Clever Girl Finance isn’t just about money. We are about freedom, choices, and confidence. We know how overwhelming finances can feel, especially when you’re juggling career, family, and personal goals. That’s why we’ve built one of the largest personal finance communities for women, with over 100,000 women learning, growing, and winning with their money together.When you subscribe, you’re not just signing up for financial tips, you’re joining a movement. You’ll get access to relatable, judgment-free advice designed to help you ditch debt, save consistently, and invest with confidence. We break down money topics in a way that’s simple, practical, and actually fun. Whether you want to build your first emergency fund, pay off thousands in debt, or finally start building wealth for the long term, we’ve got the tools and support you need. With our resources, tools, and strategies, you’ll know you’re not alone on this journey. Subscribe today—because your future self deserves the financial freedom you’re dreaming of!
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Scammers Don’t Need Your Password—They Need You to Panic
A few months ago, we shared a newsletter about several scams that were actively circulating, including fake digital invitations, fraudulent DocuSign emails, and invoices designed to look like they came from legitimate companies. The response reminded me just how many of us have either encountered a convincing scam ourselves or know someone who has. You can read that previous newsletter here: Scammers Are Counting on You Not Knowing This (Please Read!).
Unfortunately, scammers are constantly changing their approach. They study the tools we use, the companies we trust, and the situations most likely to make us feel anxious or rushed. Then they create a story that pressures us to act before we have time to think.
That is the common thread I want you to notice today.
The scam may involve your bank, the government, a package, an unpaid toll, a popular event, or a charge you don’t recognize, but the strategy is usually the same: create urgency, gain your trust, and stop you from slowing down long enough to verify what is happening.
Here are a few additional scams I want you to pay close attention to.
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Impostor scams
An impostor scam happens when someone pretends to represent a person or organization you are likely to trust. They may claim to be calling from your bank, a government agency, law enforcement, a well-known company, or a customer-support department.
They might tell you that you owe a debt, your account has been compromised, your Social Security number is connected to a crime, or you could be arrested if you don’t make an immediate payment.
The message is designed to frighten you into acting quickly.
They also will not insist that you pay using a gift card, cryptocurrency, wire transfer, or payment app. Caller ID is not proof that a call is legitimate because scammers can manipulate it to display a trusted name or number.
What to do
End the conversation without sharing any information.
Look up the organization’s official number yourself.
Call back using the number on its official website, your bank card, or a recent statement.
Never use the callback number provided in a suspicious message.
Do not let threats or urgency pressure you into paying immediately.
Requests for gift cards or cryptocurrency
One of the clearest warning signs of a scam is being told that you must make a payment using gift cards or cryptocurrency.
A scammer may claim you owe taxes, need to pay a fine, must protect money in your bank account, or need to purchase gift cards to resolve an emergency. They may stay on the phone while directing you to a specific store, telling you which cards to purchase and instructing you to read the card numbers and PINs aloud.
Once you provide those numbers, the money can be taken almost immediately and may be extremely difficult to recover.
Never buy gift cards because someone on the phone instructs you to.
Never share the card number, PIN, or a photograph of the card.
Do not send cryptocurrency to “secure” your money or resolve a supposed government problem.
Hang up and verify the request independently.
Requests for verification codes
You may receive a call from someone claiming to represent your credit-card company, bank, a technology-support service, or a retailer you recognize. They may already know your name, phone number, email address, or part of your account information, which can make the call sound legitimate.
Then they ask you to read back a one-time password or verification code that was sent to your phone.
Do not share it.
That code is designed to confirm that you are trying to access your account. A scammer who asks you for it may be attempting to reset your password, log into your account, approve a transaction, or take control of your information.
Never read a one-time passcode to someone who contacts you.
Hang up, even if the caller ID displays a familiar company.
Contact the company directly using its official app, website, statement, or the number on the back of your card.
Change your password immediately if you have already shared a code.
Contact the financial institution involved and review your recent account activity.
Suspicious text messages
Another common scam begins with an ordinary-looking text message.
You may be told that you have an unpaid toll, a delayed USPS package, an Apple charge you need to dispute, or another account issue requiring immediate attention.
The text usually includes a link and asks you to confirm personal information, submit a small payment, or log into an account.
These messages are effective because the situation feels realistic. Most of us drive on toll roads, order packages, or use large retailers and technology companies. Scammers are hoping you will click before stopping to ask whether the message makes sense.
