Cactus

Is this text message a scam?

Paste a suspicious text, email, or chat message. Cactus checks it for the tricks scammers use - urgent threats, fake links, and requests for your information - and explains what it finds.

Your privacy
  • Your message is analyzed on our server only to produce this result. It is held in server memory for up to 24 hours so the optional "share this result" link works, then discarded - never logged and never written to a database.
  • When you analyze a message, Cactus checks up to 5 of its links the same way the Link Checker does: each is sent to Google Web Risk for a known-threat lookup, and Cactus may make a small HEAD request to follow redirects, plus an RDAP query for the domain's registration date. Links are never opened in a browser on your behalf.

Frequently asked questions

How can I tell if a text message is a scam?

Watch for urgency, a link (especially a shortened one), a request to verify an account or share a code, and a familiar brand or government name. Paste the message here and we'll point out the scam signs and explain each one.

What is smishing?

Smishing is phishing by text message (SMS). A scammer poses as a bank, courier, or government agency and pushes you to click a link or share personal information. The same tricks show up in chat apps and email too.

I received a scam text - what should I do?

Don't click links or reply. If it claims to be a company you use, contact them with a number you find yourself. In Canada you can forward scam texts to 7726 (SPAM) and report fraud to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

How our checks work