Free Online Scam Detector — AI-Powered
Got a suspicious email, text, or DM? Not sure if something is a scam? Scamometer is a free AI-powered online scam detector that analyzes any message and gives you an instant scam probability score from 0 to 100 — with specific red flags explained in plain English.
Americans lost $12.5 billion to scams in 2024 (FTC data), and AI-generated scam messages have increased 72% since 2023. Scammers are smarter than ever — but so is our scanner.
No signup required. No app to install. Just paste any suspicious message and know in seconds whether it's a scam.
Check Any Message Instantly — Free
Paste any suspicious email, text, DM, or URL. Get your scam probability score in seconds. 3 free scans per day.
Scan a Message Now — FreeHow the Online Scam Detector Works
Paste the Suspicious Message
Copy any email, text message, DM, WhatsApp forward, social media message, or URL that seems suspicious. Paste it into Scamometer's scanner.
AI Analyzes for Scam Patterns
Our AI examines language patterns, urgency signals, emotional manipulation, link characteristics, sender patterns, and known scam templates to assess the message.
Get Your Scam Score 0-100
Receive an instant scam probability score with specific red flags explained. Understand exactly why the message is suspicious — or why it's likely safe.
Types of Scams Our AI Detects
Scamometer is trained to identify all major scam categories. Here are the most common scam types and how they work:
📧 Phishing Emails
3.4 billion/dayFake emails impersonating banks, Amazon, PayPal, Netflix, the IRS, or your employer. They want your login credentials, financial info, or to install malware.
"Your account has been locked due to suspicious activity. Click here to verify your identity immediately."
📱 SMS & Text Scams (Smishing)
87 billion texts/yearFake delivery notifications, bank alerts, toll fees, or "wrong number" romance setups. All designed to get you to click a malicious link or reply with personal info.
"USPS: Your package cannot be delivered. Update your address: [suspicious link]"
💕 Romance Scams
$1.3B lost/yearFake online relationships built over weeks or months, eventually leading to requests for money. Crypto romance scams (pig butchering) are the fastest-growing variant.
"I'm stuck overseas and need $2,000 for a flight home. I'll pay you back as soon as I arrive."
📈 Investment & Crypto Scams
$4.6B lost/yearFake trading platforms, guaranteed returns, pig butchering schemes, and pump-and-dump crypto tokens. The #1 most financially devastating scam category.
"I made $50K in one week with this AI trading bot. Join my exclusive group — only 10 spots left."
🖥️ Tech Support Scams
$924M lost/yearPop-ups claiming your computer is infected, fake virus alerts, calls from "Microsoft" or "Apple." They want remote access to your machine and your credit card.
"⚠️ CRITICAL ALERT: Your computer has been compromised. Call 1-800-XXX-XXXX immediately."
💼 Job & Employment Scams
Rising 118% YoYFake job offers requiring upfront equipment fees, personal info for "background checks," or reshipping packages (becoming a money mule without knowing it).
"Congratulations! You've been selected for a $85/hr remote position. Please purchase your starter kit ($299)."
🏠 Rental & Marketplace Scams
$1.1B lost/yearToo-good-to-be-true apartment listings, fake sellers on Facebook Marketplace, overpayment scams with fake checks, and deposit theft for properties that don't exist.
"Beautiful 2BR downtown, $800/mo. I'm overseas but can ship you the keys if you wire the deposit."
🎁 Prize & Lottery Scams
780K reports/year"You've won!" messages requiring a fee, tax payment, or personal info to claim a prize you never entered. If you didn't enter, you didn't win.
"You've been selected as the Google user of the day! Claim your $1,000 gift card now."
Red Flag Signals Scamometer Analyzes
| Signal | Example | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Extreme urgency | "Act NOW or your account will be permanently closed in 24 hours!" | High |
| Unsolicited money/prizes | "You've won $50,000!" from a contest you never entered. | Critical |
| Requests for personal info | SSN, bank details, passwords, or one-time codes via message. | Critical |
| Unusual payment methods | Gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or Zelle to strangers. | Critical |
| Suspicious links | Shortened URLs, misspelled domains (amaz0n-secure.com), or mismatched URLs. | High |
| Emotional manipulation | Playing on fear, greed, love, sympathy, or authority to bypass critical thinking. | High |
| Too-good-to-be-true offers | Guaranteed returns, free products, easy money — if it sounds impossible, it is. | Medium |
| Grammar & formatting issues | Random capitalization, spelling errors, awkward phrasing — hallmarks of mass-produced scams. | Medium |
| Impersonation attempts | Claiming to be from a real company but using a different email domain/phone. | High |
| Pressure to keep secret | "Don't tell anyone about this opportunity" — isolation is a key manipulation tactic. | High |
Scamometer vs. Manual Checking vs. Googling
You could Google the message, read forums, and try to figure it out yourself — but that takes time and isn't reliable for new scams. Here's how our online scam checker tool compares:
| Feature | Scamometer | Manual Checking | Googling It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed | ~10 seconds | 5-15 minutes | Variable, often inconclusive |
| Accuracy | AI multi-factor analysis | Depends on experience | Only works for known scams |
| Detects new scams | ✅ Pattern-based | ❌ Only if you've seen it before | ❌ Only if reported |
| Explains red flags | ✅ Detailed breakdown | Depends on knowledge | ❌ No analysis |
| Works on any message type | ✅ All formats | ✅ But slow | ⚠️ Mostly email |
| Cost | Free (3/day), $4.99/mo Pro | Free but time-consuming | Free but unreliable |
Why Use an Online Scam Detector?
