Guides

Plain-English help for when something looks wrong, or has already gone wrong.

When something has gone wrong

Six signs a text is a scam, what to do with it, and what to do if you already tapped the link.

A step-by-step checklist for when a company you use has been breached, depending on what was exposed.

How to take back an email, social media or shopping account, and stop it happening again.

Where to find updates on iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, browsers and home routers, and how to make them automatic.

Where to look up recalls in the US, Canada and UK, and what to do if a product you own is on the list.

Act fast: who to call first, how to report it, and how to avoid "recovery" scams afterwards.

A text says a parcel is held or a toll is unpaid, with a link to pay a small fee.

Someone claims to be your bank, the police or a tax office, and says your money is at risk.

A pop-up or call says your computer is infected and offers to fix it remotely.

A new contact, often met online, shows you big returns on a trading app and invites you in.

An online partner builds trust over weeks, then needs money for an emergency.

An unexpected job offer pays you to like videos or rate products, then asks you to deposit money.

A deal that is too good to be true, from a new website or a marketplace seller.

Someone asks you to forward a verification code "sent by mistake", or a login page looks slightly off.