A Comprehensive Guide to Combating Personal Scams in Singapore

Scams in Singapore are getting smarter and more pervasive. From fake parcel delivery notices to impersonation calls, fraudsters keep evolving their tactics. The good news is you can stay a step ahead with some simple tools, smart habits, and a bit of know-how. In 2024 alone, victims in Singapore lost at least S$1.1 billion to scams across over 51,000 reported cases – so it’s more important than ever to protect yourself. This comprehensive guide will walk you through three key pillars of scam protection:

• Identity: Keeping your real life separate
• Tools: Apps & tech to shield you
• Education: Staying smart & vigilant

Let’s dive in and empower you to ACT against scams before they happen.

Identity: Keeping Your Real Life Separate

One powerful way to protect yourself from scams is to separate your real identity from your online activities. Enter the idea of a “honeypot” identity – a fake (but consistent) persona you use for low-risk, non-critical online tasks. By using alternative contact details for things like free sign-ups and newsletters, you keep scammers and spammers away from your real information.

What is a Honeypot Identity? Think of it as a decoy identity used only for casual online activities. It might include an extra email address or secondary phone number that isn’t tied to your bank, government accounts, or anything sensitive. This way, any junk mail or sketchy messages go to your decoy, not your real contacts.

👍 Example uses: Signing up for newsletters or promo freebies, joining public Wi-Fi networks, creating accounts on forums or apps that don’t involve money.
🚫 Never use this decoy for: Banking, government services (SingPass, etc.), medical or legal accounts, or anywhere your real money and obligations are involved.

Setting Up Your Honeypot Identity

• Dedicated “Junk” Email Address: Create a separate free email (e.g. Gmail) for all those sign-ups and subscriptions. This keeps spam out of your main inbox and protects your primary email from exposure. Security experts often recommend using different emails for different purposes. For instance, have one email just for forums/newsletters that might leak or sell your address. Check this account only when needed. Be sure to use a strong password (you can even let Google suggest one) and avoid linking any real personal details (like your full name or birthday) if not required.
• Secondary Mobile Number (eSIM): Consider getting a cheap secondary mobile line for one-time verifications and signups. Many Singapore telcos (Singtel, StarHub, M1, etc.) offer low-cost secondary plans (some under $10/month) via eSIM. Use this number when apps or websites insist on a phone number verification for non-critical services or contests. This way, if a scammer gets hold of a phone list from a leaked service, it’s your throwaway number at risk, not your main line.
• Use an Identity Breach Checker: Even with a decoy email, it’s good to know if it ever gets compromised. Tools like F‑Secure’s Identity Theft Checker let you quickly see if your email or personal details have appeared in any known data breaches. It’s free and doesn’t store your info – simply enter the email and it will scan breach databases (like a “Have I Been Pwned” service) and report if that address was part of a leak. If your decoy gets pwned, you can change that password ASAP or swap to a new honeypot email.
• Practice Good Device Hygiene: Using a honeypot identity only helps if the devices and browsers you use are secure. Create a separate browser profile for your honeypot persona (most browsers let you add profiles or use “containers”). This prevents cookies or trackers from crossing over into your real accounts. Also consider privacy extensions like uBlock Origin or Privacy Badger on that profile to block trackers. Always keep your browser and antivirus updated – scammers might still target your decoy accounts with phishing emails or malware links, so basic cybersecurity applies.
• Know the Limitations: A honeypot identity is a shield for low-risk scenarios, not a license to take big risks anonymously. It reduces annoying spam and phishing to your real contacts, but it won’t make you invisible or invincible online. Scammers might still send phishing emails to your fake email, or try to trick you into giving up info. And if you accidentally use your honeypot details for something important (like a password reset on a financial account), you could lock yourself out. Never use the decoy for anything involving money, Singpass, or legal matters, and never reuse the same passwords between your fake and real accounts. Stay vigilant even when using “fake” details – if something looks phishy, it probably is.

