The anti-scam signal lab

Pause. Check. Outsmart the ask.

Scammers win when everything feels urgent. We help you slow the moment down, spot the pattern, and make the safer move.

Check a suspicious link ↘ Test your scam radar
Built by teens · Backed by FTC, FBI & SEC guidance
Four teens looking at messages on their phones
Your best defense is one pause.
HR
Hiring Teamunknown sender · now
You’re hired! Deposit this check today and send the extra back. Act now so we can hold your position.
UrgencyFake checkSend money
3red flags
before hello
Urgency is a tacticNever share a login codeGift card means stopOpen the real app yourselfTell someone you trust Urgency is a tacticNever share a login codeGift card means stopOpen the real app yourselfTell someone you trust

01 · Know the patterns

Same tricks.
New costume.

Most scams run the same loop: build a believable story, add pressure, then ask for money, access, or a code. Tap a card to see the red flags and your safest next move.

01 · Shopping

Fake shops hiding in your feed

A perfect ad, a wild discount, and a seller who only exists in DMs.
Spot it

Brand-new account, no real reviews, no address, and pressure to pay outside the platform.

Do this

Search the seller name plus “scam” or “reviews,” pay by credit card, and screenshot the offer.

FTC guide to online shopping ↗
02 · Phishing

Texts, emails & QR traps

“Your account is locked.” “Your package is delayed.” “Scan here now.”
Spot it

Urgent payment problems, password resets you did not request, and odd links or covered-up QR codes.

Do this

Do not tap. Open the official app yourself. Use a password manager and turn on two-factor authentication.

FTC phishing guide ↗
03 · Jobs

Fake recruiters & “task” jobs

Easy money becomes fees, crypto deposits, or a fake check you have to “return.”
Spot it

Instant hire, “move to Telegram,” pay-to-get-paid, or buying crypto to unlock your earnings.

Do this

Find the role on the company’s actual careers page and contact the company through a number you find yourself.

FTC job scam guide ↗
04 · School

Scholarship & financial-aid scams

A “guaranteed” award asks for a fee, your SSN, or your FSA ID.
Spot it

Upfront fees, guaranteed results, and requests for sensitive information over email or DM.

Do this

Use official sites only. FAFSA and legitimate student-aid help are always free.

StudentAid.gov scam resources ↗
05 · Trust

Romance & relationship scams

Weeks of trust turn into an “emergency” or a sure-thing investment.
Spot it

No live video, requests for secrecy, crypto wallets, gift cards, or claims to be a trading expert.

Do this

Stop sending money, save the messages, tell someone you trust, and report the account.

FTC romance scam guide ↗
06 · Investing

Crypto platforms with fake profits

The number goes up on-screen. Then “withdrawal fees” keep your real money locked in.
Spot it

Guaranteed returns, pressure to deposit more, fees to withdraw, and no verifiable company details.

Do this

Check registration at Investor.gov. Never pay by crypto ATM or QR code because someone told you to.

FTC crypto scam guide ↗
07 · Fear

Fake tech support

A terrifying pop-up says your device is infected and gives you one number to call.
Spot it

Scary full-screen warnings, surprise callers, and requests for remote access to your device.

Do this

Close the tab or reboot. Never call a pop-up number. Contact your security provider directly.

FTC tech-support guide ↗

02 · Train your instincts

What would
you do next?

Scam spotting gets easier when you practice the pause. Try three common situations and see whether your first move protects you.

Scenario 01 / 03

03 · The receipts

This is bigger
than spam.

Reported U.S. fraud losses reached $12.5 billion in 2024. The real number is likely much higher because many people never report what happened.

Total losses$12.5B

Reported U.S. fraud losses in 2024

One-year jump+25%

Increase over the previous year

Investing$5.7B

Lost to investment scams

Age 20–2944%

Of reports included a money loss

Social-media scam losses

Reported losses by year · $ millions

Largest loss categories

FTC Consumer Sentinel · 2024 · $ billions

Figures reflect reports to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. Data shifts year to year; read the source material at FTC Data Spotlights ↗.

04 · Check before you click

Put the link
under a light.

Paste a shop, recruiter, prize, or login link. The inspector checks the address for common scam patterns on your device without opening or contacting the site.

Link inspector

Educational tool only. The inspector reads the text of an address inside your browser. It cannot confirm that a link is safe or that a link is dangerous.

Try: · ·

?

Your risk readout appears here.

We look at the domain ending, spelling, security, hidden brand names, urgency words, and more.

05 · Leave the conversation

You don’t owe
them a reply.

When someone asks for money, a code, or secrecy, you can stop. Copy one of these lines if having the exact words makes leaving easier.

For account codes
“I don’t share codes or move money for anyone. I’ll verify with the company directly.”
For payment pressure
“I only pay by credit card on trusted sites. Gift cards, wires, and crypto are a no.”
For fake recruiters
“Email me from the company domain. I’ll verify the role on your official careers page.”
For sketchy DMs
“I won’t continue in DMs. I’m saving and reporting this chat to the platform.”

06 · Report & recover

Tell someone.
Then take action.

Getting scammed is not a character flaw. Reporting is free, it helps investigators connect patterns, and it still matters even when no money was lost.

FTC ReportFraud.ftc.govReport fraud, scams, and bad business practices ↗ FBI FBI Internet Crime Complaint CenterReport internet-enabled crime and major financial loss ↗ ID IdentityTheft.govGet a personal recovery plan after identity theft ↗ EDU StudentAid.govRecognize financial-aid and student-loan scams ↗
07 · Behind the project

About the creator

Teens Against Scams was created by Duncan Schwindt, a student interested in using design and technology to make online safety easier to understand. The project turns trusted guidance into clear, practical tools that help young people pause, check, and make safer choices online.