Scam Message Checker
Paste a suspicious text, email or DM. We check it for common scam signals — right here on your device. Nothing you paste is sent anywhere or saved.
This is a guide, not a guarantee — clever scams can still slip through, and genuine messages can occasionally look risky. When in doubt, contact the organisation directly using details from their official website.
How to spot a scam message
This checker scans a suspicious text, email or DM for the signals scammers rely on, and explains what it found in plain English — all on your device, so nothing you paste is ever sent or stored. It's a guide to help you think twice, not a guarantee, because clever scams can still slip through and genuine messages can occasionally look risky.
The biggest red flags are pressure and urgency (“act now”, “account suspended”), requests for money or personal details (card numbers, passwords, a “small fee” to release a parcel), links that hide where they really go (shortened links or web addresses that are just numbers), and impersonation of trusted names like HMRC, Royal Mail, your bank or a delivery company. One of these on its own can be innocent; several together is a strong warning.
The safest habit is simple: never tap links or call numbers inside an unexpected message. If it claims to be a company you use, contact them through their official app or website instead, and never share passwords or one-time codes in reply.
Frequently asked questions
What are the biggest signs of a scam text or email?⌄
Urgency or threats, requests for payment or personal information, links that hide their destination, generic greetings like “Dear Customer”, and impersonation of organisations such as HMRC, your bank or a courier. Several of these together is a strong red flag.
I think I've been scammed — what should I do?⌄
Contact your bank straight away (they can often stop or recover a payment) and report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040, or Police Scotland on 101 in Scotland. Change any passwords you may have shared.
How do I report a scam text or email?⌄
Forward scam text messages to 7726 (free) and forward scam emails to report@phishing.gov.uk. Reporting helps providers block the senders.
Is the message I paste stored or sent anywhere?⌄
No. The check runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you paste leaves your device or is saved.
Can something still be a scam if this shows low risk?⌄
Yes. No checker is perfect — treat it as a second opinion. If anything still feels off, contact the organisation directly using details from their official website.