Every day, scammers contact people by phone, text message and social media.
They may pretend to be your bank, Medicare, the IRS, a delivery company, a police officer, a business you recognize—or even someone interested in becoming your friend.
The story changes.
The safest response doesn't.
Don't engage with strangers who contact you unexpectedly.
It can be tempting to answer a question, respond to a text with "STOP," tell a caller they have the wrong person, or reply to someone who sends you a friendly message on Facebook or Instagram.
But even a simple response tells the person on the other end something valuable:
This is a real person, and they are willing to communicate with me.
From there, a scammer can begin building trust, creating urgency, gathering personal information or manipulating you into taking an action you normally wouldn't take.
Scammers Want to Start a Conversation
Many scams don't begin with someone asking for money.
They begin with something harmless:
"Is this Susan?"
"Your package couldn't be delivered."
"Did you make this purchase?"
"I think we met before."
Or a social media message:
"Hello. I saw your profile and thought I'd say hi."
The first message isn't necessarily the scam. It's the opening of the door.
Once you respond, the scammer has an opportunity to keep the conversation going.
Don't Engage. Verify Independently.
If someone says they're calling from your bank, hang up and contact your bank using the number on the back of your card.
If you receive a message saying there's a problem with an account, don't click the link. Open the company's official app or website yourself.
If someone you don't know contacts you on social media, don't continue the conversation simply because their profile looks legitimate. Photos, names and entire identities can be stolen or created with artificial intelligence.
You don't owe a stranger who contacts you a response.
Stop the Scam Before It Starts
Scammers need your participation.
Don't give them the conversation they need to begin manipulating you.
Don't respond. Don't click. Don't engage. Verify independently.
And talk about these tactics with your parents, grandparents, friends and neighbors. One conversation today could prevent someone from losing their savings tomorrow.