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Check a suspicious text, email or call before you click or pay

“I got a text, email or voicemail saying my package is stuck, my account is locked or I owe money, and I can't tell if it's real.”

A chat assistant can look at a screenshot of a suspicious message and point out the classic scam signs: urgency, odd links, strange payment requests, a sender that doesn't match. It can't prove a message is safe, but it helps you slow down and check with the real company the right way before you click, call back or pay.

Fix it yourself in 3 steps

Don't tap any link, call back the number in the message, or reply. Take a screenshot instead, and crop out your own phone number, email address and any account numbers.
Paste the prompt below with the screenshot, and read the list of warning signs it finds and what the message is trying to get you to do.
Check it yourself through a channel you trust: open the company's app or type its website address yourself, or call the number on the back of your card. If it was a scam, delete it and report it (forward scam texts to 7726 in the US, or use reportfraud.ftc.gov).

Copy this prompt

Help me check whether this message is a scam. Here is a screenshot: [attach screenshot]. I've covered my personal details. Do not open or visit any link in it. Tell me: 1) who the message claims to be from and what it wants me to do, in 2 sentences; 2) every warning sign you see (urgency or threats, a link or sender address that doesn't match the real company, requests for gift cards, crypto, wire transfers, codes or passwords, spelling or formatting oddities), quoting the exact words for each; 3) anything in it that looks normal for a real message from that company; 4) a verdict of "likely scam", "unclear" or "looks routine", with one sentence why. Then tell me how to check it with the real company without using anything from the message. Don't tell me it's definitely safe. Stop after the how-to-check steps.

Type your details in the boxes above the message, then tap Copy & open. Leave a box empty if you're not sure.

Tips from people who've done it

AI can spot warning signs, but it can't confirm a message is safe. The real check is contacting the company through its official app, a website you typed yourself, or the number on your card or statement.
Real banks, government offices and delivery companies don't ask for gift cards, crypto, wire transfers or one-time login codes by text or phone.
Never share a verification code someone texts or calls you about. That code is the key to your account.
If you already clicked or paid, call your bank or card company using the number on your card right away. This page explains warning signs; it is not legal or financial advice.

Agents people used for this: Grok Bot, ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude.

Quick answers

Can AI tell me if a text or email is a scam?

It can spot common warning signs. Attach a screenshot to Grok Bot, ChatGPT, Gemini or Claude and ask it to quote each red flag, like urgency, a mismatched link, or a request for gift cards or codes. It can't prove a message is safe, so check with the company directly.

How do I check a suspicious message safely?

Don't use the link or phone number in the message. Open the company's app, type its website yourself, or call the number on your card or statement, and ask whether the message is real.

Where do I report a scam text in the US?

Forward the text to 7726 (SPAM) and report it at reportfraud.ftc.gov. If you already paid or shared a code, call your bank or card company right away.

Tools for this

Good fit

Grok Bot

Best for: Chores that repeat — done for you

A helper that keeps doing everyday chores for you (paid Grok plan): show it a chore once — a morning brief, checking a bill, watching for a refund — and it keeps doing it while you're away, checking in only when it needs your OK. Works from the Grok app on your phone and computer (beta).

Visit Grok Bot ↗

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ChatGPT

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OpenAI's assistant with the broadest feature set: voice chats, image understanding and creation, web search, file analysis and a large app ecosystem.

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Gemini

Best for: Google Workspace users

Google's assistant, woven into Gmail, Docs, Drive and Android, with photo and file understanding and Deep Research. Strongest if you already live in Google's apps.

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Claude

Best for: Writing, analysis, code

Anthropic's chat assistant for writing, analysis and coding: upload long documents and files, keep work organized in Projects, and build documents and small apps as Artifacts, on web, desktop and phone.

Visit Claude ↗