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Scam Shield

Is this a scam?

Last verified 5 Jun 2026 · Source Action Fraud + NCSC + FCA + PSR

Paste the suspicious text, email, or message. Sorted checks it for the patterns scammers use, tells you how likely it is to be fake, and shows you the safest thing to do next. Free. No login. Your text stays in this browser.

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Before you act on anything that feels urgent. Real organisations — HMRC, banks, the police, Royal Mail, the DVLA, Amazon — do not pressure you to click a link or pay within minutes. If a message is making you feel panicked or rushed, that itself is the biggest red flag. Take a breath before doing anything they asked.

What did you receive?

Pick the channel, then paste the message exactly as you got it. Include the sender name, number, or email if you can — that helps catch impersonation patterns.

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Whatever name/brand the message shows at the top.
Paste the exact sender. Many scams use lookalike domains or unusual numbers.
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Red flags found

Do not, under any circumstances

    Safest things to do now

      Report it

      If you already responded or paid

      Does the message claim to be from a specific company? Check whether that company is real, active, and authorised to handle money — in 3 seconds, with sources. Check this firm →
      Sources:

      Sorted's scam check is based on common UK scam patterns published by NCSC, Action Fraud, and Citizens Advice. It cannot guarantee a message is or isn't a scam. If anything feels wrong, the safest action is always: don't click, don't pay, don't reply. Verify by going to the organisation's official website yourself, or by calling them on a number you find independently (not one in the message).

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      Is this a scam? How to check a message, letter or caller

      Scams work by creating urgency. If a message makes you feel you must act within minutes, that pressure is itself the strongest warning sign — genuine organisations give you time.

      Signs a message is fake

      A link that is not gov.uk or the organisation’s real domain. A request for bank details, passwords or a one-time code. Threats of arrest, court or immediate disconnection. A refund you did not expect. Poor spelling in an otherwise official-looking message. A phone number in the message rather than one you looked up yourself.

      What real organisations never do

      HMRC does not ask for bank details by text or email, and does not threaten arrest. The DWP does not ask for payment to release a benefit. Banks never ask you to move money to a “safe account” — that instruction is always a scam. The police do not ask you to withdraw cash to assist an investigation.

      Fake letters and cloned companies

      Scam letters copy real branding and reference numbers. Check the organisation independently rather than using the contact details on the letter, and verify the company against Companies House and the FCA register before paying anyone.

      If you have already paid or shared details

      Contact your bank immediately — most have a 24-hour fraud line, and money can sometimes be recalled if you act fast. Report it to Action Fraud, and change any password you have reused elsewhere. If you were pressured into a payment you may have grounds for reimbursement. See getting your money back.

      Check it here first

      Paste a suspicious message and Sorted checks it against known scam patterns in your browser. Nothing about that check leaves the page.