Pause Verify Protect
A simple, powerful 3-step approach to staying safe from scams, phishing attacks, and cyber threats. When something feels urgent or too good to be true, remember: Pause, Verify, Protect.
Pause
Stop and take a breath. Scammers rely on creating urgency and panic.
Don't click any links immediately
Take a deep breath and think
Ask: "Why am I feeling rushed?"
Red Flags
- • "Act now or lose out!"
- • "Your account will be closed!"
- • "Limited time offer!"
Verify
Check if it's real through independent sources, not the message itself.
Contact the company directly
Check official websites independently
Ask a trusted friend or family member
Quick Checks
- • Look for spelling/grammar errors
- • Check sender's email carefully
- • Hover over links (don't click!)
Protect
Take action to protect yourself and warn others about the threat.
Delete/ignore suspicious messages
Report scams to authorities
Warn family and friends
If You're Safe
- • Share this method with others
- • Report to FTC/FBI if needed
- • Document for future reference
See It In Action
Real examples of how Pause Verify Protect stops common scams
Phishing Email Example
URGENT: Your PayPal account will be suspended!
Click here immediately to verify your account or lose access forever!
Pause: "This feels urgent and scary"
Verify: Log into PayPal directly, not through the email
Protect: Delete email, report to PayPal
Tech Support Scam
⚠️ YOUR COMPUTER IS INFECTED!
Call Microsoft Support immediately: 1-800-FAKE-NUM
Warning: Do not restart your computer!
Pause: "Microsoft doesn't call people like this"
Verify: Close popup, run actual antivirus scan
Protect: Block the website, warn others
Remember: Pause Verify Protect
Share this simple method with everyone you care about. Together, we can stop scammers in their tracks.