# Everyday Red Flags — current AutoShorts/TrueTraceShorts main strategy

Use this as the primary strategy for new AutoShorts/TrueTraceShorts candidates unless the user explicitly requests another format.

## Positioning

Channel focus: **Everyday Red Flags** — digital self-defense for normal people.

Promise: help normal viewers recognize everyday scams and digital traps before they click, pay, scan, log in, or move off-platform.

Not the goal:
- AI art showcase
- nerd cybersecurity
- abstract mechanism videos
- beautiful but unclear AI mood pieces

Goal: clear, useful, mass-market scam/red-flag shorts that make viewers think:
- “This could happen to me.”
- “Good that I know this now.”
- “I should show this to my family.”

## Main pillars

1. **Digital Red Flags**
   - delivery/package SMS
   - fake bank/login messages
   - fake support pop-ups
   - unexpected MFA prompts
   - QR traps
   - WhatsApp/SMS “Hi Mom”
   - marketplace off-platform scams

2. **Money Red Flags**
   - fake invoices
   - changed payment details
   - subscription traps
   - fake shops
   - urgency/payment pressure
   - customs/fee scams

3. **Family & Everyday Safety**
   - digital grandparent scam
   - emergency messages
   - deepfake/voice-call claims
   - fake friend/family contact
   - elder-safety traps

## Required video structure

Each video should normally include:

1. **Hook / Problem** — show the suspicious everyday moment immediately.
2. **Why it feels real** — normal context, urgency, emotion, official-looking message.
3. **The red flag** — link, payment route, urgency, new number, off-platform request, fake login, etc.
4. **What to do** — one concrete safe action.
5. **Takeaway** — memorable rule.
6. Optional fitting comment CTA — ask viewers what scam to cover next or whether they have seen it.

Target duration: about 30–45 seconds, slightly longer only if clarity improves.

## Visual standard

Hard rule: **only high-quality realistic AI images + text-only active-word subtitles.**

Do not add:
- arrows
- circles
- boxes
- diagram overlays
- explanatory cards
- UI frames
- focus lines
- progress bars
- caption boxes/bars
- technical “explainer board” layers

Subtitles are allowed:
- white words
- current spoken word yellow
- no box/bar/background frame
- safe zone, readable on mobile

The first image must instantly show the concrete scam or everyday trap. If the first frame could belong to a generic AI/tech video, reject it.

## Image prompting standard

Prefer realistic everyday scenes:
- smartphone SMS/chat
- laptop login page
- invoice/payment request
- marketplace chat
- support pop-up
- delivery parcel at home
- family phone message
- shop/order/tracking page

Avoid:
- abstract data streams
- glass clouds/funnels
- futuristic cyber visuals
- sterile AI-art metaphors
- generic tech mood shots

Prompt with exact readable in-image UI/text where needed, using reserved/example domains and no real brands/logos.

## Language standard

Final videos remain English unless explicitly changed. Keep English simple and normal-person friendly:
- short to medium sentences
- no jargon without explanation
- calm, clear, helpful, credible
- not panicky, arrogant, or professoral

Every video must leave the viewer knowing exactly what to do next.

## QA gate before delivery

Block or revise if several answers are “no”:

1. Does the first second show what the scam is?
2. Is the problem real and concrete, not abstract?
3. Is the red flag visible/understandable?
4. Is the safe action clear?
5. Would a normal person save, share, or comment?
6. Are images useful, not merely pretty?
7. Are there zero non-subtitle overlays?
8. Does ffprobe confirm 1080x1920, SAR 1:1, DAR 9:16?
9. Do extracted frames show no black bars, no clipping, and readable subtitles?

## Default next-topic priority

Prefer common, easy-to-visualize scams:
- package/delivery SMS
- fake bank message
- WhatsApp “Hi Mom”
- marketplace buyer scam
- fake support pop-up
- changed invoice payment details
- QR-code traps
- subscription traps
- fake shop
- urgency scams