Why this exists
$7.7 billion
lost by Americans over 60 to fraud reported to the FBI in 2025, up 59% in a year. Most scams are never reported.
Source: FBI Internet Crime Report 2025, via AARP
- Scam texts now look exactly like the bank, the post office, or a grandchild in trouble.
- AI makes fake videos and voices of real people in minutes.
- Slick ads sell gadgets and supplements with fake discounts, countdown timers and AI-made "experts."
- Feeds are built to keep people watching, so they serve more of whatever makes them angry or afraid.
You can't be on the phone every time something looks off. Forward First can.
What it looks like
Your dad forwards a text he's unsure about. A minute later, he knows.
A plain answer, how Forward First knows, and what to do next, right inside the chat he already uses.
How it works
You set it up once
Send your parent one message from this site. Two minutes, nothing to install.
They forward what feels off
Press and hold, tap Forward, pick Forward First. Texts, emails, screenshots, links, videos.
They get a plain answer
What it is, how Forward First knows, and what to do next. Usually in under a minute.
More than a scam checker
Is it real?
Scams, made-up claims, edited or AI-made videos.
Is it worth buying?
That gadget or supplement from a slick ad: does it work, what's it really worth, and which tricks is the ad using.
Who gains?
Who paid for that ad or post, and what they get out of it.
Why am I seeing this?
What their YouTube or Facebook feed keeps showing them, and the tricks it uses.
What can I do?
Next steps, how to talk about it as a family, and where to find help.
Why you can trust it
I built Forward First for my own dad. He's sharp, but the scams and the feeds have gotten very good, and I can't always be there to ask. If you've ever gotten a "is this real?" text from a parent, this is for you.
Kiran
Questions
Does my parent need to download anything?
No. Forward First works inside WhatsApp, which they likely already use, or in the phone's web browser. You send them one message with a link.
Is it free?
Yes, during this early pilot.
Will I see what my parent checks?
No. What they send is theirs. Forward First doesn't report to you. If they want to share a result with family, there's a button for that.
What happens to the messages?
They're used only to answer, never sold or shared, and chats are deleted after 30 days. Shared report pages show the findings, not the original message.
Does it call products scams?
No. For products, Forward First looks at the evidence, the price of similar items, what buyers report, and the sales tricks in the ad. It says "overhyped" or "poor value" when that's what the evidence shows, and only uses words like "scam" for copycat sites pretending to be a real brand.
Can it be wrong?
Yes. Forward First shows its reasons and sources so you can judge for yourself, and every answer has a "Was this right?" button. A real person reads every "No."
Can I talk to a person?
Yes. Type "person" in any chat.