Scam message examples and warning signs
Illustrative messages can help you recognise suspicious wording, impersonation and misleading links. The guides below explain patterns across SMS, email, WhatsApp, marketplace and crypto scams. These examples are teaching material, not a collection of verified messages received by individual people.
Start with a guide for the type of message you received, then explore the related published guidance below. Examples may be fictional or simplified to explain a pattern. Read each article's sources and review notes for context; its publication date does not prove a campaign is active today.
Focus on the pattern rather than memorising a message. Wording can change, while warning signs such as urgency, impersonation and unexpected payment requests can give you a reason to pause and verify independently.
If you have just received something that looks like one of the examples below, paste it into the free scam checker to look for warning signs and suggested next steps. It may not detect every pattern discussed in the guides, and no result proves a message safe.
Examples organised by where the scam arrives
SMS scam examples — fake delivery, bank, and toll texts
Explore illustrative parcel-fee, bank-alert and unpaid-toll messages, with warning signs explained.
Email phishing examples — fake invoices and credential theft
Illustrative phishing emails: invoice scams, account-suspended notices, fake login pages and misleading senders.
WhatsApp and messaging app scam examples
Family-impersonation pleas ("Mum, this is my new number"), fake job offers, and group-invite investment scams.
Facebook Marketplace and classifieds scam examples
Buyer- and seller-side fraud — overpayment cons, fake shipping companies, and the "is this still available?" opener.
Bank impersonation examples — calls, texts, and emails
Fraudsters posing as your bank's fraud team. Includes the "transfer to a safe account" line and how it actually unfolds in a phone call.
PayID, Zelle and payment-platform scam examples
Overpayment tricks, fake confirmation emails, and the "upgrade your account to receive larger payments" con.
Related published guidance
Dated articles from the blog offer further context. They may discuss illustrative examples or published warnings rather than a currently active campaign. Service notices are collected on the outages page.
Who Called Me? How to Check if a Phone Number Is a Scam
Check warning signs in an unknown call, understand phone-number lookup limits, and find independent contact and recovery steps before you act.
iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max: Apple event 2026 summary
Apple event 2026 summary: iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max Australian prices, official photos, iPhone Duo launch dates, and checks for preorder and delivery scams.
CommSec warns about app requests on social media
CommSec's 4 September alert warns of fake social posts requesting app downloads. Check the source and find official help if you clicked or paid.
Berlin government data leak: what is confirmed
Berlin confirmed a government-network incident and publication of stolen data. Read the official updates, unresolved details and practical next steps.
Does a Padlock Mean a Website Is Safe? What HTTPS Isn't
The padlock only proves your connection is encrypted, not that the seller is honest. What HTTPS really shows and the checks that work.
Apple zero-day exploit (2026-08-20): what to know
Reports point to a zero-day exploit involving Apple. What's claimed, how to verify it, and how to dodge the scams that follow.
CareCloud data breach (2026-08-20): what to know
Reports point to a data breach involving CareCloud. What's claimed, how to verify it, and how to dodge the scams that follow.
Oz Hair and Beauty data breach (2026-08-20): what to do
Reports of a data breach at Oz Hair and Beauty are emerging. What is claimed so far, how to verify it, and the steps to protect yourself from follow-up scams.
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