AI scam checker
Paste a suspicious message, email, URL, or job offer below and get an instant plain-English verdict powered by Claude AI.
Keep yourself safe: never paste passwords, PINs, full card numbers, or one-time security codes — a scam check never needs them.
Your message is sent to Claude AI for analysis and is not stored by Beat the Scam.
Analysing…
How the scam checker works
Paste the suspicious content above and the checker sends it to an AI model (Anthropic’s Claude) prompted to recognise the patterns behind common UK scams. In a few seconds it returns a plain-English verdict, the specific red flags it spotted, any reassuring signs, the practical steps to take next, and the official UK routes to report it. Nothing you paste is stored by Beat the Scam, and the reporting links in your result are restricted to an allow-list of official UK bodies — so a manipulated message can’t slip a fake “report here” link into the answer.
What you can check
- Text messages (SMS): “missed delivery” parcel texts, fake bank fraud-alert texts, DVLA or HMRC refund texts.
- Emails: phishing that imitates your bank, a retailer, a delivery firm, or a government department.
- Websites and links: lookalike shop, login, or “verification” pages built to capture your details.
- Phone calls: describe what the caller said — bank or police impersonation, “your account is at risk”, or tech-support claims.
- Job offers: work-from-home, mystery-shopping, or recruitment messages that ask for money or documents up front.
- Investment and crypto: “guaranteed returns”, celebrity-endorsed trading platforms, or recovery offers after a previous loss.
How to read your result
The checker gives one of four verdicts, each with a confidence level:
- Likely a scam — several strong fraud signals are present. Don’t click, reply, pay, or call back.
- Possibly a scam — some warning signs; treat it with caution and verify independently.
- Probably legitimate — nothing obvious stands out, but this is never a guarantee — still verify before acting on anything important.
- Unclear — not enough to judge; check directly with the organisation via its official website or app.
Because scam tactics change constantly, treat the result as a guide, not a final verdict. The single safest habit is to verify through a channel you open yourself — the number on the back of your card, or an address you type into your browser — rather than any link, number, or detail supplied in the message itself.
If you have already responded
If you have paid, shared bank or card details, or shared a one-time passcode, act straight away. Contact your bank on the number on the back of your card, report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or at actionfraud.police.uk (Police Scotland: 101), and forward scam texts to 7726 and suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk. For step-by-step help by scam type, browse our scam guides.
Common questions
Is the scam checker free?
Yes — it’s completely free and needs no account. It exists to help you make a quick, safer judgement before you click, pay, or share anything.
Do you store the message I paste?
No. Your text is sent to the AI for analysis and is not stored by Beat the Scam. Please don’t paste passwords, PINs, full card numbers, or one-time codes — a scam check never needs them.
Can the checker be wrong?
Yes. It’s an educational tool and can both flag genuine messages and miss real scams. Use it as one input alongside independent verification, not as the final word.
It says “probably legitimate” — am I safe to proceed?
Not necessarily. A reassuring result is not a green light. If money, credentials, or personal data are involved, confirm through the organisation’s official website, app, or published phone number first.