Free AI Powered Tool

Scam SMS & WhatsApp Message Checker

Received a suspicious text message? Paste the SMS or WhatsApp message below, or upload a screenshot. We check 25+ fraud patterns and tell you in seconds whether it is safe or a scam.

SMS
WhatsApp
Bank Alert
TRAI / Govt
Prize / Lottery
Screenshot
Scam SMS & WhatsApp Message Checker
Fake Bank SMS KYC Scam Prize / Lottery Fake Job Offer Courier Scam

Analyzing...

No data stored Results in seconds Always free

How to Check if a Text Message is a Scam?

Paste any SMS or WhatsApp message, or upload a screenshot. We tell you if it is a scam in seconds.

1

Paste or Upload

Got a suspicious message? Either paste the text directly or switch to Screenshot Scan and upload an image. Takes five seconds.

2

AI Runs 25+ Checks

The moment you submit, our system starts scanning. Fraud keywords, fake links, OTP traps, bank impersonation, urgency tactics, fake job offers. All of it gets checked at the same time, not one by one.

3

Get Instant Verdict

No complicated report. Just a clear verdict, either SAFE or SCAM DETECTED, along with a trust score and the exact reasons behind it. Available in both English and Hindi.

4

Stay Protected

Now you know. Block it, ignore it, or report it. Whatever the situation calls for, you are making that decision with full information instead of just a gut feeling.

What We Analyse in Every SMS & WhatsApp Message

Our AI detects all fraud patterns scammers use in India, whether you paste the text or upload a screenshot.

Scam Keyword Detection

Scammers are not creative. They recycle the same words across millions of messages. KYC blocked, account suspended, claim your prize. We have built a library of hundreds of these phrases and we spot them the moment they appear.

Phishing Link Detection

Most people click the link before they even finish reading the message. That is exactly what scammers count on. We pull out every URL in the message and run it through phishing databases so you know what you are dealing with before your finger gets anywhere near it.

Urgency and Pressure Tactics

Your account will be closed in 24 hours. Act now or lose access. Last chance to claim. None of this is real but it works because it makes you panic. We flag every message that tries to rush you into doing something stupid.

Bank and Govt Impersonation

That message from SBI asking you to update your KYC? Probably not SBI. We check messages that pretend to be from banks, TRAI, RBI, and government portals because that is where most of the fraud in India happens.

OTP and Password Requests

Your bank will never text you asking for your OTP. Neither will any government body. If a message is asking for that, something is very wrong. We catch it and tell you straight.

Screenshot OCR Scanning

Some messages are impossible to copy as text. Just take a screenshot and upload it. We read it ourselves and run the full analysis on it, same result, no extra effort from you.

More Free Scam Detection Tools

ScamDekho covers all types of online fraud. Try our other free tools to stay protected.

UPI & QR Code Checker
Check any UPI ID or QR code before you pay
Website / URL Checker
Verify if a website or link is safe or phishing
Screenshot Scam Checker
Upload any screenshot to detect fake payment proofs
Job Offer Letter Checker
Detect fake job offers and fraudulent recruiters

Real Scam Messages That Fooled Indians

These cases are real and reported in trusted news sources. Each one started with a message or communication that looked completely legitimate.

BENGALURU

Fake reward link phishing scam

A man received a message about redeeming bank reward points. After clicking the link, scammers accessed his account and drained money.

⚠ Loss: ₹73,889

Source: Economic Times

PUNE

Email spoofing business scam

Scammers impersonated a foreign company via email and sent fake bank details. The firm trusted it and transferred money.

⚠ Loss: ₹73 lakh

Source: Times of India

MUMBAI

Money doubling investment scam

Fraudsters promised high returns and initially paid small profits. Later, they disappeared after collecting money.

⚠ Loss: ₹3.6 crore

Source: Times of India

Last updated: April 2026  ·  Reviewed by ScamDekho Research Team

How to Identify a Scam Text Message (Warning Signs)

Most people who get scammed did not think they were the type to fall for it. That is exactly the problem. These messages are not obviously fake. They are designed by people who do this full time and they are very good at it.

So what actually gives them away?

A scam message almost always wants one of three things from you. Your personal details, a click on a link, or your money. Everything else, the fake sender name, the official looking language, the urgent deadline, is just packaging to get you to one of those three things.

In India the most common ones look like this. Your bank texting you that your account is blocked and KYC needs to be updated immediately. A message from what appears to be TRAI saying your number will be disconnected in two hours. A WhatsApp message offering you Rs 8000 a day to do simple tasks from home. A prize message saying you won something and just need to share your Aadhaar to claim it. A courier company asking for a small fee to deliver a package you do not remember ordering.

Different stories, same ending.

Remember this always: Your bank will never text you asking for your OTP. The government will never WhatsApp you asking for your PIN. No real company sends you an unsolicited message and asks for payment on the spot. The moment a message makes you feel like something terrible will happen if you do not act in the next five minutes, stop. That panic is not accidental. Creating it is the whole strategy.

How to Use the Screenshot Scan Feature

Sometimes you cannot copy the text. Maybe the message came on someone else's phone, maybe it is on an older device, or maybe WhatsApp just will not let you select it. That is exactly what the Screenshot Scan tab is for.

This is especially useful for WhatsApp messages, SMS on older phones, or any message where copying text is difficult. If the message also contains a suspicious link, use our free fake website checker to verify the link separately. And if a UPI payment is involved, check the UPI ID on our UPI scam checker.

