Forward the message to +1 208 214 0093, or take a screenshot and send it as a photo. Uncle replies in a minute with what he sees.
How to forward a text
- iPhone: press and hold the message, tap More, tap the arrow at the bottom right, and send it to Uncle.
- Android: press and hold the message, tap Forward or Share, and send it to Uncle.
- Any phone: copy the words and paste them into a text to Uncle, or send a screenshot.
What Uncle looks for
- Pressure to act right now: "your account will be closed today"
- Requests for payment in gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency
- Requests for passwords, codes, or card numbers, or to "reply Y to verify"
- Prizes, refunds, or packages you did not expect
- A family member in trouble who needs money fast
- Links and call back numbers you have no reason to trust
What he tells you
If the message shows clear warning signs, Uncle says it looks like a scam and names the signs. If it does not, he says he cannot confirm it is real. He never tells you a message is safe, because nobody can know that from a text alone.
Either way, the safe next step is the same: do not tap the link or call the number in the message. Contact the company using a number you already trust, like the one on the back of your card or on a bill you know is real.
Letters, bills, and pop ups too
Take a photo of the letter, the bill, or the warning on your computer screen and send it to Uncle. He tells you what it is, what it asks you to do, and any date or amount due, and he flags anything that looks like a scam.
Uncle never asks for your passwords or codes, and he never texts you first.
See the common scams reaching older adults right now, with examples of each.
Text Uncle