How to check if a text or email is a scam
A scam usually creates urgency, asks you to click a link or share a code, and pretends to be a bank, delivery company, tax office, or employer. Do not use the link or number in the message. Open the official app or website yourself, and call the number on the back of your card or the official site.
· 5 min read
Scams are not always obvious. The good ones use your name, a real logo, and a problem that feels urgent. The checks below are boring on purpose; they work.
The red flags
- Urgency: within 24 hours, your account will be closed, final notice.
- A link that does not match the official domain, or a shortened link.
- A request for a password, a one-time code, a full card number, or a photo of your ID.
- A request to move to WhatsApp, Telegram, or a personal email.
- Payment by gift card, crypto, or a bank transfer to a person.
- A job offer that asks you to pay for training or equipment.
- An overpayment, a refund, or a prize you did not enter.
- Grammar and formatting that feel off, especially in a message from a bank.
Check the sender, not the display name
The display name can say your bank. Tap it and look at the actual address or number. A bank will not text you from a random mobile number. A delivery company will not ask for a card number by text.
Do not use the link in the message
Open the official app, or type the official website into your browser. For a bank, call the number on the back of your card. For a delivery, use the tracking link in the retailer's own app. If the message is real, the official route will show it.
If you already clicked
- Do not enter any more information.
- Change the password on the account, and anywhere you reused it.
- Tell your bank if you entered card details. Ask them to block the card.
- Report the message to the platform and to your local fraud agency.
- Watch for follow-up messages that use the information you already gave.
Where AI helps, and where it does not
AI can read a message and list the red flags, which is useful when you are panicking. It can also be wrong. Do not treat a green light from an AI as proof. Use it to slow down, then verify through the official route.
Questions
Can AI tell me if a message is a scam?
It can point out common red flags, but it cannot verify the sender or the link. Use it as a second opinion, then check with the official app or phone number.
What should I do if I sent money?
Contact your bank immediately, report it to your local fraud agency, and change any passwords you shared. Do not pay a recovery fee to anyone who contacts you.
Are all shortened links scams?
No, but they hide the destination. If you cannot see where it goes, do not click it. Type the official address yourself instead.
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