Life · Scam-safe digital life
Pause and Check: phishing, scam texts and AI voice scams, and how to spot them
Six short lessons on the impersonation scams that reach everyone: fake bank, delivery, tax and tech-support messages, “Hi Mum” texts, QR codes, and AI-cloned voices of people you love. Learn the warning signs, one check-before-you-act routine, a family code word, and exactly where to report in Australia, the UK and the US.
About this course
Phishing, scam texts and AI voice scams: spot them.
Starter · About 1 hour of learning · 6 lessons · 16 quick checks · 2 downloads
Who it's for
Adults in Australia, the UK, the US and elsewhere who want to recognise and deal with scam emails, texts and calls, including AI voice scams.
How it works
6 guided lessons in your browser, with worked examples, exercises and a quick check after each lesson. Progress is saved in this browser only, and you can restart at any time.
Sources we rely on
21 published sources, mostly regulators and official bodies, listed below so you can check the original guidance yourself.
By the end you can
- Explain what phishing is, the channels it uses and what scammers want
- Spot the warning signs of phishing without relying on spelling mistakes
- Handle suspicious texts, QR codes and calls, including AI voice clones, with call-back and a family code word
- Check any unexpected request through an independent channel
- Take the right first steps after a mistake and report to the right place in your country
Downloads
- Pause-and-check card and family call-back plan .docxWallet card with the four-step routine and the three tripwires, a family code-word and call-back plan, and AU, UK and US reporting contacts.
- Spot-the-signs practice messages .xlsxSix fictional messages to analyse, an answers tab with every warning sign, and a log for scams you report.
Rules by country
Learning time
About 1 hour of learning. May count towards your CPD or professional development; check your professional body's rules. Estimated from reading time, exercises, quick checks and downloads.
Sources
Check the originals.
Drafted with AI assistance and run through automated quality and source checks. How these courses are made. Spotted an error or out-of-date rule? Send a correction.
General information only. Life courses don't give health, financial or legal advice.
- Personal cyber security handbook: Learn how to spot scams · ASD’s ACSC (Australia)
- Personal cyber security handbook: Core cyber security tips · ASD’s ACSC (Australia)
- Phishing scams · Scamwatch, National Anti-Scam Centre (ACCC, Australia)
- Stop. Check. Protect. · Scamwatch, National Anti-Scam Centre (ACCC, Australia)
- Report a scam · Scamwatch, National Anti-Scam Centre (ACCC, Australia)
- IDCARE: national identity and cyber support service · IDCARE (Australia and New Zealand)
- Personal cyber security handbook: Getting help · ASD’s ACSC (Australia)
- How to spot a scam email, text message or call · National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC, UK)
- Report a scam email · National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC, UK)
- Report a scam text · National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC, UK)
- Report a scam phone call · National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC, UK)
- 159 phone number · Stop Scams UK (industry body of banks, telecoms and tech firms)
- Report Fraud service goes live (4 December 2025) · Report Fraud, City of London Police (UK)
- How To Recognize and Avoid Phishing Scams · Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Advice (US)
- How To Recognize and Report Spam Text Messages · Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Advice (US)
- Scammers use AI to enhance their family emergency schemes (consumer alert, March 2023) · Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Advice (US)
- ReportFraud.ftc.gov · Federal Trade Commission (US)
- IdentityTheft.gov: report identity theft and get a recovery plan · Federal Trade Commission (US)
- Public Service Announcement I-120324-PSA: criminals use generative AI to facilitate financial fraud · FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3, US)
- Investment scams · Scamwatch, National Anti-Scam Centre (ACCC, Australia)
- Jobs and employment scams · Scamwatch, National Anti-Scam Centre (ACCC, Australia)
Publisher
Who publishes this course.
Published by trainyourself.org, a trading name of Combine TRS Pty Ltd (ABN 42 112 983 678), Brisbane, Australia.
How it's made: drafted with AI assistance from published official, government and vendor guidance, then run through automated quality checks against our course depth standard and automated source checks that match each rule to its official source, listed above. The course guide is an AI presenter and is labelled as one. Read how these courses are made.
Last updated:
General information, not legal, financial, medical or professional advice. Spotted an error or an out-of-date rule? Send us a correction.
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