What to do
- Do not tap the link, call the number in the message, or reply.
- If it claims to be your bank, a delivery company, a tax office or a shop, contact them yourself, using their own app, or the number on your card or on their official website that you type in yourself.
- If it claims to be a family member on a new number, call them on the number you already have for them, or ask a question only they would know.
- Never share a code sent to your phone, and never pay with gift cards, vouchers or cryptocurrency because someone asked you to.
- If you already paid or shared your card details, phone your bank now on the number on the back of your card. The guide I already paid or gave my details lists the next steps.
- In the United States you can forward a scam text to 7726 (the letters SPAM) and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Other countries are listed on the official help page.
Keep a message check like this on your own phone. Family Safety Tools puts it and 14 more checks in one folder that works with the internet off, for you and the people you love.
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Your files stay on this device
The page reads your files into memory in this tab and does the work there. Nothing is uploaded, emailed or copied to a server. The page’s security setting (a Content Security Policy) also stops it from sending anything out, and its libraries load from the same site as the page.
- No waiting queue and no cloud folder.
- Press Reset or close the tab, and the files are gone from memory.
- You can test it: switch the wifi off once the page has loaded, and it still works.
What the check looks for
It looks for patterns that appear again and again in scam messages: a fee to release a parcel, a prize or a job; an unpaid toll or fine; a warning that your bank account is locked; a request to move money to a “safe account”; a family member on a new number; payment by gift card, cryptocurrency or a money transfer service; a request to install a remote-control app; a code sent to your phone; promises of guaranteed returns; and a friendly message from a stranger who says they have the wrong number.
Why so many scams start with a wrong number
The Federal Trade Commission, the United States consumer protection agency, describes “wrong number” texts that start as a seemingly misdirected message and grow into a friendly or romantic conversation that leads to investment and other scams. The guide Why do scam texts start with “wrong number”? explains the pattern.
What this check cannot do
It reads words, not intentions, so a new kind of scam can get past it and a genuine message can trigger a warning. It does not open links. It is a second pair of eyes before you act, not a guarantee.
Questions and answers
How can I tell if a text message is a scam?
Look for a request to pay, tap a link, call a number, share a code or move money, especially with a deadline. Paste the message on this page to see which known scam signs it contains, then contact the company yourself through its own app or website before you do anything.
Is it safe to paste a scam text here?
Yes. The message is read inside your browser and stays on your device. Pasting text does not open any link in it.
Should I reply to a wrong number text?
No. You do not need to correct a stranger. Delete the message, block the number and report it. Many investment and romance scams begin with a friendly message sent to the wrong number.
What should I do if I already tapped the link?
Close the page. If you typed a password, change it on the real website. If you gave card details or paid, phone your bank using the number on the back of your card. The guide I clicked a link in a text message has the full steps.
Who made this?
UtilForge makes it. UtilForge is a website of free cybersecurity tools and small calculators. The About page explains why the tools were made, and the Contact page is the way to reach us.
Is this a scam site?
A person does not have to take UtilForge's word for it, so here are things to check. This page does not ask for payment, an account or card details. The check is free. UtilForge also sells optional packs of tools separately, on Gumroad, and this tool works without them. The page carries a security setting (a Content Security Policy, a rule the browser enforces) that forbids it from sending anything out, so your files cannot be uploaded from here. To test it, open the page, switch the wifi off and use the tool. It carries on working, because the page and its libraries are already on your device.
What happens when I close the page?
Nothing is kept. While the page is open, your files sit in the memory of the browser tab. The page does not use cookies, local storage, session storage or IndexedDB (the browser's built-in database), and it puts nothing about your files in the page address. Closing the tab, or pressing Reset, drops them from memory. The one thing that stays is a file you save yourself with the Download button. Your original files are never changed.
Does it cost anything, and do I need to sign in?
No. The check is free, and you can start straight away. UtilForge also sells optional packs separately, such as Redaction Studio ($29 to own) and Family Safety Tools (pay what you want, including nothing). This tool does not need either.
Using these checks often?
Family Safety Tools puts all fifteen checks in one folder on your own device, so they work with the internet off. Pay what you want, including nothing.
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