Don’t Get Scammed

Silence unknown callers, turn on your carrier’s free filter, register on Do Not Call — and the one habit (don’t answer, don’t press a button) that matters most.

Manufacturer vs. extended warranties, the exclusions that make plans worthless, the auto-warranty phone scam, and the coverage you already have free.

The strongest, free defense against identity theft: freeze all three bureaus, save your PINs, and thaw it in minutes when you need new credit.

Why free needs your card, the three numbers to find before you sign up, the annual-lump-sum trap, and using a virtual card so you can’t get surprise-billed.

Try the merchant, then the chargeback: valid reasons, the 60-day window, credit vs. debit protection, and how to escalate a denied dispute.

The urgency trap, lookalike links, and the codes you must never share — plus the golden rule: verify through the official app, never the text.

How the overpayment scam pays you with money that vanishes then rushes you to refund real cash — and the one rule that shuts it down every time.