Why we’re here
Most people look this up when they’re scared or unsure.
Scam texts, strange phone calls, and emails saying your data was stolen are confusing, and many are designed to look real. Many people search for answers in the middle of a stressful moment, and too much of what they find is written for experts.
Scammers want you to rush. We want you to do the opposite. Our guides help you slow down, check what you’re looking at, and decide what to do next at your own pace.
What we do and what we do not do
The line we do not cross
We do
We write guides that explain how common scams and data breaches work, how to spot the warning signs, and what steps people usually take to protect their accounts and report fraud.
We do not
We can’t look at your accounts, fix your computer, get back money that was already sent, or act for you. We aren’t lawyers, financial advisors, or a tech-support service. We will never call, text, or email you first, or ask for your password or payment.
How we put our guides together
Four steps, every guide
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01We start with primary reports
We use reports from the FBI, the Federal Trade Commission, the Identity Theft Resource Center and other trusted sources.
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02We rewrite it in plain language
We take out the technical language and check every number against the organization that published it.
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03An editor reviews it
Another member of our team checks that the guide is accurate and easy to understand before we publish it.
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04We correct what we get wrong
When we find a mistake, from a reader or from our own checks, we fix it and add a note that says what changed.
Our editorial policy covers this in full, and our corrections policy explains how we handle mistakes.
What you can expect from us
The ground rules behind every guide
Sourced figures
Every fact and figure links back to its original source: the FBI IC3, the Identity Theft Resource Center, the FTC and CISA. We do not use secondhand summaries, blog posts or aggregator sites.
Written by our editorial team
Guides are written and edited by the CyberSupportUSA editorial team rather than a single named author. Each one carries a last checked date.
Free to read, always
Every article on this site is free to read. No account, no login, and no email required.
Ad supported, and we say so
This site is supported by advertising and by sales of our workbooks and checklists. Neither one decides what we write. An ad is never our recommendation.
Corrections welcome
If something looks wrong or out of date, tell us. We would rather fix an error than leave it standing, and we note what changed.
Published by a named company
CyberSupportUSA is published by MIK Investments LLC, 422 9th St, Wilmette, IL 60091.
What we are not
We are not a government agency or a security service
CyberSupportUSA is not affiliated with the FBI, the FTC or CISA. We do not monitor, protect or act on your accounts or devices, and nothing on this site is legal or financial advice.
If you need to report fraud, go here first
- File a report with the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.
- Report fraud to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
- Call your bank or card issuer right away if money was taken from an account, or a card was used without your permission.