Scam Message Checker - Is This Text, Email or WhatsApp a Scam?

Paste the message and get a verdict, a risk score, the exact words that give it away, what to do next and a safe reply. Trained on the patterns behind Dutch and international fraud: the fake bank helpdesk, the child with a new number, the parcel fee, the DigiD and tax refund links, the Marktplaats payment request.

How Scam Messages Work, and Why a Second Opinion Helps

Almost every scam message runs on the same four levers: urgency (pay today, your account closes in an hour), fear or reward (a fine, a refund, a prize), a request for something a real sender would never ask for that way (a code, a password, money to a new account), and a route that bypasses the channels you already trust (a link in the message, a number to call back, a new WhatsApp number). Dutch readers know the local shapes: the fake bank helpdesk that wants money moved to a safe account, the child with the broken phone, the Tikkie or iDEAL link for a parcel fee, the DigiD or Belastingdienst refund, the Marktplaats buyer who insists on a payment link. The checker names the pattern when it recognises one and quotes the exact words that carry each signal, so you can see the reasoning instead of taking a score on faith.

The advice it gives is deliberately boring: verify through a channel you already have, do not pay, click or share codes, and report. A message that turns out to be real loses nothing by a five-minute check; a scam loses everything. When the verdict is likely legitimate, that still means legitimate-looking. The message is sent to ToolForte for the check and is not stored; the same checker is available to scripts and AI agents through the ToolForte REST API and MCP server as check_scam_message.

How the Scam Message Checker Works

  1. 01Paste the message exactly as you received it, and say where it arrived: SMS, WhatsApp, email, a call, social media or a website.
  2. 02Add the sender as shown, if you have it. A number or address that does not fit the claimed sender is one of the strongest signals.
  3. 03The checker returns a verdict, a risk score, the pattern it recognises and every signal with the words quoted from the message.
  4. 04Follow the actions in order: verify through a channel you already trust, never through the message; do not pay or share codes; report. Use the safe reply if you must answer.

The Patterns Behind Most Scam Messages

Scams change their story but not their mechanics. There is pressure (today, within the hour, before your account is blocked), a hook (a fine, a refund, a prize, a child in trouble), a request a real sender would never make that way (a code, a password, money to a new account, a payment link for a parcel), and a route around the channels you trust (a link in the message, a call-back number, a new WhatsApp number). Dutch readers see local versions: the bank helpdesk that wants money moved to a safe account, hoi mam and hoi pap with a new number, a Tikkie or iDEAL link for a parcel fee, DigiD or Belastingdienst refunds, CJIB fines, Marktplaats buyers pushing a payment link. The checker names the pattern and quotes the evidence, so you see why rather than just a score.

When to Use This Tool

When a message asks for money, a code or personal data and something feels off. When a parent, grandparent or colleague forwards you a message and asks whether it is real. When you already replied and want to know how much trouble you are in. And when you want a short, calm reply that gives nothing away. It is a second opinion, not a verdict from your bank: when money is involved, call the number on your card.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the message stored?→
The message is sent to ToolForte for the check and is not kept afterwards. The same checker is available to scripts and AI assistants through the ToolForte REST API and MCP server as check_scam_message.
Can it be wrong?→
Yes, both ways. A real message from a bank that asks you to call can look suspicious, and a well-made scam can look clean. Treat the verdict as a reason to verify through a channel you already trust, never as proof.
Does it work for Dutch messages?→
Yes. It knows the Dutch patterns by name and answers in the language of the message, or in the language you choose.
What should I do if I already paid or clicked?→
Call your bank immediately using the number on your card or their app, change the passwords involved, and report to fraudehelpdesk.nl and the police. The checker's action list covers this when it applies.

Related tools

12 suggested