AARP Fraud Watch Network vs BBB Scam Tracker in 2026
Compare AARP Fraud Watch Network and BBB Scam Tracker for a household: what each source says it does, what it costs, how to start, and what to check.
CleverDings is published by the makers of Benefit Buddy, Postal Buddy and Packing Buddy, which are compared here alongside other apps.
AARP Fraud Watch Network runs a free helpline for scam questions and points to resources for blocking calls. BBB Scam Tracker lets you report a scam and search reports others have filed, with each report checked before it goes public.
| Option | Own price | What its source says it is |
|---|---|---|
| AARP Fraud Watch Network | Free helpline; discounted plans for Nomorobo and identity theft protection, amounts not published [1] [1] [1] | A free Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 877-908-3360, Mon-Fri, 8am-8pm ET, plus resources and discounted plans for Nomorobo, a scam-blocking app [1] [1] |
| BBB Scam Tracker | not published [2] | Verified scam reports added to a public database anyone can search; BBB reviews each report before publishing [2] [2] |
| Postal Buddy | Senior's side free forever; Plus costs $9.99 a month or $79 a year, with a 30-day Plus trial and no card needed when the first helper joins [3] | An app that tells an older person, in big print and out loud, what each letter they photograph is [3] |
The short answer
AARP Fraud Watch Network gives a household a free phone helpline to call about scams, plus discounted tools for blocking scam calls. [1] [1] BBB Scam Tracker lets you report a scam and search a public database of reports others have filed. [2] Postal Buddy lets you photograph a letter and tells you, in big print and out loud, what it is, and for a suspected scam it says not to pay or call the number on it. [3] [3]
If you want a helpline to call about a scam, AARP says it offers a free one. [1] If you want to file or search scam reports, BBB says its Scam Tracker holds a public database anyone can search. [2] If you want to photograph a letter and be told what it is, Postal Buddy says it does that. [3] The sources for AARP and BBB say nothing about reading mail or checking a letter, so check their pages for what else they cover.
What AARP Fraud Watch Network, BBB Scam Tracker is built for
The facts for AARP Fraud Watch Network say it runs a free helpline you can call Monday through Friday, 8am to 8pm ET, at 877-908-3360. [1] AARP offers free resources and discounted subscription plans for Nomorobo, a scam-blocking app. [1] Members can save on identity theft protection plans that detect and alert users to threats. [1] AARP describes itself as a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that empowers people to choose how they live as they age. [1]
The facts for BBB Scam Tracker say BBB reviews each report before it is published to the Scam Tracker. [2] The reporter's name and personal contact information are never displayed publicly. [2] Verified reports are added to a public database that anyone can search, helping neighbors, businesses, and law enforcement spot scams faster. [2] The BBB Institute for Marketplace Trust works with leading companies, researchers, and law-enforcement partners to expose scams and protect consumers. [2]
That is all their sources say here. They do not state how AARP's helpline answers questions or what Nomorobo blocks. They do not state how far back BBB's database goes or how a report is verified. Visit their pages for those details.
What Postal Buddy is built for
Postal Buddy is made by the team that publishes this site. You take a photo of each letter you get, and Postal Buddy tells you, in big print and out loud, what it is. [3] The app can read its explanation of a letter out loud. [3]
For a bill, it shows the sender, the amount and the due date. [3] For a suspected scam, it says not to pay or call the number on it; Postal Buddy says it never calls a letter safe. [3] Its web scam check is free and needs no account; Postal Buddy tells you what looks wrong and says nothing is kept. [3]
Plus adds a Monday email on what needs doing, what was caught and what changed; on the free plan, one family member gets a Monday email with how many letters came. [3] Plus includes alerts for a scam asking for money, a bill about to go overdue, a government letter, or a bill that jumped. [3] The older person does not have to sign in; family helpers sign in. [3] The app is made for phones and the web. [3]
Pricing and fees
AARP Fraud Watch Network: the helpline is free. [1] AARP offers free resources and discounted subscription plans for Nomorobo, a scam-blocking app. [1] Members can save on identity theft protection plans that detect and alert users to threats. [1] Its sources do not publish the discounted prices, so check AARP's pages for the amounts.
BBB Scam Tracker: its sources do not publish a price. [2]
Postal Buddy: the senior's side is free forever; Plus costs $9.99 a month or $79 a year, with a 30-day Plus trial and no card needed when the first helper joins. [3] The web scam check is free and needs no account. [3]
Getting started
For AARP Fraud Watch Network, you can call the free helpline at 877-908-3360, Monday through Friday, 8am to 8pm ET. [1] Its sources do not say what happens after you call or what information you need. AARP also offers resources and discounted plans for Nomorobo, a scam-blocking app. [1]
For BBB Scam Tracker, its sources say verified reports are added to a public database that anyone can search. [2] To file a report, BBB reviews it before publishing, and your name and contact information are never displayed publicly. [2]
For Postal Buddy, you can try a demo with a made-up family without an account. [3] The older person does not have to sign in; family helpers sign in. [3] The app is made for phones and the web. [3] A web app is listed, but the Postal Buddy website says opening soon. [3]
Things to check before you choose
Ask these of either tool:
- Does the helpline or database cover the type of scam you are worried about, such as mail, phone, or email?
- What does it cost, and is any discount a one-time offer or a recurring price?
- If you file a report, what does the service do with it, and is your name kept private?
- Can you search past reports by your area or by the type of scam?
- Does it tell you what to do next after you spot a scam, or does it only collect reports?
- If it points to another app, what does that app cost on its own, and what does the discount save?
- How does it show the date a report was filed or a resource was last updated?
How to choose
If you want to call someone about a scam, AARP says its Fraud Watch Network Helpline is free and runs Monday through Friday, 8am to 8pm ET, at 877-908-3360. [1]
If you want to block scam calls, AARP says it offers free resources and discounted subscription plans for Nomorobo, a scam-blocking app. [1]
If you want to file a scam report and search what others have filed, BBB says verified reports are added to a public database that anyone can search. [2]
If you want to photograph a letter and be told what it is, Postal Buddy says it does that, in big print and out loud. [3]
If you want a free check of a letter without an account, Postal Buddy says its web scam check is free and needs no account. [3]
If you want alerts when a bill is about to go overdue or a letter looks like a scam, Postal Buddy says Plus includes those alerts. [3]
Frequently asked questions
Is the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline free?
AARP says its Fraud Watch Network Helpline is free and operates Monday through Friday, 8am to 8pm ET, at 877-908-3360. [1] AARP also offers free resources and discounted subscription plans for Nomorobo, a scam-blocking app. [1]
Can anyone search the BBB Scam Tracker?
BBB says verified reports are added to the public Scam Tracker database, where anyone can search them, helping neighbors, businesses, and law enforcement spot scams faster. [2] BBB reviews each report before it is published. [2]
Does Postal Buddy cost money?
Postal Buddy says the senior's side is free forever; Plus costs $9.99 a month or $79 a year, with a 30-day Plus trial and no card needed when the first helper joins. [3] The web scam check is free and needs no account. [3]
Can Postal Buddy be tried without an account?
You can try a demo with a made-up family without an account. [3] The older person does not have to sign in; family helpers sign in. [3] The web scam check is also free and needs no account. [3]
Does Postal Buddy say a letter is safe?
For a suspected scam, Postal Buddy says not to pay or call the number on it. [3] Postal Buddy says it never calls a letter safe. [3] You take a photo of each letter and it tells you, in big print and out loud, what it is. [3]
Postal Buddy says the senior's side is free forever; Plus costs $9.99 a month or $79 a year, with a 30-day Plus trial and no card needed when the first helper joins. [3]
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