Fast response
Something happened. Start here.
Slow the situation down, protect the person first, and preserve evidence. If anyone is in immediate physical danger, call 911.
Do not trust contact information in the suspicious message. Open the official app or type the organization’s website yourself.
An account may be hacked
- 1Use a trusted device and go directly to the provider—do not use a link from a message.
- 2Change the password, sign out other sessions, and turn on multifactor authentication.
- 3Check recovery details, forwarding rules, purchases, and recent activity.
Money or identity information was sent
- 1Call the bank or card issuer using the number on the card or official website.
- 2Ask about stopping transfers, replacing cards, and monitoring the account.
- 3Report identity theft and consider a free credit freeze at all three bureaus.
A child is being threatened or sextorted
- 1Do not pay, send more images, or argue with the person.
- 2Preserve usernames, URLs, messages, payment requests, and screenshots when safe.
- 3Tell a trusted adult immediately and report to NCMEC. If danger is immediate, call 911.
A phone is lost or stolen
- 1Use Apple Find My or Google's device finder from another trusted device.
- 2Mark the device lost and contact the carrier. Do not confront someone at a mapped location.
- 3Protect the primary email and financial accounts first; remotely erase only when recovery is unlikely.
An urgent call may be a deepfake scam
- 1Pause. Do not send money or share a code during the call.
- 2Call the person back on a number you already know.
- 3Ask for the family verification phrase or a fact that was not posted online.
Mental-health crisis
In the United States, call or text 988 for immediate crisis support. If there is imminent danger, call 911.
Open the 988 Lifeline