Scam Detector

Paste the suspect message

Email body, voicemail transcript (type out what they said), text message, letter content, social media DM — anything. The more text you give us, the better the analysis.

Try a sample:

Up to 20,000 characters. For voicemails, type out what you heard.

Optional: sender info

If you have it, this catches additional red flags (suspicious domains, free email addresses claiming to be official, etc.). Skip if you don't.

How did this reach you?

Sender's email / phone / URL

Optional. Helps catch lookalike domains and free-email impersonation.

Who do they claim to be from?

Optional. We compare against the actual sender if provided.

Got a Screenshot?

🔒 On-Device Only

Can't type out the message? Upload a screenshot and we'll read the text on your device — nothing is uploaded to any server. The extracted text flows directly into the analyzer above. This is optional; the paste-box is still the primary path.

📸

Click to choose a screenshot or drag and drop it here

PNG, JPG, WEBP, GIF accepted. The image stays on your device — OCR runs in your browser via Tesseract.js.

Tesseract.js is an open-source OCR library that runs entirely in your browser. No image data or extracted text is transmitted to any server. About Tesseract.js

Check a Link

Paste a URL and we'll run heuristic red-flag checks entirely in your browser — no network calls, no external lookups. We check for lookalike/punycode domains, suspicious TLDs, IP-as-host, excessive subdomains, URL shorteners, brand-in-subdomain tricks, and HTTP vs HTTPS. Optional: a stub for a live reputation check is below, OFF by default.

Check this link online via a reputation API (SENDS URL TO EXTERNAL SERVER — OFF by default)

This toggle is a placeholder for a future Google Safe Browsing / urlscan.io integration. When enabled, the URL would leave your browser. It is currently disabled and will remain so until Mark enables it. Your privacy promise remains intact with this toggle off.

Check a Phone Number

Enter a phone number you received a suspicious call or text from. We give you heuristic guidance about neighbor-spoofing patterns and how to verify the real caller — no live database lookup. A stub for an opt-in reputation API is below, OFF by default.

Check this number against a live reputation database (SENDS NUMBER TO EXTERNAL SERVICE — OFF by default)

This is a placeholder for a future RoboKiller / FTC DNC integration. Currently disabled. Your privacy promise remains intact with this toggle off.

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Out of 100
Scam likelihood score

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This tool is educational, not legal advice. The score is based on pattern matching against common scam tactics. Some legitimate messages will trigger flags (especially marketing messages with urgency), and a low score doesn't guarantee a message is legitimate — sophisticated scammers can avoid obvious patterns. Always verify any unsolicited message through an independent channel (look up the official phone number yourself; don't use the one in the message). When in doubt, don't pay, don't click, don't respond.

Important: This score is generated by automated pattern-matching, not human review. It can be wrong in both directions: legitimate messages may score high, and sophisticated scams may score low. A low score is NOT a green light — never send money, share credentials, or click links based on this tool. Verify any unsolicited message through a phone number or website you look up independently.

Is This Collector Real? — 5-Step Checklist

Got a call about a debt? Run these checks before paying a cent.

Fake debt collectors are a growing fraud. The FTC and CFPB report that phantom-debt calls — collecting on debts you don't owe, or that don't exist — are among the most-complained-about scams. This 5-step checklist is based on FTC guidance (February 2026) and your rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). Print it and keep it by the phone.

0 of 5 steps verified

Step 1: Demand the written Validation Notice A real debt collector must give you written validation information at first contact or within 5 days — the collector's name, the creditor's name, the amount owed, and your right to dispute. If a third-party collector refuses to put anything in writing, that is a red flag and may be an FDCPA violation. Say exactly: "Please send me written validation of this debt before we continue." FDCPA Sec. 809(a)

Step 2: Call the original creditor directly Look up the original creditor's phone number yourself — on your credit report, on their official website, or on the back of your card. Call them and ask: "Was this account sold? Who is handling collections?" Do NOT use the phone number the collector gave you. FTC guidance Feb 2026

Step 3: Check your state's debt-collector license registry Most states require debt collectors to be licensed. Search your state Attorney General's website or Dept. of Financial Institutions for the collector's company name. No license = major red flag. Find your state AG → State licensing law

Step 4: Pull your credit report — does this debt appear? Legitimate debts typically appear on your credit report. Get your free report at annualcreditreport.com. If a collector is pursuing a debt that is not on any of your three reports, that is a phantom-debt signal. (Note: some recently-opened collection accounts may not show yet; and paid-off accounts may have been removed.) FCRA / CFPB

Step 5: Confirm payment method — NEVER gift card, crypto, wire, or P2P Real debt collectors accept checks, ACH bank drafts, or credit/debit card payments — and provide receipts. If a caller insists on gift cards, Bitcoin, Zelle, Venmo, Cash App, Western Union, or any other untraceable method, stop the call. This alone is near-conclusive proof of fraud. FTC enforcement record

Report a fake collector to FTC →

Also illegal under FDCPA: Calls before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. your local time. Calls more than 7 times within 7 days (or within 7 days after speaking with you). Threats of arrest. Obscene language. Reporting false information to credit bureaus. Any of these is a violation you can report to the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov/complaint.