What to do
Do not click the link.
Do not reply to the message.
Mark it as spam and delete it.
Open the company’s official app or type its website into your browser yourself.
Check your account directly to see whether a real problem exists.
Fake calls from trusted numbers
Seeing your bank’s name, a government agency, or a familiar local number on your screen can make a call feel legitimate.
Unfortunately, scammers can use caller-ID spoofing to make it appear that the call is coming from a trusted number. They may then ask you to confirm your account number, login credentials, Social Security number, security code, or one-time passcode.
Do not assume the caller is legitimate simply because the number looks familiar. The FTC warns that caller ID can be faked, including the names and numbers of government agencies.
What to do
Hang up.
Call the organization back using a number you independently verify.
Never share sensitive information with someone who initiated the call.
Review your account directly rather than relying on what the caller tells you.
Discounted tickets and offers that seem too good to be true
Scammers also take advantage of demand.
Someone may claim to have discounted tickets for a sold-out concert, sporting event, or other popular experience. They may pressure you to pay quickly because other buyers are supposedly interested, or they may request payment through a method that provides little protection.
Before sending money, ask yourself why a stranger would sell an in-demand ticket for far less than its value.
A bargain is not a bargain when the product does not exist.
What to do
Purchase tickets through an official seller or reputable resale platform.
Avoid paying strangers with gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or payment apps that do not offer purchase protection.
Confirm that any transfer method is legitimate before sending money.
Walk away when the seller pressures you to decide immediately.
Pause, think, and verify
I know it can feel embarrassing to admit that a scam almost fooled you, but these schemes are intentionally designed to look believable. Falling for one is not a sign that someone is careless, unintelligent, or bad with money.
The best defense is to create a pause between the message and your response.
Before clicking, paying, sharing a code, or providing personal information, ask yourself:
Was I expecting this communication?
Is someone trying to frighten or rush me?
Are they asking for an unusual form of payment?
Are they requesting information or a code they should already have?
Can I verify the situation through another trusted source?
Then stop the conversation and check for yourself.
Do not call the number in the message. Do not click the included link. Do not rely on caller ID. Go directly to the organization using contact information you independently locate.
Protecting your money is not only about saving and investing. It is also about protecting what you have already worked so hard to earn.
Please share this newsletter with your parents, adult children, friends, coworkers, and anyone else who could use the reminder. Scammers depend on secrecy, urgency, and confusion. Awareness gives us time to recognize what is happening before money or personal information is lost.
What to do if you think you’ve been scammed
Contact your bank, card issuer, or payment provider immediately and ask whether the transaction can be stopped or reversed. Change any exposed passwords, review your accounts for unauthorized activity, and report the incident to the FTC. The FTC advises acting quickly because recovery options may depend on how the money was sent.
Continue building your financial confidence
Protecting your money isn't just about avoiding scams. It's also about building the financial knowledge and confidence to make smart decisions every day.
Take control of your life and achieve your financial freedom. Join over 100,000 women in our community!
Clever Girl Finance isn’t just about money. We are about freedom, choices, and confidence. We know how overwhelming finances can feel, especially when you’re juggling career, family, and personal goals. That’s why we’ve built one of the largest personal finance communities for women, with over 100,000 women learning, growing, and winning with their money together.When you subscribe, you’re not just signing up for financial tips, you’re joining a movement. You’ll get access to relatable, judgment-free advice designed to help you ditch debt, save consistently, and invest with confidence. We break down money topics in a way that’s simple, practical, and actually fun. Whether you want to build your first emergency fund, pay off thousands in debt, or finally start building wealth for the long term, we’ve got the tools and support you need. With our resources, tools, and strategies, you’ll know you’re not alone on this journey. Subscribe today—because your future self deserves the financial freedom you’re dreaming of!
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Learn, plan, and grow! Check out our 30+ free courses, 40+ free worksheets, and our 1-on-1 coaching offerings! Did you get this email forwarded to you? Join thousands of women in the CGF community, follow us on Instagram, and watch on YouTube! View this and previous newsletters anytime: Online newsletters. Fuel the mission! ☕️ ❤️ Hello Reader, Today's question is from "Melissa age 43”: Lately I've been feeling exhausted all the time. Between work, family responsibilities, and just life in...
