How to Detect Scam Messages: Complete Guide
Online scams are growing faster than ever. Whether it's a suspicious WhatsApp message, a fake OLX buyer, a phishing email, or a fake courier SMS — knowing the signs can save you real money. This guide covers the most common scam types and how to spot them.
Paste any message and get a risk verdict in seconds.
Check a suspicious message — freeMarketplace scams (OLX, Facebook Marketplace, eBay)
The most common scenario: you're selling an item and a "buyer" contacts you saying they can't meet in person. They send a link to a fake page mimicking the marketplace or a bank, asking you to "confirm" you'll receive the money by entering your card details.
- Legitimate platforms never ask for card details to receive money
- Always verify the URL — scam links use lookalike domains
- Any payment request outside the official platform is a red flag
- Scammers create false urgency: "you must confirm in 30 minutes"
Fake courier scams
You receive an SMS or WhatsApp claiming to be from a courier: "your package is held, pay a £2 customs fee". The link leads to a fake payment page that steals your card details. Real couriers never request payment via WhatsApp links.
- Go directly to the official courier website — never click the link
- Real customs fees are collected at the door, not via SMS links
- Check the sender number against the official courier's published contacts
Phishing emails and SMS
Messages pretending to be from your bank, HMRC/IRS, Netflix, Amazon, or other trusted services. They ask you to "verify your account" or "update payment details". The fake page looks identical to the real one — but the URL is different.
- Always check the full URL before entering any data
- Banks never ask for your password by email or SMS
- When in doubt, open the official app directly — don't click the link
Romance and advance-fee scams
These scams build emotional trust over days or weeks before requesting money. The "advance-fee" variant promises a large sum if you pay a small fee first. Once paid, more fees appear or the scammer disappears.
- Never send money to someone you haven't met in person
- Requests for gift cards, crypto, or wire transfers are classic scam signals
- Legitimate organizations don't ask you to pay to receive money
Universal red flags — applies to any suspicious message
- Artificial urgency: "act now", "offer expires in 10 minutes"
- Request for card number, password, or OTP code
- Payment outside the official platform (crypto, wire transfer, gift cards)
- Suspicious links with unusual domains (not the official service domain)
- Poor grammar or machine-translated text
- Moving the conversation to WhatsApp or Telegram
- Unrealistic promises: huge winnings, products at 10% of market value
- Secrecy requests: "don't tell anyone about this"
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if a message is a scam?
Paste the message into AlertBlink and get a risk score and full analysis in seconds. The app automatically detects fraud signals and identifies the scam type.
What should I do if I already gave my card details?
Contact your bank immediately and request a card block. Call the number on the back of your card — not any number from the suspicious message.
Does AlertBlink store my messages?
No. Messages are analyzed and discarded. Results are generated instantly and nothing is saved on our servers.
Is the basic scan really free?
Yes. The initial risk score and scam type detection are completely free. Unlocking the full detailed report (red flags breakdown, recommended action, AI summary) costs €2.99 once.