BreakTheBait
Spot the bait. Then verify before you tap.
Plain-language guides for fake payment texts, package fees, job chats, and account alerts — written so you can act while stressed.
Browse by bait
Pick the story on your screen
- 9 guidesTexts and packagesFake PayPal charges, unpaid-toll SMS, DMV tickets, and delivery texts that want a tap before you check the real app.
- 4 guidesCalls and codesInbound fraud-desk calls, jury-duty arrest threats, AI voice emergencies, and OTP requests from people who contacted you first.
- 3 guidesJobs and sellingWhatsApp and Telegram task jobs that ask for a fee, plus Marketplace chats that show a payment screenshot instead of money.
- 8 guidesAccount alertsFake Google lock texts, tech-support pop-ups, SIM swaps, and the habits that actually protect a login: 2FA, passwords, and checking the real site.
- 3 guidesRomance and AIDating-app love bombing, synthetic faces, and fake FBI recovery agents who show up after you already lost money.
- 1 guidesAlready paidSame-day steps if money, a code, or an account already moved — bank, PayPal, gift cards, and how to avoid the recovery sequel.
- 2 lettersLettersPersonal, slower reads — the feeling after you say no, the third person on FaceTime, and how you know it is a scam without waiting for a typo.
Library
Latest guides
Texts and packages
75137 Text Message: UPS Delivery Scam or Real? (2026 Guide)
Got a 75137 or 24031 UPS text? Learn what those numbers mean, whether UPS sends delivery SMS, and how to check tracking without tapping a scam link.
10 min read
Letters
The Third Person on FaceTime: Why a Fake 49ers Romance Scam Asked Women to Take Loans
Why a third person on FaceTime is not proof — the alleged fake 49ers romance scam, the ‘investor’ on the call, and why they ask you to take a loan.
11 min read
Letters
How Scammers Think (2026): Why They Keep Contacting You After You Say No
A personal letter on how scammers think, why they keep calling after you refuse, and how to know if you are being scammed — written for the knot in your stomach, not a quiz.
11 min read
Texts and packages
PayPal Scam Text (2026): Unauthorized Payment — Don't Tap
PayPal scam text about an unauthorized payment or limited account? Don't tap. Open paypal.com yourself, check Activity and Resolution Center, then forward fakes to [email protected].
9 min read
Calls and codes
Bank Fraud Call Scam (2026): Fake Fraud Department — Hang Up First
Bank fraud call scam? Hang up. Fake fraud-department callers spoof your bank’s number, ask you to stay on the line, move money to a “safe account,” or share OTPs. Call the number on your card instead.
9 min read
Jobs and selling
Facebook Marketplace Scam (2026): Fake Zelle Payment & Buyer Traps
Facebook Marketplace scam selling or buying? Spot fake Zelle/Venmo screenshots, overpayment refunds, shipping traps, and escrow cons — confirm funds in your own app first.
10 min read