Step 1: Check the urgency
Almost every scam tries to rush you. The pressure is meant to stop you from thinking or asking for help.
- Ask: is someone telling me to act right now, or something bad happens?
- Real deadlines come in writing, with time to verify.
- If you feel panicked, that is the moment to slow down, not speed up.
Step 2: Check the payment request
Look at how they want to be paid or what information they want. Scams almost always involve money or credentials moving in an unusual way.
- Gift cards, wire transfers, crypto, or payment apps are major warning signs.
- Requests for passwords, one-time codes, or full card numbers are red flags.
- No legitimate agency asks you to pay a fine with gift cards.
Step 3: Check the sender
Confirm who is really contacting you. Names and numbers can be faked, so look past the surface.
- Hover over or long-press a link to see where it really goes.
- Compare the email domain to the company’s real website.
- Be suspicious of generic greetings and small spelling errors.
Step 4: Verify on your own terms
When in doubt, stop and confirm independently. This single habit defeats most scams.
- Look up the official number yourself instead of using the one in the message.
- Call the person or company back through a known channel.
- Screenshot the message and let Oversight score it. You’ll get a Low, Caution, or High verdict and a plain-English explanation in about three seconds.