How do I check if a text message is a scam?

Paste the text message into our free scam scanner at cautellus.com. Our AI analyzes the language, links, and sender patterns to tell you instantly whether it is a known scam, phishing attempt, or safe message.

Is this email a phishing attempt?

Copy the full email text (or just the suspicious link) and paste it into Cautellus. The scanner checks for spoofed sender addresses, urgent language, malicious URLs, and other phishing red flags in seconds.

How can I tell if a website is fake?

Enter the URL into our scanner to check for domain spoofing, recently registered domains, missing SSL certificates, and known scam patterns. We cross-reference threat databases to flag fake shopping sites, impersonation pages, and phishing domains.

How do I detect AI-generated images and deepfakes?

Upload the image to our scanner and our multi-layer AI detection system analyzes it for signs of artificial generation. We check for deepfake artifacts, GAN fingerprints, and metadata inconsistencies to determine if an image is real or AI-generated.

What should I do if I clicked a scam link?

Change your passwords immediately, enable two-factor authentication, and monitor your bank statements for unauthorized transactions. Run a malware scan on your device and report the scam to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

How do I report a scam?

Report scams to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov, the FBI's IC3 at ic3.gov, or your local law enforcement. You can also submit a scam report on Cautellus to help warn others and improve our detection database.

The next generation in scam detection

The internet’s side-eye.

Feels off? Scan it before you trust it.

Is this a scam? Paste any text, link, email, screenshot, or AI image — Cautellus checks it against scam intelligence, breach data, and plain-English risk scoring.

Scan Something Suspicious ↓

Use Chrome? Add the extension →

No signup for your first scan. Submissions are analyzed in real time and discarded.

Quick scan

One free scan

Cautellus runs 7 layers of detection — domain age, sender, language, image forensics, pattern matching, and more.

We don’t store your input.

What can I scan?

Suspicious linkLink Weird text messageText Profile pictureImage Facebook MarketplaceText Email from your "bank"Text Screenshot of a DMScreenshot Job offer textText Dating app profileImage USPS / toll textText Investment pitchText QR code linkLink AI-generated photoImage

Live protection fieldOn the case

Cat status

On the case

Cautellus is ready. Paste something or drop a screenshot to get a second opinion.

0score

Risk state

Awaiting input

No scan yet — your feed is clean.

Scam Energy

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From the blog

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June 26, 2026Read more →

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Imposter Scams Stole $3.5 Billion Last Year. Here's What's Changed.

The FTC calls imposter scams the #1 fraud category for the ninth year running. $3.5 billion stolen in 2025. Here's what the current wave looks like — and what still gives them away.

June 24, 2026Read more →

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Amazon Prime Day Scams 2026: What to Watch For Today

Researchers tracked nearly 7,000 fake Amazon domains launched before Prime Day 2026. Here's how the scams work — and what to check before you click that deal.

June 23, 2026Read more →

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That Bitcoin ATM at the Gas Station? It's a Scam Machine.

Scammers stole $388 million through Bitcoin ATMs in 2025. Here's how it works, who gets hit hardest, and what to do after it happens.

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New

Fake DocuSign Email Scam: How to Verify Before You Click

Scammers send fake DocuSign emails that look identical to real e-signature requests — and some use DocuSign's own platform to do it. Here's what actually gives them away.

June 23, 2026Read more →

Urgency framingDomain mismatchSpoofed senderVoice-clone artifactsNewly registered domainELA inconsistenciesReused stock imageryPressure to verify

Why not just ask a chatbot?

Because scams need more than a smart guess.

ChatGPT and Claude can explain a suspicious message. Cautellus is built to check it.

We combine advanced AI with live scam intelligence, breach lookups, malicious-domain signals, source-backed risk scoring, and a workflow made for suspicious texts, links, emails, screenshots, and websites.

So instead of getting a vague “be careful,” you get a clearer answer:

What looks risky. Why it looks risky. What to do next.

A chatbot can…Cautellus can…

A chatbot can…Explain what a scam might look like

Cautellus can…Check live scam databases, reported numbers, and malicious domains

A chatbot can…Give general advice

Cautellus can…Score the actual message, link, email, screenshot, or website

A chatbot can…Guess based on training data

Cautellus can…Add breach signals and current threat patterns

A chatbot can…Sound reassuring

Cautellus can…Flag urgency, impersonation, spoofed domains, payment traps, and risky behavior

A chatbot can…Leave you with a paragraph

Cautellus can…Give a plain-English risk score and next steps

Feels off? Don't ask around. Scan it.

Check suspicious texts, links, emails, screenshots, and websites before you click.

Try a free scan

No tech skills needed. Paste it, upload it, or scan the page.

Same suspicion. Every surface.

Browser extension

One-click scam checks wherever you browse.

The Cautellus Chrome extension lets you check any link, message, phone number, or image for scams without ever leaving your browser.

Installs in seconds.

One click in the Chrome Web Store. No account needed to start.

Watches every site in real time.

The cat gives you a second opinion before you click, reply, or pay.

Flags before you click.

Domain checks, sender mismatches, and known scam patterns surface in-page.

How it works →

Pricing

Free first scan. Plus for the rest.

Try Cautellus on a single suspect text or link. When you’re ready for unlimited checks and the browser extension, Plus is $9.99/month.

Free$0

One scan every 30 days. Try it on a single suspect text.

Plus$9.99/mo

For people who get weird texts, shop online, use Facebook Marketplace, or help older family members avoid scams.

unlimited scam checks
Chrome extension
screenshot/image checks
breach checker
scam history
shareable warnings
family safety guide

See pricing →

Chrome Extension

The extension is the unlock.

Scan any page, link, message, or selected text in Chrome with one click — before you click, reply, or pay.

Get the extension →

Scam Energy

Results people actually want to share.

Cautellus turns scan results into fun, shareable “Scam Energy” cards so users can warn friends, post the lesson, and make scam awareness feel less scary and more social.