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WT-03 — Spot the costume (fake recognition card)

Academy · Free worksheet · Track: When the Chatbot Is the Wrong Tool · Pair with lesson WT-03

Never type or paste these into a chat:

Passwords, PINs, or 2FA codes sent to your phone or email
Social Security numbers, bank, debit, or credit card numbers, barcodes, account numbers
Health details — yours or anyone's (symptoms, medications, lab tests, doctor visits)
Kids' names, schools, sports teams, and specific whereabouts
Full street addresses, birthdates, personal phone numbers, or private emails

Use stand-ins: [Landlord], [Teacher], [Kid A], [my street]. The chat writes just as well without real secrets.

🛑 1 — Health. Don't type symptoms, medicines, or test results. Write your questions on paper and bring them to your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist. Emergency: call 911. (This card has no box to fill in, on purpose.)

🛑 2 — Today's price. The chat doesn't know today's price, what's in stock, or this week's sale. Read the shelf tag, the store's own page, or call the store.

🛑 3 — Rules and the law. A letter the chat writes is not legal advice. For a lease, school, airline, or town rule, open the page printed on your paper or call the office. Court, eviction, custody, immigration: stop and call a lawyer or legal aid (in NJ, Legal Services of New Jersey).

🛑 4 — Tax, benefits, and scams. You're responsible for what you file. Don't ask the chat to fill in a tax or benefits form, and never type your SSN or income. Use the agency's own site or the number on a letter you trust. Free tax help exists (IRS VITA sites). If anyone asks for a password, code, gift cards, wire, or crypto, or promises a bot will earn money: stop, hang up or close it, and ask a person you trust.

The Emergency Brake

If this happens	Do this
A pop-up screams your computer is locked	Press Ctrl+W (Mac: Cmd+W) or close the browser. Never call the number shown.
A caller threatens arrest over unpaid taxes	Hang up immediately. Government agencies send letters first, never demand gift cards.
An ad offers a bot that generates easy money	Ignore and close. Automated guaranteed profit schemes are 100% scams.
An upgrade banner asks you to pay for Plus	Click the X or “Stay on free.” It's a standard sales pitch, not a scam.
Someone asks for remote access to your computer	Refuse. Hang up or shut your laptop lid. Book a trusted local technician.

0. Worked Example (Shown 3 ways: filled, half-filled, blank)

A. Filled in (reference):

Scenario 1: Pop-up: “ChatGPT Support — your account is locked. Call 1-800-555-0144 now.”
Verdict: Circle [FAKE] | Reason: Real websites never provide telephone unlock numbers in pop-ups.

Scenario 2: Voicemail: “IRS urgent alert — pay immediately with Apple gift cards or face arrest.”
Verdict: Circle [FAKE] | Reason: Gift cards are for presents, never taxes. Threatening arrest on voicemail is a scam.

Scenario 3: Social ad: “Let our AI bot make $500/day for you on autopilot. $49 to start.”
Verdict: Circle [FAKE] | Reason: No bot earns free money; it's an upfront fee scam.

Scenario 4: Screen banner: “Upgrade to ChatGPT Plus for $20/month. [Stay on free] [Upgrade].”
Verdict: Circle [SALES PITCH — NOT SCAM] | Reason: Standard optional upgrade offer; you can stay on free.

Your wording will differ slightly. That's normal. Check it has the same key reasons: fake vs sales pitch.

B. Half-filled (guided practice):

Message: “Postal Service: package delivery suspended. Click this link and pay $2.50 redelivery fee with your debit card.”
Verdict: Circle [FAKE] | Reason: __________________________________________

Banner: “Claude Pro available now. Click here to view features.”
Verdict: Circle [SALES PITCH] | Reason: __________________________________________

1. Your Turn (Blank practice)

1. Pop-up on screen: “Security Warning: Trojan detected! Call Microsoft Support immediately at 1-888-555-0199.”

Circle verdict:[ FAKE / SCAM ] | [ SALES PITCH ]

One reason why:

2. Text message: “Your bank account is compromised. Transfer your balance to a safe federal crypto wallet now.”

Circle verdict:[ FAKE / SCAM ] | [ SALES PITCH ]

One reason why:

3. Email notice: “Turn your laptop into an automatic money maker. AI trader pays $2,000 weekly guaranteed. Send $100 activation.”

Circle verdict:[ FAKE / SCAM ] | [ SALES PITCH ]

One reason why:

4. Panel on real chat site: “Try Gemini Advanced with 2TB cloud storage included. Click X to dismiss.”

Circle verdict:[ FAKE / SCAM ] | [ SALES PITCH ]

One reason why:

2. The 3-Step Defense

Step 1: Close the tab or hang up immediately (never argue). Step 2: Never call the phone number or click the link provided in the suspicious message. Step 3: If concerned, call a number from your own plastic card or paper bill, or ask a trusted friend.

3. Success Check

I identified all three scams and wrote one clear giveaway reason for each. I recognized the difference between a dangerous scam and an ordinary sales banner. I know the 3-step defense by heart.

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