How to spot a scam letter, email or text message
Scammers copy real companies very well. These warning signs help you tell a fake message from a real one, before you click or pay.
The biggest warning signs
Pressure to act right now
“Pay within 12 hours,” “your account will be closed today,” or “final warning.” Real organizations do set deadlines, but scammers use extreme urgency so you don’t stop to check.
Unusual ways to pay
Gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or payment apps to a personal account. Real banks, tax offices and utility companies don’t ask for gift cards.
Links that don’t match the real website
A delivery text that links to a strange address, like a long name ending in an unusual domain, is a classic sign. Look closely: one changed letter is enough to make a fake site.
Requests for codes, passwords or ID numbers
No real organization will ask you to read out a one-time code that was sent to your phone. That code is how scammers get into your accounts.
Something you didn’t expect
A prize for a contest you didn’t enter, a refund you weren’t owed, a package you didn’t order, or a problem with an account you don’t have.
Small mistakes
Odd spelling, a generic greeting like “Dear customer,” or a sender address from a free email service. Some scams are very polished, so the lack of mistakes doesn’t prove a message is real.
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Common scam messages
- Fake delivery texts asking for a small “redelivery fee.”
- Fake bank alerts about a blocked card or suspicious payment.
- Fake tax or government letters threatening fines or arrest.
- Fake invoices for subscriptions you never bought, with a phone number to “cancel.”
- “Hi Mum” or “Hi Dad” messages from a new number asking for urgent money.
What to do if you’re not sure
- Don’t click links, call numbers, or reply to the message.
- Find the organization’s real contact details yourself: their official website, the back of your card, or a real bill.
- Contact them that way and ask if the message is genuine.
- If it is a scam, report it to your phone company or your country’s fraud reporting service, then delete it.
If you already clicked or paid
Act quickly. Call your bank using the number on your card and tell them what happened. Change the password of any account you entered on the fake site, and turn on two-step verification. Keep the message as evidence.
Remember: Taking five minutes to check is always fine. A real company will still be there after you check.
Not sure if a message is real?
Paste or screenshot it into our free scam checker. You’ll see the warning signs and what to do.
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