Tools: Apps & Tech to Shield You

Technology is your best ally in keeping scammers at bay. By using the right apps and settings, you can block out a lot of threats automatically. Below are some top tools and tech tips especially relevant in Singapore:

Harden Your Web Browsers

Modern browsers have built-in features to warn or protect you from scams and malware:

• Google Chrome – Enhanced Safe Browsing: Turn this on for Chrome to get real-time checks of websites and downloads. (Go to Settings > Privacy and security > Security > select “Enhanced protection.”) It will warn you if a site is suspected phishing or if a download looks malicious.
• Mozilla Firefox – Total Cookie Protection: In Firefox’s Privacy settings, enable Strict Enhanced Tracking Protection. This contains websites’ cookies so they can’t track you across different sites, making it harder for malicious ad networks or scam sites to follow you.
• Apple Safari – Intelligent Tracking Prevention: Make sure “Prevent cross-site tracking” is enabled in Safari’s Privacy settings. This reduces profiling by websites. Safari will also give fraud warnings if you visit known deceptive sites.

These browser settings are like your first line of defense – they can block known bad websites or at least throw up a warning before you proceed.

Install Malwarebytes Browser Guard

For an extra layer in your browser, consider the free Malwarebytes Browser Guard extension (available for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari). It’s like giving your browser a security upgrade. What does it do? Quite a lot:

• Blocks malicious sites & scams: It flags dangerous websites and credit card skimmers that try to steal info or install viruses. It can even identify and stop brand-new fake “tech support” scam pop-ups that try to lock your browser and scare you.
• Crushes unwanted ads and trackers: Annoying pop-up ads are swept away, and hidden trackers that follow you for advertising get blocked. Aside from protecting privacy, this also means pages load faster – Malwarebytes claims up to four times faster browsing without all that extra bloat.
• Stops in-browser malware: It can prevent in-browser attacks like crypto-miners (those sneaky scripts that use your computer to mine crypto) and other malicious scripts from running. Essentially, it “gives other malicious content the boot” before it can do harm.

Malwarebytes Browser Guard is easy to install – just add the extension from the official browser store. Once enabled, it works in the background. If it blocks something, you’ll see a notice. It’s a set-and-forget booster for safer browsing.

Use a Secure DNS (Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 for Families)

Another free tool to filter out bad sites is Cloudflare’s 1.1.1.1 for Families. This is a DNS service (the thing that converts website names to actual internet addresses) that automatically blocks domains known for malware or adult content. By routing your internet through Cloudflare’s family-safe servers, if you or an app accidentally try to visit a known phishing site or a sketchy domain, it won’t connect.

How to use it: Easiest way is via the 1.1.1.1 mobile app. Download it from Google Play or the Apple App Store (it’s labeled “1.1.1.1: Faster Internet”). In the app settings, you can enable “1.1.1.1 for Families” mode. Once on, it acts like a lightweight VPN, filtering your phone’s internet connections. Alternatively, you can manually set your home Wi-Fi router or individual device DNS to 1.1.1.3 (for malware + adult content blocking) or 1.1.1.2 (malware blocking only) – but if that sounds too geeky, the app does it for you with one switch. It’s free, and it can prevent your device from even reaching many scam sites (for example, those dodgy links in scam SMSes would simply fail to load).

Password Managers – Use Strong and Unique Passwords

Using weak or (gasp!) reusing passwords across sites is a goldmine for scammers. If one site leaks your credentials, they try the same combo elsewhere. In fact, a 2023 analysis found 74% of users in data breaches were reusing passwords that had been exposed before – meaning hackers could take those and log into other accounts. Don’t make it easy for them.

A password manager can help by generating and remembering strong passwords for you. If you’re not using one yet, Google Password Manager is a convenient starting point (especially if you use Chrome or Android). It will auto-suggest strong passwords when you sign up for new accounts and save them securely. Next time you log in, it can auto-fill them. You can access and manage all these saved passwords at passwords.google.com – it even flags weak or repeated passwords. There are also dedicated apps like LastPass, 1Password, etc., but using something is better than nothing.

🔑 Tip: Enable two-factor authentication on important accounts too – even if someone somehow guesses or steals your password, they’ll be stopped by the second factor (like a code texted to you or generated by an authenticator app).

Passkeys & Biometric Login (Windows Hello, etc.)

Even better than passwords, consider using passkeys or biometric logins where available. For example, Windows Hello on Windows 10/11 lets you log in with your fingerprint or face scan instead of a password. It’s not just about convenience – it’s far more secure. Why? Because even if a scammer obtains your password, they can’t fake your face or fingerprint to unlock your device. Biometric data never leaves your device and can’t be phished via email.

