- Written by
- Remaleh Cyber Safety Team
- Reviewed by
- Remaleh Cyber Safety Team Practical Cyber Safety guidance and response
- Last reviewed
The internet should help you stay in touch, get things done, and keep up with the people you love. The catch is that scams arrive in the same places as real messages.
The safest approach is not to fear every message. It is to build a few habits that give you time to pause before clicking links, sharing codes, moving money, or letting anyone control your device.
The FBI's 2024 report showed people over 60 reported the highest total losses of any age group. That is not a reflection on you. It is a sign of how convincing scam pressure, fake warnings, and impersonation can become.
Source: FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
Start with your most important accounts. Email. Banking. Phone provider. Government online services. Cloud storage. Social media. Use a strong, unique password on each one. Turn on two-step verification or passkeys. Keep your recovery phone numbers and email addresses up to date.
If a message creates urgency, asks for secrecy, or pushes you to act before checking, slow the decision down.
- Remaleh Cyber Safety guidance
What to check before you act
- Look at who really sent the message, not just the name on the screen.
- Skip links in unexpected texts and emails. Open the official app or website yourself.
- Never share one-time codes with anyone who called or messaged you first.
- Never install remote access software because a caller says there is a problem.
- Ask a trusted person before moving money, buying gift cards, or approving an unusual payment.
If something feels wrong, stop responding. Keep the evidence. Screenshots, phone numbers, email addresses, bank references, and dates help when you ask for support.
Good online safety is not about knowing every tech term. It is about knowing when to pause, what to check, and which accounts or details matter most.
Banking and remote access need extra care
Be especially careful with callers who say there is a problem with your bank, computer, phone, tax, delivery, investment, or government account. Do not install remote access software because someone called you. Do not read out a one-time code. If money might be involved, end the contact and use the official number or app you already trust.
Source: FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center , Australian Cyber Security Centre
Set up one trusted backup person
Choose one person you can contact before you move money, buy gift cards, share codes, or let someone control a device. They do not need your passwords. Their job is to help slow the decision down and check the request through a safer channel.
Source: National Cyber Security Centre
It also helps to decide the safer channel before anything happens. For example, you might agree that real family requests are checked by calling a saved number, not by replying to a new text thread, social media message, or email address.
