The Tech Grandkid: scam alerts and fix guides

Scam alert: Your phone says it's your bank, the police or your grandson. It can be faked.

2026-10-14T00:00:00Z

Scammers can make a call or text show a real number or name you trust. This is called spoofing. Here's what the FCC, FTC and FBI say to do.

What it looks like:

Your phone shows your bank's real number, a police department, a government office or a family member's name.
Or a text looks like it's from your bank, a delivery company or a store you use.
The caller or text says there's a problem and you need to act now: confirm your account, pay, or read back a code.
Sometimes the number looks a lot like yours, with the same area code and first digits.

What to do:

Hang up. The FCC says to hang up on unexpected calls asking for personal information, and not to press any buttons to stop the calls.
Call back yourself. Use the number on your statement, the back of your card, or the official website. For family, call the number you already have saved.
Don't answer questions, especially ones you could answer with yes or no. Never give account numbers, your Social Security number, passwords or codes.
Don't tap links in texts you weren't expecting. The FTC says to contact the company using a phone number or website you know is real.
Slow down. The FCC says to be careful when anyone pressures you for information right away.
Report it to the FCC at consumercomplaints.fcc.gov or the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Forward scam texts to 7726 (SPAM).

Read the full scam alert

Scam alert: A call sounds just like your grandkid, and they need money fast

2026-10-14T00:00:00Z

Scammers can copy a loved one's voice with AI and call asking for money. The FTC and FBI say: hang up and call your family member yourself.

What it looks like:

The phone rings. It sounds exactly like your grandson or granddaughter. They're scared.
They say they wrecked the car, got arrested or are hurt, and they need money right now.
They want you to wire money, send cryptocurrency or buy gift cards and read them the numbers.

What to do:

Don't trust the voice. Hang up.
Call your family member yourself at a number you know is theirs. If you can't reach them, call another family member or one of their friends.
Pick a family secret word now. The FBI says to agree on a secret word or phrase. A real grandkid will know it. A scammer won't.
Never pay with gift cards, wire transfers or crypto to someone who called you. Those are signs of a scam.
Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If you lost money, also report it to the FBI at ic3.gov.

Read the full scam alert

Scam alert: A text from your bank's "fraud department" asks about a charge

2026-10-14T00:00:00Z

A text says it's your bank asking if you made a purchase. Replying or calling back can lead to a scammer draining your account. Here's what the FTC says to do.

What it looks like:

A text says it's from your bank's fraud department, or from Amazon.
It says there's a suspicious charge on your account and offers to help. It wants you to text back or call a number.
If you answer, someone calls back. They sound helpful and may already know your name or address.
They say your money is at risk and you need to move it, read them a code, or let them into your phone.

What to do:

Don't reply and don't call the number in the text.
Call your bank yourself. Use the number on the back of your card or on a recent statement, or use the bank's real app.
Don't search online for the number. The FTC says scammers buy ads so their fake numbers show up first.
Never share a code from a text, your account number or your password. Never let a caller get into your phone or computer.
Talk to someone you trust. The FTC says a real fraud department will never tell you to keep the call a secret.
Report the text with your phone's Report Junk option or forward it to 7726 (SPAM). Then delete it.

Read the full scam alert

Scam alert: A pop-up says you've been hacked, then the "bank" and the "government" call

2026-10-14T00:00:00Z

The FBI calls it the Phantom Hacker scam. It starts with a fake virus warning and ends with you moving your savings. Here's how to spot it and stop it.

What it looks like:

A pop-up, text or email says your computer has a virus or was hacked, and gives a number to call.
A "tech support" person asks you to download a program so they can get into your computer.
They ask you to open your bank accounts to check for problems.
Next, someone from your "bank" calls and says a hacker got in. They tell you to move your money to a "safe" account.
Then someone from the "government" calls and backs up the story. They tell you not to tell anyone.

What to do:

Don't call the number in a pop-up, text or email. Real security warnings never ask you to call.
Don't download anything a stranger tells you to, and don't let anyone you don't know control your computer.
The government will never tell you to move your money to protect it. The FTC says that's always a scam. If a caller says they're from your bank and tells you to move money, hang up and call the number on your card.
Never pay with wire transfers, crypto or gift cards because someone called you.
Report it to the FBI at ic3.gov and the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Read the full scam alert

You clicked a link in a scam message. Here's what to do now.

2026-10-14T00:00:00Z

What to do after you tap a link in a scam text or email, or type a password or card number into a fake website. Based on the FTC's own advice.

This guide helps when:

You tapped a link in a text or email and now it seems wrong
You typed a password, card number or Social Security number into a website
A website got you to download something

Read the step-by-step fix (6 big steps, using the FTC's own help page).

Block a phone number on your Android phone

2026-10-14T00:00:00Z

Stop calls from one number on an Android phone, including Samsung Galaxy, and undo it later, using Google's and Samsung's own steps.

This guide helps when:

The same number keeps calling you
Someone you don't want to hear from keeps calling

Read the step-by-step fix (3 big steps, using Google and Samsung's own help page).

Block a phone number on your iPhone

2026-10-14T00:00:00Z

Stop calls and texts from one number or person on your iPhone, and undo it later, using Apple's own steps.

This guide helps when:

The same number keeps calling or texting you
Someone you don't want to hear from keeps calling

Read the step-by-step fix (3 big steps, using 's own help page).

