How to Use the AARP Fraud Watch Network
AARP's free Fraud Watch Network gives you real-time scam alerts, a helpline to call if you've been targeted, and tools to protect yourself and your family.
3 min read · 5 steps · Checked April 2026
Step 1. Visit the Fraud Watch Network website
Open your browser and go to aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork. You don't need to be an AARP member and you don't need to create an account to access most resources. The site works on both computers and phones.
Step 2. Sign up for Watchdog Alerts
On the Fraud Watch Network homepage, look for "Get Fraud Alerts" or "Watchdog Alerts." Enter your email address and zip code, then click Subscribe (or similar). You'll start receiving free weekly emails with the latest scam warnings in your area. AARP also sends immediate alerts when a major new scam is circulating.
Step 3. Check the Scam-Tracking Map for your area
On the Fraud Watch Network site, look for the "Scam Map" or "Scam-Tracking Map" link. Enter your zip code and the map will show recent scam reports in your geographic area. You can filter by scam type. This is useful for knowing what's currently active in your community.
Step 4. Save the Fraud Helpline number
Save 877-908-3360 in your phone as "AARP Fraud Helpline." This free line is staffed by trained specialists 8 AM–8 PM Monday–Friday Eastern time. Call if you've received something suspicious and want a second opinion, if you think you've been targeted, or if you've already been scammed and need guidance on next steps. The specialists can also connect you with law enforcement resources.
Step 5. Watch the free scam-awareness videos
On the Fraud Watch Network site, browse the Videos section. The videos walk through exactly how common scams work — often using actors to recreate real scam calls. Watching even 2 or 3 of these builds pattern recognition that helps you spot a scam in the moment, before you've handed over any money or information. Share them with family members who might be vulnerable.
Quick Tip
Quick Tip — If you're not sure whether a call, text, or email is a scam, call the AARP Fraud Helpline before doing anything else: 877-908-3360. It's free, and the specialists have heard every scam variation imaginable.
The AARP Fraud Watch Network is a free program that helps people of all ages — not just AARP members — stay ahead of scams. It's one of the best free fraud-prevention resources in the country, and most people have never heard of it.
The network offers several tools worth knowing about. The Fraud Watch Helpline (877-908-3360) is a free phone line where you can speak with trained fraud specialists who can help you figure out if something is a scam, walk you through what to do if you've been targeted, and connect you to reporting resources. You don't need to be an AARP member to call.
The AARP Scam-Tracking Map is an online tool showing the types of scams being reported in your area. You can enter your zip code and see what scams have been reported in your community recently — which is useful because scams often spread geographically and you may be targeted by the same one your neighbors were.
The weekly Watchdog Alerts newsletter sends scam warnings directly to your email as new scams emerge. When the IRS impersonation scam surged, when the Social Security Administration fake calls increased, and when the Medicare card scam circulated — AARP sent alerts about all of them within days. Signing up is free.
AARP also has a large library of free online videos showing exactly how common scams work — romance scams, tech support fraud, grandparent scams, cryptocurrency investment fraud — with real examples that help you recognize them before you're targeted.
Official sources
- FTC Consumer Advice — consumer.ftc.gov
- IdentityTheft.gov — identitytheft.gov
- CISA — Stop.Think.Connect. — cisa.gov
- Have I Been Pwned — haveibeenpwned.com
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