
| The IRS | irs.gov typed in by hand. The IRS does not call to demand payment |
| A delivery company | The company's own app or website, typed in by hand |
| A grandchild or family member | Hang up and call them, or another relative, at the number you already have |
Can an app help?
Hammock365 includes Maggie, an AI assistant. Your parent, or you, can paste the message or tap the camera button and send her a photo or screenshot of it. She points out the warning signs she sees and tells you how to check. Cover account numbers before you take the photo.
Maggie is an AI and she can be wrong. Treat her answer as information, not a final word. She does not block calls or texts, and she will never tell you a message is safe. When in doubt, do not respond, and check with the real company at a number you look up yourself.
Try Hammock365 free.
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