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.
Cloudflare outage: what's happening and the scams to avoid (2026-07-12)
Cloudflare has a confirmed service disruption. Here's what we know — and the fake "compensation" and "restore service" scams that spread during outages.
The 'Phantom Hacker' Scam: Fake Bank and Tech-Support Calls That Drain Savings
The FBI-flagged 'phantom hacker' scam chains fake tech-support, bank, and government calls to drain victims' savings. Here's how to spot and stop it.
Unpaid Toll Text Scam: How the Toll-Road Smishing Wave Works
Fake 'unpaid toll' texts are one of the fastest-spreading smishing scams. Learn how the toll-road text scam works and how to check a link before you tap.
Free Website Scam Checker: How to Spot a Fake Site
Worried a website is a scam? Learn free, practical steps to check any site's legitimacy before you buy. Spot red flags and protect your money and data.
How to Check if an Online Store Is Legit Before You Buy
Seen a great deal online but unsure if the store is real? Learn the red flags of fake shopping websites and how to verify a site is legit before you pay.
Most Common Job Scam in 2026: Task & Payment Fraud
Discover the most prevalent job scams targeting remote workers in 2026, combining task fraud with fake equipment purchases and overpayment schemes.
Understanding a Legitimate Job Interview Process
Learn what a real job interview looks like to spot fake offers. Shubham Singla from Scamchecker.app explains the legitimate hiring process vs. scam tactics.
Can You Get Your Money Back After Falling for a Job Scam?
Lost money to a job scam? Learn what steps to take for recovery, how to report fraud, and protect yourself from future fake job offers.
Fake Check Bounce Time: What You Need to Know
Understanding how long it takes for a fake check to bounce is crucial in job scams. Learn the timelines and protect yourself from overpayment fraud.
Legitimate Jobs Never Ask for Money – Why Scammers Do
Discover why legitimate employers never ask for payment. Learn common job scam tactics like equipment fees or fake checks and how to protect your finances.
Stay Ahead of Scammers
Scams evolve daily. Bookmark this page and check back whenever you receive something suspicious.