Everyday Scams

This is one of the more serious topics we cover at Riolu: and one of the most essential. We teach scam recognition as a process: calm down, step back, and think.

General scam recognition is a small set of habits that help you pause, check, and confirm before you act. Imagine a text saying your account will be closed unless you click a link and enter a code within minutes. It creates pressure, demands quick action, and pushes you toward a link you didn't request, classic signs of a scam. At Riolu, we first teach how to identify potential scams, then show how calm logic can help you avoid them.

If you get a text from an unknown number, first calm down and read. As long as you don't click links, there's no harm yet. Then assess: What are they asking for? Who is it from? When do they need it? If you think it's a scam, check; look at the number/email they used and compare it to the number/email of the organization they claim to be. We also remind learners that companies and governments are logical; there are very few situations where you must respond within minutes. Scams rely on fake urgency to force rash decisions.

Our process works for several reasons. First, it applies to most scams: we teach archetypes and procedures, not just examples. Second, it reduces stress and rashness and brings forward logical thinking, which is crucial. Lastly we employ our tactic of practice, on the chance that they do get some sort of scam email, it's important that they know what to do, scammers take advantage of inexperience, urgency, and rashness, so we teach them that these are the three things to avoid.