Scam Checker
Describe a call, text, or email — or paste a screenshot. We'll tell you if it matches a known scam.
OpenNews
The scams making the rounds, explained in plain English. Twice-weekly updates from families and caregivers.
OpenScam Guides
Plain-English guides to 30 of the most common scams — what they look like, what to say, where to report.
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Scam Checker
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Summer 2026 Alert
AI Voice and Video Scams Are Here — The Old Rules Still Protect You
Criminals are now using AI to clone voices and even fake live video calls. In one scheme spreading this summer, scammers use FaceTime to pose as bank staff and collect account passwords. A recent poll found that 12% of successful scams last year involved AI or deepfakes. The defense hasn't changed: if a call feels urgent — even one that sounds exactly like your grandchild or your bank — hang up and call back on a number you already trust. That one habit defeats nearly all of these scams.
Read the full guide →Protect Yourself Today
Three things you can do right now to make yourself safer
You don't need to be a tech expert. These three steps take less than an afternoon and protect you against the most common fraud tactics.
Freeze your credit
A credit freeze stops anyone from opening new accounts in your name. It's free, takes 15 minutes, and is the single most effective thing you can do to prevent identity theft.
Freeze at all three bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. You can temporarily lift it anytime you need to apply for credit.
Set up a family safe word
Pick a word only your family knows. If anyone calls claiming to be a relative in trouble, ask for the word first. This simple step defeats grandparent scams and AI voice clones.
Choose something memorable but not guessable — not a pet's name or birthday. Share it at your next family dinner. No word, no wire.
Turn on two-factor authentication
Your email is the skeleton key to everything — bank resets, Social Security, medical records. Two-factor authentication means even if someone steals your password, they still can't get in.
Start with your email and your bank. Most have a "Security" or "Login" section in settings. It takes 5 minutes per account.
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What To Watch For Right Now
The latest scams making the rounds
Scammers follow the calendar. Tax season, holidays, elections, natural disasters — they exploit whatever is in the news.
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$28.3 billion
Stolen from Americans 60 and older every year.
Only $7.8 billion of it is ever reported. Most of what is taken is taken by someone the victim knows — and 87.5% of those victims never report it at all. Elderus exists to close that gap — with education, awareness, and tools that treat older Americans with the respect they deserve.
Source: AARP, The Scope of Elder Financial Exploitation: What It Costs Victims. Built on analysis of 26,669 fraud-related articles from 30+ news sources across America.
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