Many apps and services (from banking apps to WhatsApp) offer biometric login or PIN unlock – use these features. They reduce reliance on your memorized passwords and thus reduce risk. As of late 2023, Singapore’s government services (SingPass Mobile) also support passkeys/biometrics for logins. Whenever possible, turn on those fingerprint/Face ID options.

ScamShield – Singapore’s Official Anti-Scam App

The Singapore government has an app called ScamShield (jointly developed by NCPC, SPF, GovTech) that’s tailored to combat local scams. It’s like having a spam filter and scam advisor in your pocket:

• SMS Filtering: ScamShield will automatically filter and quarantine incoming SMS messages that are suspected scams (especially those common ones like “you have a parcel, click link” or loan scams). This means fewer dangerous texts even reach you.
• Call Blocking: It blocks calls from numbers that have been flagged as scam callers. The database is updated continuously (ScamShield works as a crowd-sourced effort, leveraging reports and known scam numbers). So if a loan shark or fake “CID officer” has been calling people, and is blacklisted, your phone won’t even ring.
• Check and Report: The latest ScamShield versions also let you check suspicious links, calls, or messages right in the app. If you got a weird WhatsApp message or encountered a strange URL, you can run it by ScamShield. Plus, you can report scams through the app, contributing back to the community knowledge base.

Best of all, it’s free. Download it from the official ScamShield website or your app store (iOS and Android available). After installing, follow the prompts to give it the necessary permissions (it will need to access your calls/SMS to filter them). ScamShield has helped block over 120,000 scam messages and calls since 2022. It’s not foolproof, but it’s a great safety net – especially for common scam tactics in Singapore.

Other Handy Tools and Apps

• IDStrong Password Generator: If you want quick throwaway strong passwords (say for your honeypot email or any new account), the IDStrong Password Generator is a simple web tool. You choose the length and the types of characters, and it spits out a random secure password. This is handy if you need a random password now and don’t have a manager handy. Just remember to save the password somewhere secure (browser or write it down in a safe place) if it’s for an account you’ll use again.
• . Since scammers are now using QR codes (“quishing”) and complex phishing pages, having an AI second opinion is great. Just remember, never only rely on AI – use common sense too – but Scamio can catch things you might miss, and it provides advice on what to do next if it is a scam. You can find Scamio via the Bitdefender website or add the bot to WhatsApp by scanning the QR code on their site.
• Only Install Apps from Official Sources: This is more of a rule than a tool. Whether you use Android or iOS, stick to the Google Play Store and Apple App Store for downloads. Both have protections: Google Play Protect automatically scans apps on your phone and blocks malicious ones, and Apple vets apps before approving them. It’s not a 100% guarantee (scam apps sometimes slip through), but it removes most of the risk. If you ever need an app that’s not on the official store, think twice – why isn’t it there? And certainly avoid downloading random .apk files or apps that someone on a forum told you to install to “get a prize” or “verify” something; that’s a classic malware trap.
• SGSecure App: While not strictly for scams, the SGSecure app is Singapore’s platform for the public to quickly report suspicious activities (like an emergency, terrorism-related, etc.). If you ever encounter a scam scenario that escalates – say you arranged to meet a seller from Carousell and it feels like a set-up, or any physical safety concern – you can use SGSecure to contact authorities quickly. It also has alerts for any crisis. Consider it part of your overall safety toolkit.
• VPN for Public Wi-Fi: Singaporeans love using mobile data and public Wi-Fi in cafes, malls, airports. But public Wi-Fi can be easily snooped on by hackers on the same network. A VPN (Virtual Private Network) encrypts your internet traffic, which is especially important on public hotspots. If you connect to free Wi-Fi at the airport without a VPN, a nearby attacker could potentially intercept what you’re doing (steal login cookies, see personal data). With a VPN, all they’d see is gibberish. Many VPN services (NordVPN, Surfshark, ExpressVPN, etc.) have servers in Singapore, so they’ll be fast for local use. You don’t need to use a VPN at home on your secured network for scam protection, but do consider it when on any untrusted Wi-Fi. It also has the bonus of masking your IP and location from websites, adding privacy. (One caveat: VPNs protect against network-based attacks, but if you click a scam link while on a VPN, you can still get phished – so it’s not an excuse to ignore other precautions.)