Turn on captions so you can read what people say on TV

2026-10-14T00:00:00Z

Turn on closed captions or subtitles on a Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV or Samsung TV, and in apps like Netflix, using each maker's own steps.

This guide helps when:

It's hard to follow what people are saying
You want the words shown at the bottom of the screen
Captions show in one app but not in another

Read the step-by-step fix (5 big steps, using Roku, Amazon, Apple, Samsung and Netflix's own help page).

Your Magic Mouse or Magic Keyboard stopped working on a Mac

2026-10-14T00:00:00Z

Get an Apple Magic Mouse, Magic Keyboard or Magic Trackpad working with your Mac again: switch it off and on, check Bluetooth and reconnect it with its cable, using Apple's own steps.

This guide helps when:

The pointer won't move when you move the mouse
Nothing happens when you type
It keeps disconnecting

Read the step-by-step fix (4 big steps, using Apple's own help page).

Your wireless mouse or keyboard stopped working on a Windows computer

2026-10-14T00:00:00Z

Get a wireless mouse or keyboard working again on a Windows PC: batteries, the small USB receiver, and Bluetooth, using Microsoft's own steps.

This guide helps when:

The pointer won't move when you move the mouse
Nothing happens when you type
It works for a while, then stops

Read the step-by-step fix (5 big steps, using Microsoft's own help page).

Connect your Android phone to your car

2026-10-14T00:00:00Z

Pair an Android phone, including Samsung Galaxy, with your car by Bluetooth and start Android Auto, using Google's and Samsung's own steps.

This guide helps when:

The car won't connect to your phone
You got a new phone or a new car
Android Auto won't start on the car's screen

Read the step-by-step fix (4 big steps, using Google and Samsung's own help page).

Connect your iPhone to your car

2026-10-14T00:00:00Z

Connect your iPhone to your car with CarPlay or Bluetooth for hands-free calls, maps and music, using Apple's own steps.

This guide helps when:

The car won't connect to your phone
You got a new phone or a new car
Calls or music don't come through the car speakers

Read the step-by-step fix (4 big steps, using 's own help page).

How to print from an Android phone or tablet

2026-10-14T00:00:00Z

Print a photo, email or web page from an Android phone or tablet, including Samsung Galaxy, to a Wi-Fi printer, using Google's and Samsung's own steps.

This guide helps when:

You want to print a photo, email or web page from your phone
Your printer doesn't show up when you try to print

Read the step-by-step fix (6 big steps, using Google and Samsung's own help page).

Connect Bluetooth headphones, a speaker or a mouse to a Mac

2026-10-14T00:00:00Z

Pair Bluetooth headphones, speakers, a keyboard or a mouse with your Mac, then pick them for sound, using Apple's own steps.

This guide helps when:

New headphones or a speaker won't show up
A Bluetooth keyboard or mouse won't connect
Sound still comes out of the Mac after you connect headphones

Read the step-by-step fix (4 big steps, using Apple's own help page).

A website looks like your bank or Medicare but might be fake. Here's how to check.

2026-10-14T00:00:00Z

Scammers build lookalike websites and buy search ads to send you there. How to check the web address and get to the real site, from the FBI and FTC.

This guide helps when:

A link in an email or text took you to a sign-in page
You searched for a company and clicked the first result
The site looks right but something feels off

Read the step-by-step fix (5 big steps, using the FBI and FTC's own help page).

Your friends got weird emails from you. Here's what to do.

2026-10-14T00:00:00Z

When friends say you sent spam, or you get bounce-back emails you never sent, it may be spoofing or a hacked account. How to tell, with Google's and the FTC's steps.

This guide helps when:

Friends say you sent them strange emails or links
You get Mail Delivery failure notices for emails you didn't send
Someone replied to an email you never wrote

Read the step-by-step fix (5 big steps, using Google and the FTC's own help page).

An email looks like it's from someone you know or a real company. It might be faked.

2026-10-14T00:00:00Z

Scammers fake the sender name and address on emails. How to check who really sent it, using the FBI's, FTC's and Google's advice.

This guide helps when:

An email from a friend or family member asks for money or gift cards
An email from your bank or a store says there's a problem with your account
An email has an invoice you don't recognize

Read the step-by-step fix (4 big steps, using the FBI, FTC and Google's own help page).

Stop spam calls on Android with Caller ID & spam protection

2026-10-14T00:00:00Z

Turn on spam warnings and spam call filtering in the Phone by Google app, with Google's own steps.

This guide helps when:

You get scam or robocalls every day
You want a warning when a call is likely spam

Read the step-by-step fix (4 big steps, using 's own help page).

Stop spam calls on your iPhone with Silence Unknown Callers

2026-10-14T00:00:00Z

Send calls from numbers you don't know straight to voicemail, or screen them first, with Apple's own steps. Also filter carrier-flagged spam.

This guide helps when:

You get scam or robocalls every day
You want only people you know to ring through

Read the step-by-step fix (4 big steps, using 's own help page).

People say you called them, but you didn't. Your number may be spoofed.

2026-10-14T00:00:00Z

Strangers call back saying your number called them. Scammers can fake your number on caller ID. What the FCC says to do.

This guide helps when:

Strangers call asking why you called them
Someone says your number showed up on their caller ID
A call comes in that shows your own number

Read the step-by-step fix (5 big steps, using the FCC's own help page).