Family safety
Stop scams before
they spread
No apps to install. Simple steps that slow the moment down and make the person prove who they are.
Built for parents, grandparents, and anyone who doesn’t live online.
A calm second opinion for suspicious texts, emails, and screenshots. Not an emergency service.
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Research-informed
Why a “second opinion” works
Scams work when people feel rushed. A short explanation helps people notice details they usually miss.
The numbers below are reported from one peer-reviewed study on explainable SMS phishing detection.
Detection accuracy
71.2% → 92.8%
Improvement after reading an explanation.
Older adults (65+)
94.2%
Accuracy after reading an explanation.
Usability score (SUS)
82.6 / 100
Rated “excellent” usability (85.3 for older adults).
Disagreement
7.2%
Higher on legit texts (11.5%) than phishing (2.9%).
Source: Wang et al., “Can You Walk Me Through It? Explainable SMS Phishing Detection using LLM-based Agents,”
SOUPS (USENIX) 2025 (PDF).
🔒 We don’t sell data. We don’t train public models on your submissions.
ℹ️ Note: If money was sent (wire, crypto, gift cards), call your bank or card issuer immediately.
If you feel unsafe, call local authorities.
Unlimited checks (members)
Run a check anytime you feel unsure. Plain-English signals and what to do next.
Family safe word
Simple rules and scripts that break urgency and confirm identity.
Explanation beats “yes/no”
People spot scams more reliably when they understand the “why.”
The Shield rules (print these)
These rules are designed to break urgency. If a message is real, it will survive a 2-minute verification.
3-step protocol
1. PAUSE →
2. VERIFY →
3. CALL BACK
Rule 1: Never act from the text
Do not click links. Do not call the number in the message. Use a known, saved contact or official website.
Rule 2: Safe word beats “I’m in trouble”
If the message claims an emergency, request the safe word before anything else. No safe word, no action.
Rule 3: Verify with a second channel
Text claims can be faked. Verify using a different channel: call back, video call, or ask a private question.
Rule 4: Payments = hard stop
Gift cards, crypto, wire transfers, and “urgent” Zelle requests are the classic pattern. Pause and verify.
Rule 5: Screenshots are not proof
Bank screenshots and “order confirmations” can be fake. Only trust what you see in your official account.
Rule 6: If they pressure you, you’re done
Real institutions can wait. Pressure is the tell. End the interaction and call back using official contact info.
📞 The “bank” call
Scammers can mimic voices. Shield gives you a short script that slows the moment down and forces proof.
📱 The fake video call
Looped video and impersonation work because people react fast. Your rules make the scam fail.
The goal isn’t “trust AI.” The goal is “slow down, verify, and make the scam prove itself.”
