THE GEN X AI SHOW
C:\> RUN SCAMRADAR.EXE
Got a weird text, email, DM, or phone call? Paste it below and we'll point out the common scam red flags, in plain English. Then look up the AI-era scams going around right now.
🔒 Your message stays on your device. The check runs entirely in your browser. We never store it, save it, or send it anywhere, not even to us.
Tip: remove your own account numbers or personal details before pasting. You don't need them for the check.
Important: This tool looks for common warning signs. It can't guarantee a message is safe. Scammers change their wording all the time, and a message with no red flags can still be a scam.
Still unsure? Don't use any phone number or link in the message. Call the company using the number on your card, your statement, or its official website. Or call the AARP Fraud Watch Helpline at 877-908-3360 (Mon–Fri, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. ET).
Paste it into ChatGPT (or any AI chat), then add the message. Remove names, account numbers, and anything personal first.
We scan your message for warning signs that the FTC, FBI, and CISA say are common in scams. Each red flag has a weight. Strong signs (like being asked for gift cards, a verification code, remote access, or to move money to "protect it") count the most. The verdict:
> real scam types, what they look like, and what to do. advice from the FTC, FBI, CFTC, CISA, and AARP.
A panicked call that sounds exactly like your grandchild, child, or another relative. They say they wrecked the car, got arrested, or are in the hospital and need money fast. Scammers can copy a voice from a short clip posted online.
A live video chat with someone who looks like a company executive, a police officer, a celebrity, or an online friend, but the face and voice are AI-generated. The FBI warns criminals use these to "prove" they're real.
Ads on social media or at the top of search results for an AI tool. Clicking takes you to a copycat site that installs malware, which can steal your information and get into your accounts.
Emails that look like they're from a company you use: your bank, a store, a streaming service. They claim there's a problem with your account or payment and want you to click a link. With AI, the grammar and spelling can now be perfect, so typos are no longer a reliable warning sign.
Someone you meet on a dating app or social media showers you with attention, says it's true love, but can never meet in person. Eventually they need money, or want to show you how to invest in crypto. The FBI says scammers use AI to create believable profile photos and messages.
A scary pop-up or call says your computer has a virus or was hacked, and tells you to call a number. The "technician" asks for remote access, pretends to find a problem, and charges you or digs into your accounts. A variant: fake renewal emails from names like Geek Squad, Norton, or McAfee.
A layered scam that often starts as fake tech support. Then a fake "bank fraud department" and sometimes a fake government agent (Federal Reserve, FBI, FTC) say hackers are in your accounts and you must move your savings to a "safe" account. The FBI says it hits older adults especially hard.
A text claims you owe money for unpaid tolls and links to a payment page. It's a phishing scam after your card number and personal details, even if you haven't driven through a toll.
A text, usually pretending to be USPS, says there's a problem delivering your package and links to a look-alike site asking for a small "redelivery fee." The FTC says this was the most-reported text scam in 2024.
Ads, influencers, or new online friends promise an AI-powered trading bot or crypto platform with huge or guaranteed returns. The CFTC warns AI can't predict the market, and the dashboard showing your "profits" can be fake. When you try to withdraw, you can't, or you're told to pay fees.
An innocent-looking text from a stranger ("Is this Linda? Coffee tomorrow?"). If you reply, they strike up a friendship, sometimes romantic, then claim to be a successful investor and steer you to a fake investment platform.
An unexpected text or post offers easy remote work, like rating products or apps for commission. Later you're told to pay money to unlock tasks or withdraw your "earnings." Other versions: fake checks, reshipping jobs, or fees for training.
A QR code on a parking meter, flyer, email, or text takes you to a fake site that steals your login or payment info, or installs malware. Scammers have been reported pasting their own codes over real ones.
A text or call about suspicious activity or a big purchase you didn't make. It may ask you to reply YES or NO, or call a number. The fake "fraud department" then pressures you to move money or share a verification code.
Someone asks you to read back or forward a one-time code sent to your phone or email. They might pose as your bank, a buyer on Marketplace, or tech support. With that code, they can get into your accounts.
Around elections, scammers use candidates' names, photos, and slogans, plus AI-made voices, images, and messages, to ask for donations, sell campaign merchandise that never ships, pitch a "campaign investment pool" that supposedly pays out if the candidate wins, or text you that you're not registered to vote with a link to a fake sign-up page.
A caller or message says it's the IRS, Social Security Administration, or even the FTC. They say you owe money, your Social Security number is suspended, or you'll be arrested, and demand payment or personal information right away. Caller ID can be faked to show the real agency. A newer twist: a fake "FTC official" says a phone registered in your name is being used for scams overseas and threatens to shut off your number, then hands you to a fake police officer.
Callers claim to be from Medicare and say you need a "new" or "updated" card, or need your Medicare number for a medical equipment claim you don't remember. The FTC says scammers get more active around Medicare Open Enrollment (Oct 15–Dec 7).
You're told you won a car, cash, or a gift card, but you need to pay "taxes," "shipping," or a "processing fee" first, or hand over bank details. Real prizes are free.
Any story that ends with "buy gift cards and read me the numbers." The FTC says only scammers do this. Scammers may stay on the phone while you go to the store, and tell you to buy at several stores so cashiers don't get suspicious.
Want an AI helper you can actually trust, with a free plan and good privacy? Take the 60-second quiz in the Gen X AI Finder.
Watch for pressure to act right now, a link or phone number you didn't ask for, requests for gift cards, crypto, wire transfers, or verification codes, and anyone asking you to keep it secret. Paste the message into the checker above to see the red flags in plain English.
No. The checker runs entirely in your browser. Your message is never saved or sent to us or anyone else.
Call your bank or card company right away using the number on the back of your card. Change any password you typed in, then report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or ic3.gov. If your identity was stolen, go to IdentityTheft.gov.
Yes. The FTC and FBI warn that scammers can copy a voice from a short clip online. Hang up and call your loved one on a number you know, and set up a family code word. Read our voice-clone scam guide.
Forward scam texts to 7726 (SPAM), then report the scam to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Each guide below lists the official places to report that type of scam.
Gen X Scam Radar gives general education, not legal or financial advice. Scam summaries paraphrase official guidance from the FTC, FBI's IC3, CFTC, CISA, and AARP; each entry links its sources. Sample messages are made-up examples. If you lost money, contact your bank or payment company right away, then report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or ic3.gov.