Our methodology
How we choose sources, write examples safely, and keep guidance trustworthy.
How we select sources
We prioritise official government, law-enforcement, and regulator publications (for example, the FTC, FBI IC3, CISA, the UK's Action Fraud and NCSC, Australia's Scamwatch, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, India's cybercrime portal, and the CFPB). We also use reputable cybersecurity research and consumer-protection bodies. We label each source's reliability as High, Medium, or Low.
Official sources vs. public anecdotes
Official and well-established cybersecurity sources inform our facts and figures. Public discussions on Reddit, Quora, and forums are treated as anecdotal - useful for describing what real people report, but never presented as verified proof. We say so clearly wherever anecdotes are summarised.
Why we remove links and personal details
Every example message is paraphrased and stripped of live links, phone numbers, emails, wallet addresses, and personal identifiers, replaced with placeholders like [fake-link removed]. We never publish reusable scam scripts or anything that could help someone run a scam. Examples are clearly marked "Example only".
How "last reviewed" dates work
Each page shows when it was last reviewed. Scam tactics change, so we revisit pages periodically. A date reflects the last editorial review, not a guarantee that every external link is still live.
Reporting outdated information
If a source link is outdated or an official reporting link has changed, please tell us so we can review it. We label unverified or unavailable official resources clearly rather than guessing.
Review frequency and corrections
We aim to review high-traffic and high-risk pages (such as bank, OTP, crypto, and recovery topics) at least every few months, and to re-check official links periodically. When we learn something is wrong or out of date, we fix the page and update its "last reviewed" date. Corrections that change the meaning of guidance are made promptly; minor fixes are batched into the next review. We treat child-safety and fraud-enabling concerns as urgent.
Not legal or financial advice
This site provides educational safety guidance, not legal, financial, or law-enforcement advice. For urgent cases, contact your bank or payment provider and your national reporting authority. Always verify through official channels.
Frequently asked questions
Do you publish real scam links or phone numbers?
No. We remove live links, phone numbers, emails, and personal details from every example and replace them with placeholders like [fake-link removed].
Are forum stories treated as fact?
No. Reddit, Quora, and forum experiences are clearly labelled as anecdotal and are used only to describe what people commonly report - never as verified proof.