Got a scary call, letter, or bill? Start here.
Free, plain-English help for anyone in the U.S. Pick the button that sounds closest. Each guide tells you what to do right now, how to report it, and where to get free official help. Every fact links to the government page it came from.
Is someone pressuring you right now? It’s OK to hang up, stop replying, or close the page. Real agencies and companies will still be there in an hour. Never pay with a gift card, wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or cash because a caller told you to. The FTC says only scammers demand payment that way.
- ReadyA suspicious phone call“IRS,” “Social Security,” “your grandson,” “your bank”… How to tell, and how to block calls.
- ReadyA suspicious text or emailFake delivery, toll, and bank messages. What to do before you click.
- ReadyI think I got scammed / I already paidWho to call first, based on how you paid. Act fast.
- ReadySomeone stole my identityFree credit freezes, fraud alerts, and a recovery plan.
- ReadyA medical bill I don’t understand or can’t payItemized bills, financial assistance, appeals, and letters you can copy.
- ReadyA debt collector contacted meReal or scam? Your rights, the 30-day dispute window, and letters you can copy.
- ReadyA letter from the IRSIs it real? What common notices mean, deadlines, and payment plans.
- ReadyStay safe onlinePasswords, two-step sign-in, updates, backups, and a printable checklist.
Protect yourself and clean up
- ReadyGet a new phone numberWhen it helps, how carriers handle it, free SIM swap protection, and who to tell.
- ReadyFix your credit yourself (free)Free reports, disputing mistakes, rebuilding, and credit repair scams.
- ReadyRemove your personal info onlinePeople-search sites, Google’s free removal tool, and state data broker rules.
Coming soon
- Coming soonHelp for aging parentsA fuller section is planned. Our existing guides are here now: reverse mortgages, power of attorney, paperwork, and a savings calculator.
Want to talk to a real person?
Free, official places to report a scam or get local help, including the FTC, the FCC, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, IdentityTheft.gov, your state attorney general, and 211.
Sources
Last checked Oct 18, 2026.
- FTC: Avoiding and Reporting Gift Card Scams: https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/avoiding-and-reporting-gift-card-scams
- FTC: Phone Scams: https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/phone-scams
- FTC: Refund and Recovery Scams (cash, gift cards, crypto, wire, payment apps): https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/refund-and-recovery-scams
Rules and numbers change. If something here does not match what an agency tells you, trust the agency, and please let us know.