A public kindness engine for New York City, an early public experiment from psyoptin.com. The engine finds and prepares; people bring judgment and action.

Scam watch · what is going around

The Shield reads the public scam alerts every few hours, sorts each one by the trick it uses, and writes down the one thing that gives it away. Nothing here is a rumor: every line links to the agency that published it.

SCAM OF THE DAY · Impersonation

FTC Seeks Public Comment on Whether to Update Rule on Impersonation of Government and Businesses to Address Platforms’ Role in Promoting Impersonation Scams

The tell: Real agencies and banks never call to demand payment or a code. Hang up, find the number yourself, call back.

Latest alerts

Fees & subscriptions FTC Returns More than $15.8 Million to Consumers Misled by Cash Advance App Company Cleo AI · FTC consumer protection
If cancelling is harder than signing up, that was the design. Screenshot every step and dispute the charge with your card.
Business practices FTC Secures Settlement with Auto Dealership Group in Price Transparency Win for Consumers · FTC consumer protection
When a company is fined for a trick, the same trick is still running elsewhere. Read what they did; that is the pattern to spot.
Scam watch Did someone share an explicit image of your child online? Take these steps · FTC consumer alerts
If it is urgent, secret and needs money or a code right now, it is a scam. Slow down and ask someone.
Business practices FTC Issues Redress Payments to Consumers Impacted by GOAT’s Deceptive Shipping, Refund Policies · FTC consumer protection
When a company is fined for a trick, the same trick is still running elsewhere. Read what they did; that is the pattern to spot.
Business practices Premier Martial Arts Franchisor and its Former Franchise Sales Organization Settle FTC Charges that the Companies Made Deceptive Claims and Violated the Franchi · FTC consumer protection
When a company is fined for a trick, the same trick is still running elsewhere. Read what they did; that is the pattern to spot.
Business practices FTC Issues Letters Warning Hospitals Against Deceptive Pricing Practices · FTC consumer protection
When a company is fined for a trick, the same trick is still running elsewhere. Read what they did; that is the pattern to spot.
Business practices FTC, States Sue Lens.com for Misrepresenting the Price of Contact Lenses in Search Ads and on Its Website · FTC consumer protection
When a company is fined for a trick, the same trick is still running elsewhere. Read what they did; that is the pattern to spot.
Scam watch Talking with parents and kids about deepfakes, online safety, and the Take It Down Act · FTC consumer alerts
If it is urgent, secret and needs money or a code right now, it is a scam. Slow down and ask someone.
Scam watch What to know ahead of Open Enrollment to avoid health insurance scams · FTC consumer alerts
If it is urgent, secret and needs money or a code right now, it is a scam. Slow down and ask someone.
Impersonation FTC Seeks Public Comment on Whether to Update Rule on Impersonation of Government and Businesses to Address Platforms’ Role in Promoting Impersonation Scams · FTC consumer protection
Real agencies and banks never call to demand payment or a code. Hang up, find the number yourself, call back.
Scam watch How to report a platform that doesn't take down your intimate images · FTC consumer alerts
If it is urgent, secret and needs money or a code right now, it is a scam. Slow down and ask someone.
Business practices FTC Takes Historic Action Against Multilevel Marketing Operator Amway for Unfair and Deceptive Business Practices · FTC consumer protection
When a company is fined for a trick, the same trick is still running elsewhere. Read what they did; that is the pattern to spot.
Fees & subscriptions FleetCor Agrees to Pay $100 Million to Resolve Administrative Action After Federal Court Finds that It Violated the FTC Act by Charging Unauthorized Fees · FTC consumer protection
If cancelling is harder than signing up, that was the design. Screenshot every step and dispute the charge with your card.
Fees & subscriptions FTC Announces Additional Payments to Consumers Stemming from FTC’s Amazon Prime Settlement · FTC consumer protection
If cancelling is harder than signing up, that was the design. Screenshot every step and dispute the charge with your card.
Scam watch Did an online platform fail to quickly take down your intimate images? Report it to the FTC · FTC consumer alerts
If it is urgent, secret and needs money or a code right now, it is a scam. Slow down and ask someone.

I think I'm being scammed

If money already moved · 24/7
Call your bank or card company now and say 'fraud'; gift cards: call the card's company
Report it: FTC · 24/7
ReportFraud.ftc.gov (the report also warns others)
Online crime: FBI IC3 · 24/7
Report an online scam, hack or extortion
New York Attorney General · Weekdays
Consumer Frauds Bureau, 1-800-771-7755
NYC 311 · 24/7
Say 'consumer complaint' (Department of Consumer and Worker Protection)
AARP Fraud Watch helpline · Weekdays
Free for anyone, any age: 1-877-908-3360
Identity theft · 24/7
IdentityTheft.gov: a recovery plan step by step
Practice spotting the next one · 24/7
SPOT IT, a free daily trainer by Psy-Opt-In, the company that runs this engine

The Shield is the Society's Anti-Manipulation & Anti-Scam Division (its orders). Sources: FTC consumer alerts, FTC consumer protection. The trainer is by Psy-Opt-In, which runs this engine.

Ask the engine

It answers from a fixed list first; anything else goes to a chatbot that reads only the engine's public record and can neither act nor send. If you are in trouble it points you to real people first.