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Learn to stay safe online

Simple, practical lessons to help you and your family avoid scams, use technology confidently, and know what to do when something feels wrong. No account required.

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Scam Basics

Start here to learn the most common scam warning signs, simple safety habits, and what to do when something feels suspicious.

Scam BasicsScam Alert

Scam Basics: Pause, Verify, and Protect Yourself

Learn how scammers use fear, excitement, and trust to pressure people into sending money or sharing private information.

Beginner8–10 min read
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Scam BasicsScam Alert

Scam Basics for Older Adults

Learn what scams are, how scammers create urgency, common scam types, and the simple habits that help you pause, verify, and ask for help.

Beginner10–12 min read
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Scam BasicsScam Alert

How to Spot Online Investment and Romance Scams

Learn how pig butchering scams build trust through friendship or romance, how fake investment sites show false profits, and what to do before sending money online.

Beginner12–15 min read
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Scam BasicsScam Alert

What Is a Scam?

Learn what a scam is, why scammers target people, and the simple habits that help you stay safe every day.

Beginner5 min read
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Scam BasicsScam Alert

What Is a Tech Support Scam?

Learn how fake computer warnings, pop-ups, and support calls try to trick people into giving access or money.

Beginner5–7 min read
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Scam BasicsScam Alert

Stay Safe When Scanning: A Simple Guide to QR Codes

Learn how to scan QR codes safely, spot warning signs, and avoid QR code scams that can lead to fake websites.

Beginner8–10 min read
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Scam BasicsScam Alert

Tax Scam Basics: Pause Before You Pay or Share Information

Learn how to recognize fake IRS messages, avoid urgency tricks, and follow a pause, verify, and ask-for-help plan during tax season.

Beginner12 min read
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Scam BasicsScam Alert

Scam Basics: Lottery and Sweepstakes Scams

Learn how fake prize notifications work, recognize their most common warning signs, and safely respond when someone says you won money or a valuable prize.

Beginner8–10 min read
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Scam BasicsScam Alert

Scam Basics: Charity and Donation Scams

Learn how to recognize fake charity requests, check an organization, and donate using a safer payment method.

Beginner10–15 min read
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Scam BasicsScam Alert

Facebook Marketplace Scam Basics

Learn how common Facebook Marketplace scams work, how to spot warning signs, and how to pause before sending money or handing over an item.

Beginner8–10 min read
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Scam BasicsBanking

Scam Basics: How to Spot a Fake Check Scam

Learn what a fake check scam is, why deposited money may look real at first, and what to do before spending or sending any of it.

Beginner12–15 min read
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Scam BasicsScam Alert

Understanding Modern Scams

Learn what scams are, who scammers target, and the predictable patterns that make fraud easier to recognize — based on the Hawaii Fraud Prevention and Resource Guide.

Beginner8 min read
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Scam BasicsScam Alert

How Scammers Contact You

Learn the four common ways scammers reach victims — internet, mail, phone, and in person — and how to recognize suspicious contact.

Beginner8 min read
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Scam BasicsScam Alert

The Psychology of Scams

Learn the emotional tactics scammers use — phantom riches, authority, scarcity, intimidation, and more — and how to recognize when your feelings are being manipulated.

Beginner8 min read
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Scam BasicsPrivacy

Protecting Your Personal Information

Learn which personal information scammers value most and the best practices for keeping your Social Security number, Medicare number, and financial details safe.

Beginner8 min read
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Scam BasicsScam Alert

What To Do If You Think You Are Being Scammed

Learn the five steps to take when you suspect a scam — stop communicating, do not send money, verify, talk to someone you trust, and report it.

Beginner8 min read
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Scams Intermediate

Go deeper into how scams unfold, how scammers create pressure, and how to recognize more complex multi-step scams.

Scams IntermediateScam AlertLocked — prerequisite required

Scams Intermediate: Online Shopping, Fake Websites, and New Scam Tactics

Learn how to recognize cloned shopping websites, fake recall messages, unsafe payment requests, package scams, and AI-assisted fraud.

Intermediate12–15 min read
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Scams IntermediateScam Alert

QR Code Scams: How Scammers Hide Fake Links in Plain Sight

Learn how QR code scams work, where they appear, and how to check preview links before tapping.

Intermediate12–15 min read
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Scams IntermediatePhone Safety

AI Voice Cloning and Deepfake Scams: How to Verify Before You Trust

Learn how AI voice cloning and deepfake scams work, why familiar voices are no longer enough proof, and how to verify urgent money requests safely.

