Methodology

How this site decides what to say, and how it keeps that current.

Source standards

We use US federal sources first. These include:

• The Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
• IdentityTheft.gov
• The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
• The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
• The Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
• The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)

Bank and payment app pages are used only as backup. For example, we may use one to show how a company's fraud tool works. These pages never replace a government source.

How pages are reviewed and dated

Every page lists a "Last reviewed" date and its sources.

Before we add a source, we check its live link. We confirm it loads. We confirm it still matches the topic.

We re-check pages when guidance changes or a link moves. We update the date honestly. We never leave it stale.

We verify every official link and phone number against the agency's own website, and we do not change them based on unsolicited messages.

Careful-language policy

We write the way a calm person would talk to someone they cared about.

• We say "contact your bank now," not "you will get your money back."
• We say "report it," not "file a claim and get paid back."
• We say plainly that recovery is not guaranteed. This is true for crypto, wire transfers, and gift cards most of all.
• We avoid blame. Anyone can be targeted by a good scam.

What this site will and will not claim

This site tells you what official sources say to do. It explains why a pattern is a common trick.

It will not promise a result. It will not point you to a paid recovery service. It is not legal, financial, or law-enforcement advice. See the about page for our full list of limits.

Correction path

Did you find an error, a broken link, an old source, or wording that feels too broad? See the corrections page for the one email address we read for this.