Quick Check — five real-life decisions

1A caller says he is from immigration. Your case has “a problem” and will be cancelled unless you pay $600 in gift cards in the next hour. What is the best first move?

• APay — the case is too important
• BHang up; check with your lawyer or the official website you type yourself
• CAsk for a badge number and call the number he gives you
• DPay half to buy time

2Your bank “fraud team” calls and asks you to read back the 6-digit code they just texted you, “to confirm it is really you.” What should you do?

• ARead it — they are protecting your account
• BNever share a code with anyone; hang up and call the number on your card
• CRead only the first three digits
• DAsk them to email it instead

3A text says: “You’re hired! $26 an hour, start Monday. Buy the $300 laptop from our supplier and we repay you on day one.” How many red flags?

• ANone — it is a normal onboarding step
• BOne — a little unusual, but fine
• CAt least two — a job with no interview that asks you to pay is a scam
• DIt depends on the pay

4Rosa gets a call: a voice that sounds exactly like her grandson says he is in jail and needs $2,000 today — “don’t tell Mom.” What should Rosa do?

• ASend the money — the voice is his
• BHang up, call her grandson or his mother on the number she already has, and ask for the family safe word
• CSend $500 as a test
• DKeep the caller on the line until she can drive to the bank

5Ana realises she sent $800 to a fake “landlord” yesterday. What is the most useful first step?

• AMessage the landlord and ask for it back
• BCall her bank now, then report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and tell someone
• CSay nothing — it is embarrassing and nothing can be done
• DPay a “recovery service” that promises to get it back