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How-to videos
Short videos and plain steps for the apps people use every day. Each one ends with the scam that borrows that company's name, so you know what the real thing looks like.
Apple
iPhone, iPad, Mac, and the Apple Account that ties them together.
Video by Apple Support, from their official YouTube channel.
The basics
- Open Settings and tap your name at the top.
- Tap Sign-In & Security.
- Check that Two-Factor Authentication says On. If it offers to turn it on, follow the prompts.
- Make sure the phone number listed is one you still use.
Scammers call pretending to be Apple Support, often saying your account was hacked. Apple will not call you out of the blue, and a real Apple employee will never ask for your password, a verification code, or payment in gift cards. If a call worries you, hang up and open the Apple Support app yourself.
Uber
Request a car and driver from your phone, and pay through the app.
Uber has not published an official how-to video, so we link to their help pages below.
The basics
- Open the Uber app and type where you are going in the "Where to?" box.
- Check the pickup spot on the map and choose a ride type. The price shows before you confirm.
- Tap to request. The app shows the driver's name, photo, car, and license plate.
- Before you get in, match the plate and ask the driver, "Who are you here to pick up?" Let them say your name.
Pay for every ride inside the app. A driver or "Uber support" asking you to pay outside the app, through a payment app or a gift card, is a scam. Phone numbers for Uber found through a web search are often fake; get help from the Help menu inside the app.
Lyft
Request a car and driver from your phone, and pay through the app.
Video by Lyft, from their official YouTube channel.
The basics
- Open the Lyft app and enter your destination.
- Pick a ride type. The price shows before you confirm.
- Tap to request. The app shows the driver's name, photo, car, and license plate.
- Match the plate before you get in. You can share your trip with a family member from the ride screen.
Pay only inside the app. Lyft handles refunds and lost items through the app's Help section, so anyone calling or texting to "process your refund" is a scammer.
1Password
A password manager. It remembers every password for you behind one account password.
Video by 1Password, from their official YouTube channel.
The basics
- Create your account and choose one strong account password you will remember.
- Save your Emergency Kit. It holds your Secret Key; print it and keep it somewhere safe at home.
- Install 1Password on your phone and computer.
- Let it save passwords as you sign in to your usual sites.
1Password staff cannot see your account password or Secret Key, so they will never ask for either. Anyone asking for them by phone, text, or email is a scammer.
Netflix
Movies and shows on your TV, tablet, or phone, for a monthly fee.
Netflix has not published an official how-to video, so we link to their help pages below.
The basics
- On a TV, open the Netflix app and choose Sign In. On a phone or computer, go to netflix.com.
- Pick your profile. Each person in the household can have their own.
- Use the search icon to find a show by name.
- To change your plan or payment, go to netflix.com yourself and open Account.
The most common Netflix scam is an email or text saying your payment failed or your account is on hold, with a link to "update your billing." Skip the link. Open the Netflix app or type netflix.com yourself; if there is a real problem, it will show there.
Not sure about a message that mentions one of these companies? Paste it into the Scam Checker.