Intermediate12-15 min read
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Scams IntermediateScam Alert

Intermediate Scam Awareness: Romance, Crypto, and AI Scams

Learn how romance scams, pig butchering, call center fraud, and AI tricks build trust over time — and how to verify before sending money.

Intermediate12–15 min read
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Scams IntermediateScam Alert

Tax Scams Intermediate: Check Preparers, Protect Your Identity, and Report Fraud

Learn how to check tax preparers, verify IRS notices, request an Identity Protection PIN, and respond after tax-related fraud.

Intermediate15 min read
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Scams IntermediateScam AlertLocked — prerequisite required

Scams Intermediate: Advanced Prize Scams and Reloading

Examine fake checks, impersonation, repeated payment demands, recovery scams, and the psychological techniques used to make prize scams convincing.

Intermediate12–15 min read
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Scams IntermediateScam AlertLocked — prerequisite required

Scams Intermediate: Charitable Fraud and Financial Exploitation

Learn how charity fraud can happen outside and inside an organization, how weak controls create risk, and how caregivers can notice signs of financial exploitation.

Intermediate15–20 min read
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Scams IntermediateScam AlertLocked — prerequisite required

Facebook Marketplace Scam Safety: Intermediate Skills

Learn how to examine Marketplace accounts, confirm payments, avoid advanced scam stories, report suspicious users, and respond after money or information has been shared.

Intermediate12–15 min read
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Scams IntermediateBankingLocked — prerequisite required

Scams Intermediate: How Modern Fake Check Scams Build Trust

Recognize convincing fake check scams that use AI, polished websites, realistic jobs, impersonation, and multi-step payment instructions.

Intermediate18–22 min read
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Scams IntermediateBanking

Phantom Hacker Scams: When Tech Support Becomes a Banking Scam

Learn how fake tech support scams can turn into fake banking emergencies involving "safe accounts," cash, gold, couriers, and Bitcoin ATMs.

Intermediate8–10 min read
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Scams IntermediatePrivacy

Understanding Identity Theft

Learn what identity theft is, how criminals use stolen information, warning signs to watch for, and steps to prevent it.

Intermediate8 min read
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Scams IntermediateScam Alert

Online Threats and Malware

Learn about harmful software like adware and ransomware, how hidden URLs work, and simple habits to stay safe online.

Intermediate8 min read
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Scams IntermediateScam Alert

Medicare and Healthcare Fraud

Learn about common Medicare fraud schemes — genetic testing scams, equipment billing fraud, upcoding, and medical identity theft — and how to protect yourself in Hawaii.

Intermediate8 min read
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Scams IntermediateScam Alert

Elder Financial Exploitation

Learn how older adults are financially exploited — including the grandparent scam, caregiver theft, and property fraud — and the warning signs to watch for.

Intermediate8 min read
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Scams IntermediatePrivacy

Recovery After Identity Theft

Learn the five steps to recover after identity theft — fraud alerts, credit freezes, FTC reporting, police reports, and ongoing monitoring.

Intermediate8 min read
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Email & Phishing

Recognize fake emails and dangerous links.

Email & PhishingScam Alert

How to Recognize a Phishing Email

Learn how to spot fake emails that try to steal your passwords, money, or personal information.

Beginner6 min read
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Passwords & Accounts

Protect your logins and online accounts.

Passwords & AccountsPrivacy

How to Create a Strong Password

Simple steps to create passwords that are hard to guess and easy for you to manage safely.

Beginner6 min read
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Shopping Online

Buy online with confidence and avoid fake stores.

Shopping OnlineScam Alert

Online Shopping Scam Basics: Check Before You Buy

Simple ways to recognize suspicious stores, advertisements, sellers, and payment requests.

Beginner12–15 min read
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Shopping OnlineScam AlertLocked — prerequisite required

Online Shopping Scams: Safer Buying and Selling

Learn how fake stores, marketplace tricks, payment scams, and delivery messages work.

Intermediate18–22 min read
View Prerequisite

Tech Basics

Understand everyday technology in plain language.

Tech Basics

What Is CAPTCHA and How to Use It Safely

Understand what CAPTCHA checks are, why websites use them, and how to avoid fake CAPTCHA tricks used by scammers.

Beginner5 min read
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Tech Basics

Getting Comfortable With Your Smartphone

A calm, beginner-friendly lesson for learning the basic parts of your phone one step at a time.

Beginner10–12 min read
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Emergency Steps

Know what to do right away if something goes wrong.

Emergency StepsScam Alert

What to Do If You Think You Were Scammed

Clear steps to take right away if you shared information, sent money, or clicked something suspicious.

Beginner7 min read
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