Oryon recommends NordVPN

That might seem like a lot of tools, but you don’t need all of them at once. Evaluate which fits your lifestyle: at minimum, keep your phone and browser updated, use strong passwords (or a manager), and have ScamShield/Play Protect active. The rest (VPNs, AI chatbot, etc.) you can add on for extra safety as needed.

Education: Staying Smart & Vigilant

No tool or fake identity can 100% guarantee safety – the strongest protection is your informed vigilance. Scammers thrive on ignorance and panic. By understanding how they operate, you can spot red flags and avoid falling prey. Let’s go over key things to educate yourself on:

Guard Your Personal Data (Especially Your NRIC)

Singaporeans are used to giving their NRIC/FIN number for all sorts of things, but this is changing. In June 2025, Singapore’s Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC) and Cyber Security Agency (CSA) issued a joint advisory urging organisations to stop using NRIC numbers for authentication. Why? Because NRIC numbers are too exposed – you share that number with schools, clinics, etc., so it shouldn’t be a “password” or ID verification method.

How this affects you: Be mindful when a business or website asks for your NRIC. If it’s not truly necessary (like medical or government services), you can push back or ask if another identifier can be used. Definitely do not use your NRIC as part of any password or PIN – some older systems might have default passwords like the last 4 digits of NRIC, which is not secure. The authorities stressed that NRIC (or any ID number like your birth date) should never be used as a standalone authenticator. Use strong passwords or 2FA instead. And if a private company is still using NRIC as a login or something, know that this practice is being phased out for good reason – it’s simply not secure.

Be Careful What You Share Online

Scammers often gather bits of information about you from what you voluntarily put out on the internet. This is the era of social media oversharing – and scammers are watching.

Review your social media privacy settings: Ideally, set your Facebook posts to “Friends only,” make your Instagram account private if you’re not comfortable with strangers viewing, and so on. Limit the personal info visible on your profile (for example, you might hide your friends list, birth year, workplace – anything a scammer could use to impersonate you or guess security answers). A determined scammer could piece together your email, phone, workplace, and friends just from a quick scan of an overly public profile.

Be mindful of what you share: Avoid posting things like your full NRIC number (some people inadvertently do when showing a new IC design), your home address, phone number, or even real-time info like “I’m abroad for a month!” (which can invite not just online scams but real burglaries). Also, think twice about those viral quizzes or surveys that ask fun personal questions – sometimes they’re harvesting data or answers that happen to match security question answers (e.g. first pet’s name, mother’s maiden name, etc.).

Recognize Phishing Language and Tactics

Whether it’s an email, SMS, or WhatsApp message, most scam communications have telltale signs. Learn to spot the red flags:

• Urgency or Fear: Phrases like “Your account will be suspended in 24 hours!” or “URGENT: Immediate action required” are meant to make you panic and act without thinking. Legitimate institutions (banks, govt agencies) rarely impose unrealistic deadlines out of the blue.
• Threats or Too-Good-To-Be-True Offers: Scammers oscillate between fear and greed. Either “Legal action will be taken if you do not click this link now” or “You’ve won a lottery, click here to claim $10,000!”. If it sounds scary or too wonderful, be skeptical. Government bodies in Singapore will not threaten arrest over the phone or SMS – they send official letters. And you likely didn’t magically win a contest you never entered.
• Strange Sender Details: Check the email address or SMS sender. Phishing emails might say “DBS Bank” in the name but the email might be something like noreply@secure-dbs.com.hk or a random string. Official emails from .gov.sg or banks will usually come from their official domain. Same for websites – if you click a link, look at the URL in your browser. Scammers create lookalike sites (like singpass-login.gov.secure-vfy.com which is not a gov.sg site). When in doubt, don’t click – instead, manually go to the official website or app.
• Grammar and Spelling: Many scam messages originate overseas. If an SMS claiming to be from a local bank is riddled with spelling errors or awkward phrasing, that’s a big red flag. (Granted, scammers are improving in this aspect, but many still slip up with odd language.)

Always remember you have the right to verify. If SingPost (or so it says) texts you about a failed delivery with a link – you can ignore the link and instead go to the official SingPost tracking site yourself, or use the official app, or call the hotline. 9 times out of 10, you’ll find out it was fake.

