What Should I Say to a Suspicious Caller?
Use the free tool — Scam Call Shield
Why Phone Scams Are Hard to Stop
A phone call is different from an email or a letter. It is happening live, and the caller wants you to decide fast. That pressure is often the biggest warning sign.
What to Say Right Away
- Say: "I do not give personal or financial information over the phone. Send me something in writing."
- Say: "I need to hang up and call this organization back at a number I look up myself."
- Say: "I am not going to stay on this line while you tell me what to do next."
Red Flags to Listen For
- They ask you to act immediately, before you can check with anyone else.
- They ask for information they should already have if they are who they say they are.
- They ask you to pay, verify, or "confirm" something over the phone, on this same call.
What This Is Not
This page is general information, not legal advice. It cannot tell you whether one specific call is a scam. Only you, or a professional who reviews the details, can do that.
What to Do Next
Scam Call Shield is a free tool. Describe the call — who they said they were and what they wanted — in your own words, in English or Spanish. The tool reads what you describe and gives you a verdict, points out the red flags in the caller's own words, and gives you a short script to read back if you get a similar call again. Always confirm anything important by calling the organization back yourself, at a number you look up on your own, not one the caller gave you.