Scam Message Checker: SMS, WhatsApp, Telegram
Paste an SMS, WhatsApp, Telegram or email message and the checker reads its words for the habits scam messages share, rates it Low, Medium or High and marks the exact words behind each sign. It cannot see who sent it.
What it reads
Scam messages repeat themselves. The wording changes, but the habits stay: a request for a code or a PIN, a fee before you receive anything, a promise of fixed returns, a hurry, a threat, a link that hides where it goes, a file to install, a push to another chat. The checker has 24 checks, one for each habit, and runs them on whatever you paste. Each check lists the exact words it matched, so you can see where each warning came from.
It reads English and Hindi written in English letters. It reads words only. It cannot see who sent the message, whether the number is spoofed, or what is behind a link.
How to use it
- Copy the message. You can leave out names and numbers you would rather not type, because the wording is what counts.
- Paste it over the example in the box above, or press one of the example buttons to see another habit.
- Read the level first, then the message with the matched words marked, then the reasons underneath.
- Follow the steps under What to do. The advice changes with what was found.
A worked example
The page opens on an invented message offering a part-time job: earn ₹3,000 a day by liking videos, join a Telegram group at a shortened link, only 10 slots left, and a ₹500 registration fee “to activate your account”. The checker finds six signs: easy work paid per task (35 points), a promise of daily earnings (35), a registration fee (25), a shortened link (25), a move to another chat (15) and pressure to hurry (15). That is 150 points, capped at 100, so it reads High.
Another invented message, “Your OTP for login is 483921. It is valid for 10 minutes. Do not share it with anyone”, scores 0 and reads Low, because a warning is not a request. The checker skips a code request that sits inside a warning such as “do not share”, “never share” or “share na karein”, which is how bank alerts are usually worded.
What it looks for
Under 25 points is Low, 25 to 59 is Medium and 60 or more is High. Three signs are strong enough to make a message High on their own.
| Sign | Points |
|---|---|
| A request for a code, PIN or password (strong) | 60 |
| A claim that you must scan or enter a PIN to receive money (strong) | 60 |
| A demand to pay in before you can withdraw (strong) | 60 |
| A payment demanded up front | 45 |
| A request for card or bank details, a police or customs threat, a file or screen-sharing app to install, a link the link checker rates High | 40 each |
| Promised returns, easy work paid per task, a delivery code asked for | 35 each |
| A prize, a block threat, a call for secrecy, paid tips or signals | 30 each |
| A registration fee, a “new number” money request, a link the link checker rates Medium | 25 each |
| A KYC pretext, ID documents, a refund to act on, a claimed admin, a UPI payment link | 20 to 22 each |
| Pressure to hurry, a move to another chat | 15 each |
When a real message looks alarming
A delivery driver at your door may ask for a delivery code, so a code request in a sentence about delivery reads Medium instead of High, with a note on when it is fine to give it. An ordinary bank alert that says “do not share your OTP” reads Low. A real notice of a pending KYC can still pick up a few points, which is why Low and Medium call for a look rather than a decision.
What it cannot tell you
A message can be harmful without a single warning sign, and a Low result is not proof of who sent it. Neither the level nor the list of words replaces calling the sender on a number you already have. The link checker reads a web address, the UPI link decoder reads a payment link and the app permission checker explains what a file you were asked to install could do. Never send a password or code to anyone who messages you, and test a password idea with the password checker instead. Signal groups explains how paid-tip groups work, and what to do after a scam lists the first steps in order. If money has gone, call your bank straight away, then 1930, the national cyber-fraud helpline, and report it at cybercrime.gov.in. See all the free tools.
Common questions
Does a Low result mean a message really came from my bank?
No. Low means none of the usual scam habits showed up in the words. The checker cannot see who sent the message, and a careful scammer can write one with no warning signs at all. If you did not expect it, check with the sender on a number you already have.
Why did a message I expected read High?
The checker reads wording, not senders. A real message that asks you to share a code, pay a fee or click a link in a hurry has the same wording as a fake one. Call the number on the back of your card, or open the app yourself, instead of using anything in the message.
Why does the checker list the exact words it matched?
A score alone teaches nothing. Seeing “registration fee” or “share the OTP” marked in your own message shows you what to look for the next time, and lets you decide whether a match is fair.
Does it read messages in Hindi?
It reads English and Hindi written in English letters, such as “OTP bhejo”. A message in Devanagari or another script gets less out of it, because most of its rules are written for the Roman alphabet.
What should I do with a message that reads Medium or High?
Do not reply, tap a link, scan a code or pay. Block the sender and report the message inside the chat app. If you already paid or shared a code, call your bank at once, then call 1930, the national cyber-fraud helpline, and report it at cybercrime.gov.in.
Does the checker store or send what I paste?
No. It is code running in your browser. The message is read on your device and sent nowhere, so nothing is stored, logged or looked up. You can leave out names and numbers before you paste, because the wording is what it reads.