Can the checker guarantee a message is safe?

No. The checker gives general guidance only and cannot guarantee accuracy. Verify through official channels and get help if unsure.

How to Check a Suspicious SMS Before You Click

A simple first check for strange SMS, email and popup messages.

Scam Help helps Australians choose the right next step before they click, before they pay, after they click, or when they need to report.

Stop. Check. Ask Your IT & Tech Mates.

Suspicious SMSBest for: any text message that feels urgent, strange or unexpected.Use the checker first, then match the closest guide.

Quick answer

Do not click first. Look for urgency, links, payment requests and requests for codes. Use the checker before replying, paying or installing anything.

30 second decision

Should I click, reply or pay?

Do not click links, reply with private details, pay money or install software from this message.

Check

Use the checker first, then match the closest guide.

Help

If someone already clicked, paid, entered details or installed remote access, start Quick Help.

Check this message now

Example message

“Your parcel has a fee. Pay now to avoid return: bit.ly/xyz”

This is a general example only. Do not paste passwords, codes, banking details, card numbers, Medicare details, licence numbers or confidential business records into any public tool.

Warning signs

Unknown or shortened links
Urgent wording like final notice or act now
Payment, password or code requests
Sender does not match the real company

What to do now

Do not click the link yet
Open the official app or website yourself
Paste only the suspicious wording into the checker
Ask for help if you already clicked

Australia reporting step

Report or verify through Australian official channels

If the message looks like a scam, keep the message as evidence and report it through Australian Government scam and cyber reporting services. These links open official external sites.

Report a scam to Scamwatch Report cybercrime at cyber.gov.au Read Australian scam guidance

If money, cards, banking, myGov, Medicare, ID documents or business account access were involved, contact your bank or the relevant official service directly first.

Free tool

Check the message before you act

Paste the suspicious wording into the free Scam SMS & Email Checker. It gives general guidance only and cannot guarantee accuracy.

Check a scam message

Why this helps

Built for real users, not security experts.

This short guide is written for family members, seniors, students, workmates and small business owners who need a plain-English answer quickly. It links to the free checker for a risk score and to Quick Help for serious cases.

Plain-English warning signsSafe next stepShare without private detailsLocal help path

Related Scam Help

Is this guide a guarantee?

No. It is general guidance only. Always verify through official channels. In Australia, report scams to Scamwatch and report cybercrime through cyber.gov.au if you clicked, paid, entered details or installed remote access software.