Is This Phone Call a Scam? Vishing Red Flags & What to Do
How to tell if a phone call is a scam (vishing): caller ID spoofing, robocall and live-agent tells, the seven highest-volume scam…
Editor
Sarah Mitchell
Consumer Protection Editor · Editor since 2019
Sarah Mitchell leads consumer protection coverage at ScamReporting.org, focusing on romance fraud, government impersonation, Medicare robocalls, and lottery and inheritance schemes. Before joining the editorial team in 2019, she spent eight years working with state-level consumer advocacy programs and now reviews every alert in her categories against known fraud templates. Her work has been cited by local news outlets, senior-services organizations, and victim-support groups. She holds a B.A. in Journalism and has completed the National Consumers League fraud-awareness training program.
Guides by Sarah Mitchell
What to Do If You Gave Your SSN to a Scammer: Identity Theft Steps
Gave your Social Security number to a scammer? Act within 24 hours: credit freezes, fraud alerts, IRS steps, and monitoring to limit…
Grandparent Scam: AI Voice Cloning and Family Emergency Fraud
Grandparent scams use fake family emergencies and AI voice cloning to steal money. Learn warning signs, verification steps, and how to protect…
IRS Phone Scam: How to Spot Fake Tax Calls and Report Them
IRS phone scams use spoofed caller ID, arrest threats, and gift card payments. Learn official IRS contact rules, red flags, and how…
Gift Card Scam: What to Do If a Scammer Asked for Payment
Gift card scams demand iTunes, Amazon, or Visa cards as payment. Learn red flags, why scammers want gift cards, and what to…
Fake Government Refund Scam: How to Spot Impersonation Fraud
Fake government refund scams impersonate the IRS, FTC, UN, and cybercrime agencies. Learn warning signs and what to do if you receive…
Military Romance Scam Red Flags: Spot Fake Soldiers Online
Military romance scam red flags: fake soldiers on peacekeeping duty, requests for money, and stolen photos. Protect yourself from romance fraud.
Lottery and Inheritance Scam Warning Signs: Donation & Prize Fraud
Spot lottery, inheritance, and fake charity donation scams. Learn warning signs when strangers offer millions or dying benefactor windfalls.
Romance Scam Red Flags: Complete Checklist to Protect Yourself
Romance scam red flags: love-bombing, money requests, military impersonation, and crypto grooming. A complete checklist before you send money.
Medicare Scam Phone Calls: Red Flags and How to Protect Yourself
Medicare scam phone calls impersonate CMS and Social Security officials. Learn 2026 red flags, spoofed caller ID tactics, and how to report…