AI-Powered
Advanced AI analyzes manipulation patterns, language cues, and psychological tactics that humans often miss.
Instant Results
Get your scam probability score in under 10 seconds. No waiting, no searching, no uncertainty.
Free to Use
3 free scans per day. Cancel anytime. No signup. Just paste and scan.
All Message Types
Works with emails, texts, DMs, WhatsApp messages, social media posts, and URLs — any suspicious content.
Red Flag Explanations
Don't just get a number — understand exactly which elements are suspicious and why.
Private
Messages are analyzed in real-time and not stored. Your suspicious messages stay private.
Who Needs a Scam Checker Online?
👵 Protecting Family Members
Seniors are disproportionately targeted by scammers. Send them Scamometer so they can check any suspicious message before acting on it.
👤 Anyone Who Uses Email/Text
If you receive emails or texts, you're a target. AI scams are so sophisticated now that even tech-savvy people get fooled.
🏪 Small Business Owners
Business email compromise (BEC) costs companies $2.7B/year. Check suspicious vendor emails, invoice requests, and wire instructions before acting.
💼 HR & IT Teams
Train employees by running phishing simulations through Scamometer. Understand what red flags the AI catches so your team can learn to spot them too.
What to Do If You've Been Scammed
- Stop all contact with the scammer immediately. Block their number/email.
- Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
- Contact your bank to freeze accounts and dispute unauthorized charges.
- Change all passwords on any accounts that may be compromised.
- File a police report — especially for identity theft or losses over $1,000.
- Place a credit freeze at Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion to prevent identity theft.
Is This a Scam? Find Out in Seconds.
Don't spend 30 minutes Googling. Paste the message and get an AI analysis instantly. Free, private, no signup.
Check If It's a Scam →3 free scans per day. Unlimited with Pro ($4.99/mo).
Online Scam Detector — Frequently Asked Questions
What is an online scam detector?
An online scam detector is a tool that analyzes suspicious messages — emails, texts, DMs, or URLs — to determine whether they're scams. Scamometer uses AI to examine language patterns, urgency signals, known scam templates, and manipulation tactics to give you a probability score from 0 to 100.
How does Scamometer's AI detect scams?
Our AI analyzes multiple dimensions of a message: language patterns and urgency cues, emotional manipulation tactics, link analysis, sender characteristics, similarity to known scam templates, and social engineering signals. It combines these factors into a probability score with specific red flags explained.
Is Scamometer free to use?
Yes. You get 3 free scam checks per day — no signup required. Cancel anytime. For unlimited scans plus features like scan history and priority analysis, Scamometer Pro is just $4.99/month.
What types of scams can it detect?
Scamometer detects phishing emails, text message scams (smishing), romance scams, investment/crypto scams, tech support scams, job scams, rental scams, prize/lottery scams, impersonation scams, and more. The AI is trained on real-world scam data and can identify both known and novel scam patterns.
Can scammers fool the AI?
No tool is 100% perfect, but Scamometer analyzes fundamental patterns of manipulation that are extremely difficult to avoid while still running a scam (urgency, information requests, payment methods). The score should be one input in your decision — combined with your own judgment.
Is my message data private?
Yes. Messages you submit are analyzed in real-time and are not stored permanently. We don't sell data or share your submissions with third parties. Your privacy is protected.
What should I do if I've already been scammed?
1) Stop all contact with the scammer. 2) Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. 3) Contact your bank to freeze accounts and dispute charges. 4) Change all passwords. 5) File a police report. 6) Place a credit freeze at Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
Does it work on messages in other languages?
Currently Scamometer works best with English-language messages. Support for additional languages is planned. However, many scam patterns (urgency, unusual payment requests) are language-agnostic and may still be detected.
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© 2026 Scamometer · Free AI Online Scam Detector · scamometer.io
Scamometer uses AI to analyze messages for scam patterns. Results are informational — always exercise your own judgment.