Quick answer
A fast, evidence-based check before you tap, reply or share information.
- Start with: Pause before interacting
- Finish with: Report and delete safely
- Pause if: Urgency is not proof
Primary sources for this guide: CISA: Recognize and report phishing; FTC: How to recognize and avoid phishing scams. Check the source that applies to your location and situation before acting.
Know when to escalate: If the situation involves immediate danger, suspected crime, serious health symptoms or a deadline with major legal or financial consequences, contact the appropriate local emergency service, official body or qualified professional.
A step-by-step plan
Pause before interacting
Do not reply, open attachments or use a phone number in the message. A short pause keeps the sender from controlling the pace.
Check the sender outside the message
Open the claimed organization's app or type its known address yourself. Compare the alert there instead of trusting the message header.
If a suspicious message is part of the problem, use the Scam Message Red-Flag Checker.
Inspect the request and destination
Read the full destination before opening it and ask what the sender wants you to reveal, pay or approve. Unexpected access requests deserve independent checking.
If you discover that you already opened the destination or entered information, move to What to Do After Clicking a Scam Link.
Report and delete safely
Use the platform's reporting control, keep a screenshot if a report needs evidence, then remove the message without forwarding its active links.
Common mistakes and warning signs
Use these checks as reasons to slow down and verify the situation. One warning sign alone does not settle every case.
- Urgency is not proof
- Display names can be forged
- A familiar logo proves nothing
Progress checkpoints
| Checkpoint | What you should have |
|---|---|
| Before acting | Pause before interacting |
| Before finishing | Report and delete safely |
| Reason to pause | Urgency is not proof |
Final checklist
Checklist state stays in this browser tab and is not sent to Help.You.
Sources and further verification
Rules and official processes vary by country and can change. Use the responsible organization for your location and situation. These starting points may cover a different jurisdiction.
Help.You editors structured this page around the task sequence, reviewed it for avoidable risk and checked that its claims stay within general informational scope. Read our content process.