A free guide from LookAgainAI
The Clear & Safe 5-Minute Check
Sources checked Oct 22, 2026
A calm, practical way to check a message, image, video, or voice call before you act—and keep your confidence when AI makes something feel uncertain.
Read it here whenever you need it. No payment or account required.
Pause. Check. Choose. You're in charge.
The best next step is often the calmest one. A real organization or loved one will still be there after you verify. This simple pause helps you stay in control instead of reacting to pressure.
Pause. Check. Choose.
You're in charge.
- Pause. Stop before you click, reply, pay, or share. Being rushed is a reason to slow down.
- Check. Contact them yourself, using a website or number you already trust, not the link or number in the message. Never give passwords, codes, or account numbers to someone who contacted you. If you're unsure, talk it over with someone you trust.
- Choose. You make the final call. If you can't check it, don't send money, share information, or give anyone access to your device or accounts.
What to check before you act
- Does the sender, wording, or request feel unfamiliar?
- Is someone asking you to keep this secret or move quickly?
- Can you verify the claim another way before acting?
No single clue tells you for sure. When in doubt, use an official contact method and ask a trusted person to look with you.
A calm safety companion
The Clear & Safe quick checklist
Before you trust a surprising call, message, image, or video, take one calm minute. AI can make a voice, photo or video look and sound convincing. No single detail proves it is what it seems, so check first.
- 1
Pause. Don’t respond, click, or act right away — urgency is a warning sign, not a reason to hurry.
- 2
Don’t send money, gift cards, cryptocurrency (digital money, like Bitcoin), passwords, or verification codes (a short code a company texts or emails you to confirm it's you). No matter how convincing the request sounds.
- 3
Verify independently. Contact the person or organization using a phone number or website you already know — not one given to you in the message.
- 4
Get a second opinion. If you’re not sure, ask someone you trust before doing anything.
- 5
Notice the pressure tactics. Urgency, secrecy, or unusual payment requests are red flags — but not proof by themselves.
- 6
Report it. If you believe it’s a scam, report it through an official channel listed in the sources.
Review record
Sources and review date
Last reviewed: Oct 22, 2026
- Scammers use AI to enhance their family emergency schemesFederal Trade Commission · Checked Oct 22, 2026
- A way to spot scams: how someone asks you to payFederal Trade Commission · Checked Oct 22, 2026
- Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)FBI · Checked Oct 22, 2026
Type ic3.gov yourself. The FBI says scammers are pretending to be IC3. IC3 does not work with law firms or crypto services to get money back.
- Fighting back against harmful voice cloningFederal Trade Commission · Checked Oct 22, 2026
- How To Avoid Imposter ScamsFederal Trade Commission · Checked Oct 22, 2026
- How to handle unexpected calls that claim your money is at riskFederal Trade Commission · Checked Oct 22, 2026
LookAgainAI reviews lessons before publication. Information can change, so use the linked official sources for the most current guidance.
Keep this close
A calm pause can protect your next step.
When a message, call, image, or video catches you off guard, return to these checks. Pause, use an official contact method you already trust, and ask for a second opinion before acting.