Every message you submit gets scanned across 25+ fraud patterns at once. Scam keywords, phishing links, urgency tactics, fake bank and government sender names. All of it checked before you click, call, or reply to anything.

Difference Between Smishing, Phishing and Vishing Messages

Most people have heard the word phishing. But fewer know that it has two close relatives that are just as dangerous and honestly far more common in India right now. Smishing hits you through SMS. Vishing comes through a phone call. All three are built on the exact same trick. Make you panic so badly that you act before your brain has a chance to catch up.

EMAIL

Phishing

Scammer sends a fake email pretending to be your bank, IRCTC, or Amazon. Contains a link to a fake website that steals your login details.

Common Example
Fake HDFC login page link sent via email
What They Want
Your banking username and password
SMS / WHATSAPP

Smishing

Phishing done via SMS or WhatsApp. The most common scam in India right now. Your phone feels personal and trusted scammers exploit that.

Common Example
Fake KYC expiry SMS pretending to be SBI
What They Want
OTP, card details, or a link click
PHONE CALL

Vishing

Voice phishing: scammer calls directly pretending to be a bank officer, CBI agent, or TRAI official. The most psychologically intense form of fraud.

Common Example
Fake CBI "digital arrest" call demanding money
What They Want
Direct bank transfer under pressure

All three work on the same principle. The urgency is manufactured. The threat is fake. The only real thing is the money you lose if you fall for it. If you receive a suspicious SMS or WhatsApp message, paste it in the checker above. If the message contains a link, check it separately on our free URL checker.

How to Report a Scam SMS to TRAI

India has an official system for reporting spam and scam SMS messages run by TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India). The number is 7726. Every message you forward goes into a database that TRAI and telecom companies use to identify and block spam senders. The more people report, the faster these numbers get blocked.

ANDROID
  1. Open your SMS app and find the scam message
  2. Long press on the message until a menu appears
  3. Tap Forward or Share
  4. In the To field, type 7726
  5. Also paste the sender's number in the message body
  6. Tap Send
IPHONE
  1. Open Messages app and find the scam SMS
  2. Press and hold the message bubble
  3. Tap More from the menu
  4. Tap the circle next to the message to select it
  5. Tap the forward arrow (bottom right)
  6. Type 7726 in the To field and send
WHATSAPP
  1. Open the WhatsApp chat with the scammer
  2. Tap and hold the suspicious message
  3. Tap the three dots or More
  4. Select Report
  5. WhatsApp will send last 5 messages to their safety team
  6. Block the number immediately after reporting

What happens after you report?

  • You will receive an acknowledgement SMS from 1909 confirming your complaint is registered. Save it.
  • If you lost money or shared personal details, also file a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930 immediately.
  • The TRAI complaint blocks the number for future victims. The cybercrime complaint is what gives you a chance to recover your money.

Also works for spam calls: You can report fraudulent calls to 7726 as well. Send an SMS to 7726 with the text CALL <10-digit number>. India's DND (Do Not Disturb) registry is managed through this same system.

What to Do If You Responded to a Scam Message

Already clicked the link? Shared your OTP? Sent money? Stop what you are doing and call your bank right now. Tell them what happened and ask them to freeze your account. Most banks can reverse a transaction if you catch it within 24 to 48 hours, but that window closes fast. After that, your options get very limited very quickly. Also call 1930 and file a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in. and before you forget, forward that scam message to 7726.

ScamDekho Research Team
Cybersecurity & Digital Fraud Analysts · Updated April 2026

Latest SMS & WhatsApp Scam Alerts in India

View All Articles →

Frequently Asked Questions

Paste the message into the checker above and click Check Now. Our AI analyzes scam keywords, phishing links, urgency tactics, and fraud patterns to give you a SAFE or SCAM verdict with detailed reasons in Hindi and English.
Yes. Click the Screenshot Scan tab and upload any image of a suspicious message. Our AI uses OCR to extract the text from the image and runs the full fraud analysis automatically. No need to type or paste anything.
Smishing (SMS + Phishing) is a type of phishing attack carried out through text messages. Regular phishing happens via email, while smishing happens through SMS or WhatsApp. Smishing is often more dangerous because people trust SMS more than emails.
Yes. ScamDekho works for any text including WhatsApp messages, SMS, Facebook messages, Instagram DMs, Telegram messages, and emails. Just copy-paste the message or use the Screenshot Scan tab to upload an image.
Stop all further communication immediately. If you shared bank details, call your bank right now to freeze your account. Change passwords for any compromised accounts. File a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930. Block the scammer's number. Act fast, every minute matters.
No. ScamDekho does not store, log, sell, or share any message or screenshot you submit. Your data is analyzed in real-time and never kept on record. Your privacy is fully protected.
Forward the spam SMS to 7726 (national SMS spam reporting service). Report online at cybercrime.gov.in or call the cyber crime helpline at 1930. This helps authorities track and shut down scam operations that target millions of Indians.
Copy the SMS text and paste it into our checker above. We scan for 25+ fraud indicators including scam keywords, phishing links, urgency tactics, and sender impersonation patterns. If the message claims to be from your bank or a government body, always verify by calling their official number — never use the number mentioned in the SMS itself.
Yes. Fake KYC update messages and bank alert scams are the most common fraud SMS types in India. Our AI is specifically trained to detect phrases like "your account will be blocked," "KYC update required," and "click here to verify" which are used in 90% of banking SMS scams.
Never click links in unexpected SMS messages, especially if they claim to be from a bank, courier company, or government body. Copy the link and check it on our free fake website checker instead. Legitimate companies send links only through their official apps or emails, not through random SMS.