Not sure whether a text, call or offer is real?
Scam Checker
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Answer a few questions or paste the message to see the warning signs, the type of scam it most looks like and what to do next, including how to try to get money back if you already paid. Everything is checked in your browser; nothing you type is saved or sent.
The warning signs almost every scam shares
- Pressure to act now. Threats of arrest, a locked account or a deal that ends today are meant to stop you from thinking it through.
- An unusual way to pay. Gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, payment apps and cash are hard to trace and hard to reverse. Real agencies and companies don’t demand them.
- A request for codes or access. Your bank will never ask for a one-time passcode it sent you, and real tech support won’t call you out of the blue for remote access.
- Secrecy. Being told not to tell your bank, family or friends is a classic sign of a scam.
- Money that flows the wrong way. Overpaying you and asking for the difference back, or paying you to start a job, are fake-check and job scams.
How to check if something is real
Don’t use the phone number, link or QR code in the message. Look up the company or agency yourself: call the number on the back of your card or on your statement, type the official website address into your browser or open the company’s app. If it’s real, they can confirm it.
If you already paid or shared information
- Call your bank or card issuer right away. The faster you report, the better your chance of stopping or reversing the payment.
- Gift cards: contact the company that issued the card and keep the card and receipt.
- Wire or crypto: contact the bank, wire service or exchange immediately and report it at IC3.gov.
- Shared your Social Security number: freeze your credit at all three bureaus for free and use IdentityTheft.gov.
- Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Then watch for “recovery” scammers who promise to get your money back for a fee.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if a text about an unpaid toll or package is a scam?
Toll agencies and delivery companies don’t text you a link demanding immediate payment. Don’t click it. Log in to your toll account or the carrier’s website directly to check. Text messages were the most common way scammers first contacted people in 2025, according to the FTC.
Will my bank refund money I lost to a scam?
It depends on how you paid. Credit card charges can usually be disputed. Federal rules protect you against unauthorized electronic transfers if you report quickly, but payments you made yourself after being tricked are harder to recover. Some banks reimburse certain impostor scams, so always report it and ask.
How much do Americans lose to scams?
A record $15.9 billion in 2025, up from $12.5 billion in 2024, based on about 3 million reports to the FTC. Investment scams caused the largest losses, about $7.9 billion, and impostor scams were the most common type, with more than $3.5 billion lost.
Can this checker tell me for sure that something is safe?
No. It looks for the most common warning signs. Scammers change their scripts constantly, so even a low result means you should verify on your own before you pay or share anything.
Sources: Federal Trade Commission Consumer Sentinel data for 2025 and FTC consumer advice; FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3); Fair Credit Billing Act; Regulation E. This tool is for education and doesn’t replace advice from your bank or law enforcement.
Related: Guide to Financial Scams, Are Banking Apps Safe?, Credit Report Dispute Letter Builder, Routing Number Checker.