Someone is pressuring me. What should I do?

Scammers sometimes try to make people act before they've had time to think. They may sound frightening, convincing or very friendly.

What pressure can sound like

• Fear: “Your bank account will be frozen unless you act now.”
• Urgency: “You only have ten minutes to make this payment.”
• Authority: “I'm from the police. You must do exactly what I say.”
• Secrecy: “Don't tell your family or anyone else about this.”
• Trust: “I've been helping you. You can trust me.”

These are warning signs, not proof on their own that someone is a scammer. What matters is whether you can check the request independently.

What you can do

1. Stop the conversation. You don't have to explain why.
2. Don't send money, share passwords or give someone access to your device while you feel pressured.
3. If the request might be genuine, contact the organisation yourself through its official app, website or a phone number you already trust.
4. Talk it over with someone you trust, especially if you've been told to keep it secret.

If you've already done something, don't panic, but act promptly.

• You sent money: Contact your bank immediately and follow I sent money.
• You shared a password or banking details: Follow I shared information.
• You allowed someone to access your device: Follow Someone accessed my device.

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