Is this text a scam? Paste any suspicious text message, email, or call transcript below — including "FBI called me, is it real?" cases — and get a free instant verdict. This scam text checker scans for the red flags the FBI warns about and scores your message 0–100. Everything runs on your device. Nothing you paste is sent anywhere, and there's no signup.
What is phishing by text message?
Phishing by text message — also called smishing — is a scam where criminals send fake texts pretending to be your bank, a delivery company, or a government agency. The message creates urgency ("your account is locked", "you missed a delivery") to trick you into clicking a malicious link or replying with personal information.
Scams surging right now
Curated Oct 2026 — tap a wave to test a real example in the checker.
1. Paste the suspicious message
Quishing = phishing via QR code. Scammers stick fake QR codes over real ones (parking meters, restaurant tables) leading to payment-stealing sites. Paste the URL the QR code took you to above.
2. Or try a sample
Family mode — big and simple
Call a family member FIRST — before you reply, pay, or click anything.
Each red flag carries a weight. Known scam scripts from our curated blocklist (+30), government-agency impersonation (+25), legal threats like "arrest warrant" (+20), payment demands via gift cards or crypto (+20), urgency and secrecy tactics (+12 each), suspicious look-alike links (+15–20), and requests for your SSN or bank details (+12) stack up fast — and dangerous combinations (agency name plus a payment demand) add bonus points, because that's the classic scam shape.
Verdict thresholds: 70–100 = High risk — likely a scam · 35–69 = Caution · 0–34 = Low risk.
This is a heuristic screen, not proof. It looks for known scam patterns — it cannot verify who really sent a message, and a clever new scam may score low. The rules that never change: legitimate agencies never demand gift cards, crypto, or wire transfers; never use contact details from the suspicious message itself; when in doubt, hang up and verify independently.
What does an FBI impersonation scam look like?
In September 2026 the FBI's Newark office warned that criminals are posing as FBI, DEA, and Secret Service agents — spoofing real office numbers, using real agents' names, even staging fake video calls. The FBI's 2025 Internet Crime Report logged roughly 32,000 government-impersonation complaints and about $798 million in losses in one year. Read the full breakdown on our FBI impersonation scam check page — and for AI-generated phishing aimed at campaigns and election workers, see our CISA election phishing warning check.
Train your eye — scam radar game
Six real-style messages. You call it: SCAM or LEGIT. Then see what gave it away.
Take the call — scam-call simulator
The page plays the scammer. You pick your moves. Get coached on the psychology after every choice.
I already sent money or info
Damage control — do these in order, right now. Your progress is saved on this device.
I clicked the link — but haven't paid
Clicked but haven't paid yet? Good — you're still in control. Pick what happened:
They're on the phone RIGHT NOW
Breathe. You are in control. Do these 4 steps — it's okay to be rude to a scammer.
Why caller ID means nothing
The same incoming call, three ways. Type any name and number to see how trivially the display is faked — 100% simulated, right here.
What your phone DISPLAYS
FBI
+1 (202) 555-0147
What they ACTUALLY are
🌍
Overseas VoIP call center
What they CLAIM to be
🎖️
“Special Agent Carter, FBI”
Demonstration only: nothing here places a call. Real scammers use the same trivial spoofing — which is exactly why you must never trust caller ID.
Embed this checker
Put this free tool on your site — a badge that links back here.
Create your family code word
The FBI's own advice against voice-clone scams: a secret phrase only your family knows. If "grandma, it's me" can't say the code word, it's not family. It is never shared by text, email, or social media.
Tip: you can also link straight to a pre-filled check: ?text=YOUR+MESSAGE auto-runs the analysis on load.
🛡️ My first phone: scam smarts
Phones are awesome — and tricky people send tricky messages. Learn the 3 big rules!
Never share codes, photos, or personal info with someone you don't know in real life.
A scary message? Tell a grown-up right away. Scary + secret = tell someone.
Links from strangers? Don't tap. Ask a grown-up first.
Spot the difference
Same situation, two messages. One is real, one is a scam — with each side's analyzer score.
Incident timeline builder
Turn chaos into a fileable story — add what happened, in order. Feeds your evidence kit.
Daily scam challenge
A new sample every day. Call it right to build your streak.
Spotting streak:0 🔥
Protect your street
Generate a one-page flyer for your church, school, or community board — this week's surging scam, the red flags, and the checker URL in huge type.
Scam text checker FAQ
Will the real FBI ever call me?
No. The FBI says law enforcement will never call, text, or email to demand payment, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or personal information. Anyone claiming to be the FBI who asks for money or your Social Security number is a scammer — hang up and report it at ic3.gov.
How can I check if a text message is a scam?
Paste it into the checker above. It scans for the red flags the FBI warns about — fake agency names, arrest threats, gift-card or crypto demands, manufactured urgency, and look-alike links — and returns a 0–100 risk score instantly, all inside your browser.
What should I do with a suspicious text?
Don't reply, click, or call back. Screenshot it, forward scam texts to 7726 (SPAM), and report it at ic3.gov. If you already sent money, call your bank's fraud line immediately.
Is this scam text checker private?
Yes. It runs entirely in your browser — pasted text is never sent to a server, stored, or logged. It works even if you disconnect from the internet after the page loads.
What does an FBI impersonation scam look like?
A call, text, or email claiming you're under federal investigation or have an arrest warrant, demanding immediate payment by gift card, crypto, or wire — and warning you not to tell anyone. Scammers spoof real office numbers and use real agents' names.
Can a scam call really show the FBI's number?
Yes — scammers spoof caller ID, so your screen can show a real FBI office number during a fake call. Never trust the incoming number: hang up and call the agency on a number you look up yourself.
Your recent checks
On this device only — only the score and a 60-character preview are kept, never your full message.
FROM INGENIOUS AI
Scams start with a spoofed identity. DomainGuard watches for look-alike domains built to impersonate trusted organizations before scammers can use them.
Built by Ingenious AI. 100% client-side — your pasted text never leaves your browser. This tool screens for known scam patterns; it is not legal advice and cannot prove who sent a message. Sources: FBI Newark field office advisory (Sept 29, 2026); FBI IC3 PSA on law-enforcement impersonation (Sept 17, 2026); FBI 2025 Internet Crime Report.
What this tool does NOT do: it cannot trace a number, verify a caller's identity, or detect brand-new scam scripts. Only the agency itself can confirm contact is genuine.