Scam CheckerThe checker and articles are all free
Paste a suspicious SMS, email, or chat message, a URL you're unsure about, or a screenshot of one, and AI will assess the likelihood it's a scam. Any language is supported.
Please do not enter any personal or confidential information.
This is AI-generated guidance, not a guarantee. If you're still unsure, contact your local police or a consumer protection hotline.
WhatsApp has begun limited beta testing of a new 'Scam Alert' feature in mid-August that uses artificial intelligence to identify fraudulent messages from unknown contacts directly on users' devices. The technology maintains end-to-end encryption by analyzing messages locally rather than on external servers, protecting user privacy while detecting common scam patterns.
Read more →
Emerging ScamsA 69-year-old woman in New York was defrauded of approximately $5,000 in jewelry using a fake lottery ticket. Two men claimed they had a winning ticket but couldn't redeem it themselves due to immigration status, then tricked the victim by sending her to a pharmacy while they fled with the jewelry. Austria also warns of similar lottery-based scams requiring upfront payments.
Read more →
PhishingScam groups in Taiwan are targeting middle and elementary school students by impersonating friends on social media. They trick students into providing phone numbers and verification codes by claiming they need to borrow a phone or receive SMS messages, then use telecom billing services to make unauthorized purchases. Nearly 188 cases have been reported in the past three months.
Read more →
AI Voice ScamsU.S. consumer protection authorities and the Better Business Bureau warn of rising fraud schemes exploiting AI voice cloning technology. Scammers can replicate voices in 4-8 seconds to impersonate friends and family, demand money, and orchestrate insurance and charity fraud. Seniors are particularly vulnerable to these sophisticated attacks.
Read more →
Elder ScamsAn elderly woman in Hubei Province, China fell victim to an impersonation scam where fraudsters posing as medical insurance and police officials threatened her with legal consequences and demanded she transfer her life savings. Thanks to quick police intervention and family support, the 870,000 yuan was saved from being stolen.
Read more →
Romance ScamsA fraud ring in Vietnam's Nghe An Province operated an illegal bone and joint treatment clinic disguised as a spa, defrauding nearly 300 people of over 9 billion Vietnamese Dong through false claims of advanced treatments. The victims were predominantly elderly people seeking legitimate medical care.
Read more →Crypto ScamsArizona's Attorney General announced that 35 victims of cryptocurrency ATM fraud received full restitution totaling approximately $171,332. State law requires operators to provide complete refunds including fees for fraudulent transactions involving new customers (those using the service for less than 10 days). FBI data shows that in 2025, there were 13,460 crypto ATM-related complaints nationwide, with losses exceeding $388.98 million.
Read more →WhatsApp is rolling out 'Scam Alert,' a new feature that uses machine learning to detect fraudulent messages directly on users' phones without sending conversations to Meta's servers. The optional feature analyzes incoming messages from unknown contacts and flags suspicious content associated with common scams like money requests and fake investments.
Read more →US singer and actress Selena Gomez and her mother face a lawsuit over investment fraud and breach of contract related to their mental health startup "Wondermind." Investors claim they invested approximately $1.2 million while the company failed to meet obligations and Gomez did not fulfill promised promotional commitments.
Read more →
Investment ScamsHong Kong police reported 2,151 investment fraud cases in the first half of 2026, resulting in HK$1.65 billion in losses. In approximately 97% of cases, scammers impersonate investment experts and attract victims through social media, promoting guaranteed-profit investment products. When victims attempt to withdraw their principal, the trading platform disappears.
Read more →A trader on the Hyperliquid platform lost $550,000 after accessing a phishing site displayed in Google search ads. Cryptocurrency-related phishing attacks using malicious Google advertisements are increasing significantly, with security experts warning users to avoid search engines and verify official URLs carefully.
Read more →Romance ScamsA Nigerian national residing in Georgia was convicted of money laundering involving over $2.7 million obtained from romance scam victims. The scheme targeted elderly individuals between April 2020 and September 2021, with fraudsters posing as romantic partners to extract funds.
Read more →
Crypto ScamsMalaysian authorities conducted a major raid on crypto scam operations at Forest City in Johor in July 2026, arresting 335 suspects across 32 locations. Most perpetrators were foreign nationals, primarily from China, with seized assets valued at approximately 2.45 million USD. The abandoned luxury development provided ideal conditions for criminal operations.
Read more →Investment ScamsTaiwan's Keelung District Prosecutors' Office has indicted two women for a jewelry investment scam targeting military and police officers. The scheme falsely claimed jewelry had investment value and encouraged victims to take out high-interest loans. A total of 29 victims lost over NT$26 million.
Read more →
Elder ScamsPolice in Franconia, Germany are warning about a surge in fraud targeting elderly residents. Criminals are impersonating utility workers or tradespeople to gain entry to homes, then stealing cash and jewelry. Multiple incidents have been reported in recent weeks.
Read more →Crypto ScamsArizona's cryptocurrency ATM refund law has helped 35 fraud victims receive a total of $171,332 in refunds since its implementation in September 2025. Eligible new customers can obtain full refunds if they report the fraud within 30 days and comply with reporting requirements.
Read more →
Investment ScamsA 70-year-old Brazilian retiree lost over 37 million reais after falling victim to a fake investment scheme. Police launched "Operation Criptoabate" targeting 18 suspects involved in electronic fraud and money laundering. Investigators identified approximately 140 potential additional victims using the same fraudulent tactics.
Read more →
PhishingIsrael is experiencing a sharp increase in SMS phishing attacks, with fraudsters impersonating legitimate companies to steal banking credentials and verification codes. Malicious links have become increasingly sophisticated, using AI and social engineering techniques. Over 73% of fraudulent transactions occur after victims voluntarily disclose their information.
Read more →
Investment ScamsKorean police arrested an investment fraud ring that stole over 1.5 billion won by exploiting the recent stock market investment craze. The perpetrators created fake stock apps and promised high returns to deceive victims into surrendering cash and gold bars. Police cleverly used AI-generated fake gold bar photos to catch eight suspects and recovered approximately 250 million won.
Read more →
PhishingAccording to a fraud prevention specialist from a provincial bank in Argentina, modern cybercrimes no longer focus on hacking bank systems but manipulating users into surrendering credentials and sensitive data. Social engineering tactics are increasingly diverse and affect victims across all age groups.
Read more →