How to Identify Scams: Free Guides for Phishing, SMS & Online Fraud
Plain-English guides on identifying scams, recovering from fraud, and protecting your identity online. Every guide walks through real examples — the messages, emails, and websites scammers actually use — and tells you what to do next.
Start here if you just received something suspicious
Pick the situation that matches yours. These five guides cover the cases people land on this site for most often.
- "I got a scam text — what does a real one look like?"
- "Someone messaged me on WhatsApp with a job offer / investment / OTP request"
- "Is this website legit before I enter card details?"
- "Is this email a phishing attempt?"
- "I think I've already been scammed — what now?"
- Or run the message through the free scam checker →
Have a suspicious message right now?
Don't guess. Paste it into the free scam checker — it analyses for phishing patterns, lookalike domains, and known fraud signals in seconds.
Emergency Recovery
I Think I've Been Scammed — Now What? Immediate Recovery Steps
Step-by-step recovery guide if you clicked a link, sent money, or shared personal details. If you've clicked a link, sent money, or shared your password, start here immediately.
Technical Deep Dives
Common Scam Types
Job Scam Checker: How to Spot a Fake Job Offer Before You Reply
Verify a job offer, recruiter, and employer — red flags for fake jobs, task scams, equipment purchase frauds, and check-cashing setups.
Scam Text Message Examples: SMS Fraud Patterns Explained
Real SMS scam templates: parcel delivery, bank alerts, and urgency tactics used worldwide.
WhatsApp Scams: Real Messages, Job Offers, Investment Groups & OTP Tricks
Real examples of WhatsApp scam messages — fake job offers, investment groups, OTP requests, romance and family-impersonation chats — plus what to do next.
Email Phishing Examples: Spot the Fakes
Invoice scams, login alerts, and attachment traps targeting Australians.
Payment Platform Scams: Overpayment Fraud on PayID, Zelle and Similar Services
How scammers exploit instant payment platforms with fake overpayments and upgrade tricks.
Tax Authority Impersonation Scams: Fake Refunds and Debt Threats
Tax refund scams, fake debt notices, and government portal impersonation tactics.
Bank Impersonation Scams: How Fraudsters Pose as Financial Institutions
Fake bank calls, texts, and spoofed caller IDs explained.
Marketplace Scams: Fraud on Facebook, eBay and Classified Sites
Fake payment emails, courier pickup scams, and payment platform pending tricks.
Parcel Delivery Scams: Fake Tracking Links and Fee Traps
DHL, FedEx, UPS and postal service SMS scams with fake tracking links and card fee traps.
Latest scam alerts and news
Real scams reported in the last few weeks. Each article breaks down the tactic, who is being targeted, and what to do if you have been hit.
Company Sent Me a Check Before I Started — Is This Normal?
Why an early cheque from a new employer is almost always a fake-cheque scam — and what to do if you have already deposited it.
How to Verify a Company Is Real Before Accepting a Job
A 7-step verification checklist for any job offer — Companies House, LinkedIn, domain age, and the calls scammers can't fake.
Is My Job Offer a Scam? Red Flags to Watch For
How to tell a fake job offer from a real one — six red flags scammers reuse, plus a 5-minute employer verification checklist.
Remote Job Offers That Seem Too Good to Be True — Are They Scams?
Why high-pay no-experience remote roles are almost always job scams — the task-scam, fake-platform, and onboarding-theft variants, and the one-minute check to spot them.
Should Employers Ask for Banking Information During Onboarding?
What banking details a real employer needs (and what they never do) during onboarding — plus how to spot identity-theft setups that pose as new-hire paperwork.
Smart TV Scam Warning: Fraudsters Target New Device Owners
The Scam Checker Team uncovers a dangerous new Smart TV phishing scam targeting streaming subscribers. Learn how crooks steal logins and payment details.
Urgent: Next-Gen Console Scam Steals Millions from Eager Gamers
Eager gamers worldwide are falling victim to a cunning next-gen console scam, losing millions to fake pre-orders. Learn how to spot pre-order fraud.
FTC Warns: Fake Government Grant Scam Targets Americans
The FTC issues a fresh warning about a pervasive government grant scam. Crooks are stealing millions by promising fake funds. Learn how to spot and avoid this fraud.
FTC Warns: Utility Disconnection Scams Steal Millions
The FTC issued a stark warning about a widespread utility imposter scam threatening disconnection. Learn how these fraudsters trick victims and protect your money.
Small Business Scam Alert: Fake Directory Listings Cost Millions
Small business owners are losing millions to fake directory listing scams. Learn how invoice fraud works and protect your business now.
Stay Ahead of Scammers
Scams evolve daily. Bookmark this page and check back whenever you receive something suspicious.