Beware QR Code Phishing (“Quishing”)

QR codes became hugely popular in recent years (thanks, pandemic menus!), and of course, scammers found a way to exploit them. Quishing is QR-code phishing. Instead of a clickable link, scammers put the malicious link into a QR code, hoping you scan it without a second thought.

This has happened in Singapore. For instance, in one case a woman saw a QR code at a fast-food outlet offering free ice cream for doing a survey – she scanned it, and ended up unknowingly subscribing to a $7.99/month service on her phone bill. In another case, scammers stuck fake QR code stickers on a bubble tea shop’s promo poster; a victim who scanned it and installed an app lost $20,000 from her bank account due to malware. These are real incidents that show the danger.

Tips for QR codes:

• Don’t scan random QR codes in public places just because. If you see a QR code flyer on a lamp post saying “Win an iPhone!”, be very suspicious. Scammers have been known to paste their own QR code on top of legitimate ones.
• If you do scan a QR code from an advertisement or email, check the URL that it opens before you proceed. Both iOS and Android will show you the URL (web address) when you scan a code, usually in your browser bar, before you confirm navigating. Inspect it carefully – does it look legit and match the company’s official domain? If not, bail out.
• As a safer practice, if an offer is real, there’s usually another way to get to it (e.g. go to the official website manually or find the promo in the store’s official app). You don’t need to scan a code to get the info.
• Never scan QR codes sent via unsolicited messages or emails. Singapore Police have warned against scanning Singpass QR codes sent through unofficial channels – for example, a scammer might send an email asking you to scan a QR code to log in to Singpass for some urgent task; that QR code actually gives them access. Singpass QR login should only be used when you yourself are logging in to a service and your Singpass app pops up with the QR code scanner – never from an external message.

Quishing is on the rise globally (one report estimates QR code scams may now account for 20% of all phishing attacks), so it’s not just theoretical. Stay alert with those little black-and-white squares!

Monitor Your Finances and Accounts Regularly

Early detection of any irregular activity can save you a lot of pain. Make it a habit to review your bank statements and credit card transactions frequently – say once a week via online banking. Look for any charges you don’t recognize, even small ones. Scammers sometimes test with a small amount first. If something looks off, notify your bank immediately.

Many banks in Singapore offer transaction alerts – you can set an SMS or email alert for transactions above a certain amount (or for all online transactions). This is very useful. If someone somehow got your card details and tries a purchase, you’ll know within seconds and can freeze the card.

Also, check your SingPass account activity log (the SingPass app has a “Recent Activities” section). This can show if there were any logins or authorizations you don’t remember doing. Since SingPass is a gateway to so many services, you want to ensure no one else has gotten in. If you ever see something strange, change your password immediately and report it.

Never Share Your SingPass Login or OTPs

This should go without saying, but in scam cases we’ve seen, victims sometimes unknowingly give away SingPass details because they thought they were verifying something official. Your SingPass ID, password, and 2FA (OTP) codes must be kept as secret as your bank PIN. No government official will ever ask you for your SingPass password or OTP over a phone call or SMS. In fact, the police explicitly remind everyone: never disclose your SingPass login details or one-time passwords to anyone. If you get a message asking for those, it’s a scam. The government has set up a SingPass scam helpline (tel: 6335 3533, press 9) to assist if you’re unsure or if you think your account was compromised.

Also, only use SingPass on official platforms – either the official SingPass mobile app or the website (which will be on a .gov.sg domain). If you follow a link, double-check the URL is singpass.gov.sg (and has the lock icon). When in doubt, close it and manually navigate to the SingPass site/app yourself.

One more thing: enable biometric or passcode unlock for your SingPass app. That way, even if someone tricks you into installing malware, they still can’t remotely log in without your face/fingerprint or 6-digit app PIN.

“Secure” Your Social Media (Think Before You Post)

We touched on privacy settings earlier, but beyond that, think like a scammer for a moment. If someone were targeting you, what information could they gather from your Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, etc.?

• Did you post a picture of your new credit card or IC (yes, people do this out of excitement)? Now your numbers are out there.
• Ranting about waiting for an OTP from DBS? Now they know you bank with DBS.
• Publicly wished your mother “Happy 60th Birthday”? Now they have an important detail about a family member (could be used in guessing passwords or in social engineering).
• Sharing your travel dates publicly? Now they know when you’re out of town.

