Scamwardenby Digital Safety & Recovery Australia

Is this message a scam? A calm way to check.

Got a text or email that doesn't feel quite right, or helping Mum or Dad with one? Take a breath. Most scam messages follow the same handful of patterns, and you can check for them in about two minutes.

Your privacy: this page never asks you to type or paste the message. You'll just answer yes-or-no questions about it. Nothing you do here is sent anywhere; it all stays on your device.

Answer what you can. If you're not sure about something, that's fine: choose "Not sure" and keep going.

About the message

1. Does it push you to act right away?

For example: threats of arrest, fines, or an account being closed; or a deadline of only hours. Scammers use urgency so you don't stop to think.

2. Does it ask for payment by gift card, cryptocurrency, or a bank transfer?

No real government agency, bank, or business asks to be paid in gift cards (like iTunes or Google Play cards) or cryptocurrency. Ever.

3. Does it contain a link you weren't expecting?

Especially a shortened link, or a web address that looks slightly odd: extra words, strange spelling, or a domain that doesn't match the organisation.

4. Does it claim to be from a well-known organisation?

Scammers often impersonate myGov, the ATO, banks, Australia Post, toll road companies, or the police. The real organisations are impersonated because people trust them.

5. Does it claim to be family texting from a new or unknown number, and ask for money or help?

Often starting "Hi Mum" or "Hi Dad", saying they've lost or broken their phone and urgently need money. This is a very common scam.

6. Does it ask for personal details, passwords, a PIN, or a one-time code?

A one-time code is the short number sent to your phone when you log in. No legitimate organisation will ever ask you to tell them that code.

7. Does it offer something unexpected that seems too good to be true?

A prize you didn't enter for, a surprise refund or rebate, or an investment with unusually high returns.

8. Did it arrive out of the blue, from a number or sender you don't know?

Unexpected contact isn't proof of a scam on its own, but it's a reason to slow down before replying or clicking anything.

9. Does it ask you to keep things secret, or to only talk by text or a chat app?

Scammers try to stop you checking with family, your bank, or anyone who might spot the scam. Secrecy is their friend, not yours.

Official help and reporting

These are the official Australian services. They are free and they are the ones to trust: