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Fridge scam checklist

Tape it up where everyone in the house will see it.

AptKeys

Fridge scam checklist

If a caller or text checks any of these boxes, hang up or delete it.

  • They want gift cards, a wire, crypto or a payment app
  • They say you'll be arrested, fined or deported
  • They say you have to decide right now
  • They ask you to confirm your Social Security number
  • You "won" something, but have to pay to get it
  • They tell you to keep it secret
Red flags in a scam textA phone showing a made-up scam text: urgent, your account is locked, pay with a gift card today, with a short link. Gold labels point out the red flags: pressure and a deadline, a request for a gift card, wire or crypto, and a link you did not ask for. It also came out of nowhere. The advice: do not tap, do not call back.URGENT: youraccount is locked.Pay with gift cardtoday or lose it:bit.ly/xxxxPressure and a deadlineGift card, wire or cryptoA link you didn't ask forComes outof nowhereDon't tap. Don't call back.
Any one of these is enough to stop.

Report it: forward scam texts to 7726. Report scams at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Full lesson: Spotting a scam text or callChecked October 2, 2026. Sources: Federal Trade Commission.

Sources

  1. Federal Trade Commission Phone scams
  2. Federal Trade Commission Avoiding and reporting gift card scams
  3. Federal Trade Commission How to recognize and report spam text messages

Last checked October 2, 2026 against the sources listed. See a mistake?