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Not sure what to trust?
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Got a strange phone call, email, letter, or message? Tell us what happened. We'll help you work out what to do next.
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Unexpected messages can be confusing. A call about your bank, a surprise prize in the mail, or an urgent request from someone you know — sometimes it's hard to tell what's real.
ElderChat is here to make getting help easy and comfortable, with no judgment.
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Next steps in plain words.
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We help you decide. We never decide for you.
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Help in three easy steps.
Understand the warning signs
Learn what to look out for, with clear and patient explanations.
Choose your next step
Check the claim yourself, using a phone number or website you already trust.
Check who is really calling
Real phone numbers for common callers
If someone says they are from one of these, hang up. Then call the number below, or the number on a recent letter you already have. Never use a number or link the caller or message gave you.
IRS (taxes)
Type this website address yourself: irs.gov
Weekdays, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. your local time
Social Security
Type this website address yourself: ssa.gov
Weekdays, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. your local time. TTY: 1‑800‑325‑0778
Medicare
Type this website address yourself: medicare.gov
24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except some federal holidays. TTY: 1‑877‑486‑2048
U.S. Postal Inspection Service (mail fraud)
Type this website address yourself: uspis.gov
Hours not listed on the page
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (bank and credit complaints)
Type this website address yourself: consumerfinance.gov
Weekdays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern. TTY: 855‑729‑2372
Your bank or credit card
Call the number printed on the back of your card or on your statement. We do not list bank numbers here because they differ.
A store or delivery company
Open the company’s own app, or type its website address yourself, and look for help there. Do not use a link in a text or email.
Checked on October 29, 2026 against each organization’s own page. Numbers and hours can change. If a call does not connect, look up the website you typed yourself.
If something has happened
Where to report a scam
If you have already sent money or shared a password or code, act on the first step right away. None of this is your fault: scammers are good at what they do.
1. Call your bank or card company
Use the phone number printed on your card or statement, and ask whether the payment can be stopped or reversed. Speed matters most here.
2. Report it to the FTC
The Federal Trade Commission collects reports of scams and fraud in the United States.
reportfraud.ftc.gov3. National Elder Fraud Hotline
Free help for anyone 60 or older who has been a victim of fraud, or a family member calling for them. A case manager helps you report and find other help. English, Spanish and other languages. Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time.
833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311)4. Crime that happened online
The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center takes reports of online fraud. It cannot answer every report.
ic3.govIf you feel you are in danger, call 911. These resources are for the United States. If someone calls you claiming to be from a hotline, hang up and call the number on this page yourself.
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Big questions, little questions, or just a feeling that something isn't right. A friendly place to start is right here.
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