Spotting Scams Online

Christopher Butson
21 hours ago
2 min read

Updated: 51 minutes ago

🛡️ Scruffy’s Digital Journy — Spotting Scams Online

Hi, I’m Scruffy. Christopher explained that scams are like trick doors pretending to be safe vaults. At first, I thought every email or website was real. But Christopher reminded me: scams often use urgency, fake links, and requests for details. Spotting these red flags keeps your digital street safe and predictable.

📧 Phishing Emails — Red Flags

Urgent language: “Act now!” or “Your account will be suspended.”
Requests for details: Asking for PINs, passwords, or card numbers.
Suspicious sender: Email addresses that don’t match your bank or service.
Poor spelling/grammar: Many scam emails contain mistakes.
Unexpected attachments: Banks and services don’t send files for you to open.

🌐 Fake Websites — Red Flags

Strange web addresses: Slight misspellings (e.g., paypa1.com instead of paypal.com).
No padlock symbol: Secure sites show HTTPS with a padlock.
Unusual design: Logos or layouts that look blurry or copied.
Pop‑ups asking for details: Legitimate sites don’t ask for PINs or passwords in pop‑ups.

⚠️ Urgent Requests — Red Flags

Pressure tactics: “You must act immediately.”
Threats: “Your account will be closed.”
Too much information: Asking for PINs, passwords, or security codes.
No option to verify: Discouraging you from calling back or checking directly.

🔐 Scruffy’s Safety Rituals

Notebook & Pen: Record suspicious emails or websites for awareness.
Never click links in suspicious emails.
Type addresses directly into your browser instead of clicking links.
Call your bank or service directly using official numbers.
Remember: Your bank or service will never ask for your PIN, password, or full details.

🖱️ Scruffy’s Safety Challenge

"Christopher gave me a challenge to practice. You can try it too:"

Open your inbox and look for one email that feels unusual.
Write down why it looks suspicious in your notebook.
Visit one website and check for the HTTPS padlock.
Practice saying “No” to urgent requests by deleting or ignoring them.

✨ Scruffy’s Reflection At first, I thought every email and website was safe. But Christopher reminded me: scams use urgency and tricks. For learners, that means you can stay safe by spotting red flags — all with Scruffy guarding the vault beside you.

📞 Scruffy’s Banking Safety Reminder

If you get a suspicious call, text, or email pretending to be from your bank:
- Hang up immediately
- Dial 159 — this connects you directly to your bank’s fraud team
- Never call back on the number given in the suspicious message