Enjoy social media, but maybe keep certain details within trusted circles. Scammers have been known to impersonate friends or relatives on WhatsApp/Telegram by gleaning info from Facebook (the classic “Hi Mum, I lost my phone – save my new number and by the way I need $$$” scam). If your profile is locked down and you’re cautious, you reduce the chances of being targeted in the first place.

Check Before You Invest or Pay – The MAS Alert List & Others

If you’re considering an investment or financial product and something feels off, always verify the company or person. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) maintains an Investor Alert List – which is basically a compilation of entities and individuals who are not licensed by MAS but have been reported or suspected to be soliciting investors. If someone is pitching you an investment with sky-high returns, take a minute to search that list (available on MAS website). If their name appears there – stay away. That list exists because many scammers pose as legitimate financial advisors or firms. Likewise, you can check the Financial Institutions Directory to confirm if a company is genuinely registered to provide financial services in Singapore.

For other things like job offers or property deals:

• If it’s a job, verify the company actually exists (and the email you got isn’t a spoof). A quick Google or a call to their official line can save you from fake job scams.
• If it’s a property rental/sale, use CEA’s public register to ensure the “agent” is real – and never pay deposits before you’ve seen the place or signed proper documents.

When in doubt about any opportunity, run it by someone you trust or an official channel. Scammers pressure you to act now and keep things secret (“don’t tell anyone about this investment opportunity”). Legitimate offers won’t panic if you say, “I’d like to think it over or check some details first.”

Know How to Report Scams and Seek Help

Despite all precautions, if you do encounter a scam or (unfortunately) become a victim, report it. Not only might you help recover something for yourself, you definitely help others by alerting authorities to new scam methods.

Key resources in Singapore:

• ScamAlert.sg – This is a website by the National Crime Prevention Council that has tons of info on common scams, and importantly, a portal to report scams. If you got a phishing call or message, you can submit it there. They also publish latest scam trends.
• Anti-Scam Helpline: If you need advice on the spot, you can call the Anti-Scam Helpline at 1800-722-6688 (Mon-Fri, office hours). The helpline is there to guide you on what to do next if you think you’re being scammed or to verify something. (They get a lot of “Is this message real or a scam?” calls – and they’d rather you call and ask than fall victim).
• Police Hotline (1800-255-0000) or 999: For non-emergencies related to scams, you can call 1800-255-0000 to provide information to the police (or use the online i-Witness report). For urgent cases (like you are actively in a scam situation or in danger), call 999. The police actually have a dedicated Anti-Scam Centre now that works to freeze stolen funds and investigate scams rapidly, so the sooner you report, the better the chances of recovery.
• Bank hotlines: If you notice an unauthorized bank transaction, call your bank immediately to freeze your account/card. Banks in Singapore have hotlines often printed on the back of your card. Speed is crucial with financial scams – minutes can make the difference in stopping a fraudulent transfer.

And remember, don’t be embarrassed if you fell for something. Scammers are professionals, and they social-engineer some very convincing scenarios. The faster you seek help, the better. Also, by reporting, you help spread awareness.

Practice Basic Digital Hygiene

Last but not least, maintain good digital habits:

• Update your software regularly: Those app and OS updates often include security patches that fix vulnerabilities scammers might exploit. This includes your phone OS, computer OS, browsers, and antivirus software.
• Remove unused apps: Old apps you don’t use could be outdated and risky, or could be subtly collecting data. If you haven’t opened it in months, consider uninstalling.
• Don’t click strange links: Whether on email, SMS, or social media – if something seems off or unexpected, don’t click impulsively. Verify first.
• “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” This cliché holds true. Free money, miracle cures, ridiculously cheap luxury goods – approach all with healthy skepticism.

By staying informed and cautious, you’ll cultivate a sort of “sixth sense” for scams. You’ll start to spot the patterns and tricks, and you’ll avoid that knee-jerk reaction scammers want from you. Instead, you’ll pause, think, and steer clear of their traps.

In summary, fighting scams is like securing your home: use strong locks (good passwords, 2FA), add alarms (apps like ScamShield, browser guards), don’t invite thieves in (oversharing personal data), and stay alert to what’s happening in the neighborhood (latest scam trends). Scammers may keep evolving, but armed with the above identity separation, protective tools, and street-smarts, you can significantly reduce your risk of becoming their next victim. Stay safe and scam-aware – you’ve got this!