Pause and check a suspicious message
Written for adults 55+ and everyday beginners. No AI experience needed.
A familiar voice or polished message can still fool people. A chat tool can help you notice warning signs, but it cannot prove a message is safe.
Start here
- Do not click links, send money, or share a code while checking an unexpected message.
- Describe the request without real names, links, codes, or account details.
- Contact the person or business through a number or app you already trust.
Three prompts you can use
Copy a prompt into your chat tool and replace the [blanks]. Check each reply before using it.
1. Make a first draft
Help me think through this unexpected request: [general description without real links or private details]. List warning signs and questions to ask. Do not declare it safe or tell me to click, pay, or share a code.
2. Make it fit your life
Give me a calm checking plan using a contact method I already trust. Include how to verify a request that claims to come from a family member. Do not use contact details from the message.
3. Check before you use it
Write a short reminder I can keep near my phone: pause, do not share codes, and call back through a trusted number. Use plain words and no scare tactics.
Mistake most beginners make
Treating “it looks fine” from an AI tool as proof of who sent a message.
One last check
You do not need to reply to a suspicious message. If you already shared money or account details, contact the relevant organization through its official channel.
Keep going at your own pace
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