Is it a scam? Pearl knows.

Grandma Pearl's Porch

Plain-English answers to the scams hitting families right now, and the simple moves that beat them.

Start here · The big list

The 10 scams targeting seniors in 2026, and how to beat each one

Your whole map in one place: the ten scams hitting families hardest this year, each with the simple move that stops it.

★ The kit · make your family unscammable

Get the Scam-Proof Family Kit ($19)

Everything on this porch in one big-print printable: the safe-word ritual, the Big 7 playbook, fridge sheets, and the first-24-hours checklist. Print it, bring it to Sunday dinner, done.

Timely · Event & Ticket Scams

World Cup ticket scams: how to buy without getting fleeced

The biggest game on Earth brings out the biggest crop of fake-ticket crooks. The red flags and the one safe way to buy.

Package / Text Scam

"USPS: pay a small fee to release your package", is it a scam?

That $1.45 text with the official-looking logo? Here's why you should never tap it.

Toll / Text Scam

"You have an unpaid toll", is that text a scam?

The "unpaid toll" text from E-ZPass or SunPass with a pay link? Here's the tell, and the rule that beats it.

QR Code / Quishing

Are those QR code scams real? Yes, here's the tell

Scammers paste fake QR codes over real ones and mail them in fake notices. How "quishing" works.

Bank Impersonation

My bank's "fraud department" called, is it real?

They knew my name and the caller ID matched. Pearl explains the 10-second move that beats it.

Voice-Clone Scam

What is a family safe word, and how do I set one tonight?

Scammers can clone a voice from 3 seconds of audio. One silly word stops them cold.

Medicare Scam

A call offered a "free knee brace" and wanted my Medicare number, scam?

Why that number is gold to a thief, and what Medicare will never do.

Tech-Support Scam

A pop-up says my computer has a virus and to call Microsoft, is it real?

The screen is lying. Here are the three keys that make it vanish.

Romance Scam

An online sweetheart is asking for money, is it a scam?

Professes love fast, the camera's always "broken," then needs money. Pearl explains the signs.

Crypto / Investment Scam

A new online friend showed me a crypto app with big returns, is it real?

The profits on screen are fake, and the "withdrawal fee" is the final theft. Here's how it works.

Job / Task Scam

"Get paid to like videos from home", is that job a scam?

If a "job" asks YOU to deposit money to earn, it's a scam. The FTC says these are exploding. Here's the trap.

Payment Red Flag

Someone told me to pay with gift cards, is that a scam?

Yes, 100% of the time. The one fridge-magnet rule that beats a whole family of scams.

Caller-ID Spoofing

The caller ID showed a real company, can that be faked?

Yes, in seconds. So the name on your screen proves nothing. Here's what to trust instead.

Recovery Scam

"We can get your scammed money back, for a fee." Is it real?

The cruelest scam targets people already scammed. Real help never charges upfront.

Payment Apps

Can I get my money back from Zelle or Venmo if I was scammed?

These apps move like cash. Here's what to do fast, your refund odds, and how to stay safe.

For the Adult Kids

How to talk to your aging parents about scams (without offending them)

Don't manage them, recruit them. The respectful script that actually works.

Government Impersonation

"Your Social Security number is suspended", is it a scam?

Your SSN can't be suspended, it's not even possible. Here's why the call is always fake.

Court / Government Impersonation

"You missed jury duty, pay now or be arrested", is it a scam?

Courts mail you, they don't call demanding gift cards. The threat, the tell, and the move that ends it.

Brand Impersonation

"Suspicious charge on your Amazon account", is it a scam?

Amazon won't call about a charge or ask for gift cards. Check your real orders yourself.