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.

Cautellus uses advanced AI plus live scam intelligence, breach checks, and plain-English risk scoring to check suspicious texts, links, emails, screenshots, and websites.

Smarter than asking ChatGPT or Claude alone. See why ↓

Scan Something Suspicious ↓Add Chrome Extension

Your first scan is free — or start a 7-day free trial of Plus for unlimited scans. Cancel anytime before it ends and you won’t be charged.

No signup for first scan. We don’t store your input. Images are processed in real time and discarded.

With the Chrome extension, scan suspicious pages, links, and messages without leaving your browser.

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

“”

From the blog

Latest Scam Alerts

View all →

New

Cash Courier Scam: Your Bank Didn't Send That Person to Your Door

Scammers call pretending to be your bank or the FBI, convince you to withdraw cash, then send someone to pick it up. Here's exactly how the cash courier scam works.

June 8, 2026Read more →

New

An AI Just Handed Hackers a Stack of Verified Instagram Accounts. Here's How to Keep Yours Off the Next List.

Attackers took over high-profile Instagram accounts in June 2026 without cracking a single password — they just asked Meta's AI support bot. Here's why 2FA is now the floor, not the finish line, and how to actually lock your accounts down.

June 5, 2026Read more →

New

Fake FTC Agent Texts You a Photo ID. It's a Scam.

Scammers are impersonating FTC employees and texting fake photo ID badges to 'prove' they're legit. Here's exactly how this recovery scam works — and what to do.

June 5, 2026Read more →

New

Fake Reviews Are Everywhere. Here's How to Spot Them.

The BBB just warned that nearly 90% of us read reviews before buying — and AI fake reviews are getting harder to spot. Here's what actually gives them away.

June 4, 2026Read more →

New

Got an Amazon Verification Code You Didn't Request? Here's the Scam

Unexpected Amazon OTP texts aren't glitches — they're the setup for an account takeover. Here's exactly what's happening and what to do right now.

June 3, 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.