OpenEFA MailGuard Scam Watch
The scams that reach your staff by phone, email and text, one page each: what the scam looks like, why it works, and the one thing to do instead. Written for the people who answer the phone, not for the security team.
Forward one a week to your team, print one for the breakroom, or send the link to the person who just asked "is this real?". Each page prints as a one-sheet.
New alerts and the security advisories that matter to small businesses. No marketing, one-click unsubscribe.
Every page has an "If it already happened" section. If you'd rather talk it through, we'll help.
Voice phishing. The caller borrows the authority of a court, a bank, a utility or your own IT department, then adds a deadline. Caller ID proves nothing: it can show any name or number the scammer chooses.
No. 01 · Phone Scam
A caller claims you missed jury duty or a court appearance and deputies are coming to arrest you unless you pay immediately.
Protect yourself: Hang up. Courts don't demand payment over the phone to cancel an arrest warrant. Contact the court directly.
Read the alertNo. 02 · Phone Scam
Someone claiming to be a deputy says a suspicious package was seized in your name. Pay a fine now or face arrest!
Protect yourself: Caller ID can be faked. Never send money to avoid an alleged arrest. Verify through your local sheriff's official number.
Read the alertNo. 03 · Phone Scam
A caller claiming to be your bank's fraud department tells you to transfer money into a "safe account" to protect it.
Protect yourself: There is no special safe account. Hang up and call your bank using the number on your debit card.
Read the alertNo. 04 · Phone Scam
Someone claiming to be technical support says your computer is infected and asks you to install software so they can fix it.
Protect yourself: Never grant remote access to an unexpected caller. Contact your IT provider directly, never a number the caller gives you.
Read the alertNo. 05 · Phone Scam
A frightened voice sounds like your child or grandchild. They claim they're in jail, injured, or stranded and urgently need money.
Protect yourself: AI can imitate familiar voices. Hang up and call your family member using a number you already know.
Read the alertNo. 06 · Phone Scam
A caller claims your power will be disconnected within an hour unless you immediately pay an overdue balance.
Protect yourself: Don't pay the caller. Check your account directly with your utility provider.
Read the alertNo. 07 · Phone Scam
Someone claiming to represent the IRS threatens arrest or prosecution unless you immediately settle an alleged tax debt.
Protect yourself: Government agencies don't demand gift cards or cryptocurrency to resolve tax issues. Verify through official government channels.
Read the alertNo. 08 · Phone Scam
A caller posing as IT support asks for your login verification code or tells you to approve a security notification on your phone.
Protect yourself: Never share a one-time code or approve an unexpected MFA request. Contact your real IT department.
Read the alertThe message looks like it comes from a service you use or a person you know. The link goes somewhere else. Most of these are after a password, a payment, or both.
No. 09 · Email Phishing
An urgent email claims your Microsoft 365 or Google account will be disabled unless you click a link and verify your password.
Protect yourself: Open your account through its official website or app. Never sign in through an unexpected email link.
Read the alertNo. 10 · Email Phishing
An unexpected OneDrive, SharePoint, or Google Drive notification invites you to open an important confidential document.
Protect yourself: Confirm the sender and the sharing request before opening it or entering credentials.
Read the alertNo. 11 · Email Phishing
You receive an overdue invoice for software, subscriptions, or services you never purchased. The email demands immediate payment.
Protect yourself: Verify the invoice through your purchasing records. Don't call numbers listed in suspicious invoices.
Read the alertNo. 12 · Business Email Fraud
A familiar vendor emails new banking instructions and asks you to send your next payment to a different account.
Protect yourself: Confirm banking changes by calling your vendor at a previously verified number before transferring funds.
Read the alertNo. 13 · Business Email Fraud
An urgent email appears to come from your manager requesting gift cards for clients or employees. They say they're too busy to talk.
Protect yourself: Verify the request through a known company communication channel. Don't send gift card numbers by email.
Read the alertNo. 14 · Payroll Fraud
An email pretending to be HR or payroll asks you to update your bank details through a special link.
Protect yourself: Use your company's established payroll portal and independently confirm unexpected requests.
Read the alertNo. 15 · Email Phishing
An email says you missed an important phone call and must click a link or open an attachment to listen to your voicemail.
Protect yourself: Access voicemail through your normal phone or voicemail system, not an unexpected email link.
Read the alertNo. 16 · QR Phishing
An email includes a QR code claiming you must scan it to restore access, complete a security review, or confirm a payment.
Protect yourself: QR codes can hide fraudulent websites. Open the organization's official website yourself.
Read the alertNo. 17 · Email Phishing
A message claims your bank, streaming service, or shopping account has been suspended due to suspicious activity.
Protect yourself: Don't follow the provided link. Check your account using the official app or a saved bookmark.
Read the alertNo. 18 · Email Phishing
You receive an unexpected party or meeting invitation that asks for your email password to view the event details.
Protect yourself: Contact the organizer independently. Never provide your email credentials to view an invitation.
Read the alertShort, urgent and sent to millions of numbers at once. Texts bypass every email filter and land on the one device people check without thinking.
No. 19 · Text Message Scam
A text claims you owe a small highway toll and must pay immediately to avoid fines or registration penalties.
Protect yourself: Don't tap the payment link. Verify charges directly with the tolling agency.
Read the alertNo. 20 · Text Message Scam
A text pretending to be USPS, UPS, or FedEx says your address is incomplete and requests a small redelivery fee.
Protect yourself: Check shipment status using the carrier's official app or website.
Read the alertNo. 21 · Text Message Scam
An official-looking DMV or court text threatens license suspension, added fines, or prosecution unless you pay immediately.
Protect yourself: Don't open payment links or scan QR codes. Verify directly with your DMV or court.
Read the alertNo. 22 · Text Message Scam
A text claiming to be from your bank asks you to reply YES or NO about a suspicious transaction. Responding may connect you with a scammer.
Protect yourself: Contact your bank through its official app or the number on your card.
Read the alertNo. 23 · Text Message Scam
A friendly stranger texts you by mistake, starts a conversation, then introduces investments, cryptocurrency, or a guaranteed opportunity.
Protect yourself: Be cautious of unexpected contacts trying to build trust and move the conversation toward money.
Read the alertNo. 24 · Account Security
You receive a verification code you didn't request. Shortly afterward, someone calls or texts asking you to share it.
Protect yourself: Never disclose one-time security codes. Check your account directly for suspicious activity.
Read the alertOpenEFA MailGuard blocks most of the email scams on this page before they reach an inbox. It can't see a phone call or a text message, and the most carefully targeted emails will always get through somewhere. That's why the people who answer the phone need to know these patterns, and why we publish them. Series published October 21, 2026; scams are US-focused, but the same scripts run in Canada, the UK and the EU with the agency names swapped.