Our Mission: Clear Information, Honestly Presented.
ScamWise Guide is an independent educational brand dedicated to helping American adults navigate the internet with greater confidence and safety. We believe that clear, honest information — presented with respect — is one of the most powerful tools against fraud.
Why ScamWise Guide Exists
Online scams targeting older Americans have grown dramatically in recent years. According to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, people aged 60 and older reported approximately $7.75 billion in losses from cyber-enabled fraud in 2025 — a 59% increase from 2024.
Yet much of the information available about scam prevention is either too technical, too alarming, or buried in government reports that are difficult to navigate. ScamWise Guide was created to fill that gap: a calm, clear, respectful resource that treats readers as capable adults who simply want accurate information.
We do not sensationalise. We do not exaggerate. We present verified facts from official sources, explain how common scams work, and offer practical steps that anyone can apply — regardless of their level of technical experience.
What we stand for
Accuracy over alarm
Every statistic on this site is sourced from an official government report. We provide source links for every figure so you can verify what we say. We do not invent, estimate, or extrapolate data.
Clarity over complexity
We write in plain language. We avoid jargon. We explain technical concepts in terms that are easy to understand without being condescending.
Respect for the reader
Older adults are not inherently more vulnerable — they are targeted more aggressively. We treat every reader as an intelligent adult who deserves honest, complete information.
Independence
ScamWise Guide is not affiliated with or endorsed by any government agency, including the FBI, FTC, or Social Security Administration. We have no financial relationship with any product or service we mention.
Editorial Standards
We hold ourselves to strict editorial standards to ensure the information on this site is trustworthy and accurate.
Official sources only for statistics
All numerical claims on this site are sourced from official government publications, including the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) reports, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book, and similar authoritative sources. We do not use statistics from news articles, advocacy organisations, or secondary sources unless they directly cite an official primary source.
Source links on every figure
Every statistic is accompanied by a direct link to the source document. We encourage readers to follow those links and read the original reports.
Statistics presented in context
We present statistics as reported by their original source, for the reporting period stated. We do not combine figures from different agencies or reporting periods, and we do not imply that reported losses represent the total amount lost to all scams — actual losses may be higher because not every incident is reported.
Fictional examples are clearly labelled
All example scam messages used on this site are fictional and created for educational purposes only. They are clearly labelled as such. We do not reproduce actual scam messages from real victims.
No financial, legal, or cybersecurity advice
The content on this site is educational information only. It is not professional financial, legal, or cybersecurity advice. If you believe you have been the victim of fraud, contact your bank immediately and report the incident to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov or the FBI IC3 at ic3.gov.
Regular review
We review the content on this site periodically to ensure statistics and information remain current. When official reports are updated, we update our figures accordingly.
Important Disclaimer
The content published on ScamWise Guide is for general educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute professional financial, legal, cybersecurity, or law enforcement advice. ScamWise Guide is an independent educational brand and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any government agency — including the FBI, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Social Security Administration, or any other federal or state body — nor any financial institution, law enforcement body, or technology company. Statistics cited on this site are sourced from official government publications; source links are provided for verification. Reported figures reflect incidents and losses reported to government agencies and may not represent the total amount lost to fraud. If you believe you have been the victim of fraud or that your financial accounts have been compromised, contact your bank or financial institution immediately and report the incident to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov and/or the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.
Get in Touch
Have a question about our content, a correction to suggest, or want to be notified when the ScamWise Everyday Safety Kit launches? We'd love to hear from you.
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