How to Check If a Message Is a Scam

We've all received messages that feel "off" — an unexpected text about a parcel delivery, an email from the tax office, a DM from someone claiming to be your bank. The challenge is knowing which ones are real and which are scams.

The Quick Check: Ask Arthur

The fastest way to check a suspicious message is to paste it into Ask Arthur at askarthur.au.

Here's how it works:

1. Copy the suspicious message — select the text from your email, SMS, or messaging app
2. Paste it into Ask Arthur — visit askarthur.au and paste the full message
3. Get an instant verdict — our AI analyses the message and returns a risk rating

Ask Arthur uses Anthropic's Claude AI combined with threat intelligence databases to identify scam patterns. It checks for known phishing URLs, brand impersonation, urgency tactics, and other red flags.

What to Look For Yourself

While AI tools like Ask Arthur can catch most scams, knowing the red flags helps you stay alert:

1. Urgency and Pressure

• "Act now or your account will be closed"
• "You have 24 hours to respond"
• "Immediate action required"

Legitimate organisations give you reasonable timeframes and don't threaten immediate consequences.

2. Requests for Personal Information

• Passwords, PINs, or security codes
• Tax File Numbers or Medicare numbers
• Banking details or credit card numbers

No legitimate company will ask for sensitive information via text, email, or unsolicited phone call.

3. Suspicious Links

• Shortened URLs (bit.ly, tinyurl.com)
• Domains that look similar but aren't right (ato-gov.com instead of ato.gov.au)
• Links with lots of random characters

4. Too Good to Be True

• "You've won a prize" (that you didn't enter)
• "Earn $5,000 per week working from home"
• "Investment guaranteed to double your money"

If it sounds too good to be true, it is.

5. Impersonation Clues

• Generic greetings ("Dear Customer") instead of your name
• Sender address doesn't match the claimed organisation
• Poor grammar or unusual formatting
• Logos or branding that look slightly wrong

Tools Available to Australians

Tool	What It Does	Cost
Ask Arthur (askarthur.au)	AI-powered scam analysis for text, images, QR codes	Free
Scamwatch (scamwatch.gov.au)	ACCC scam reporting and alerts	Free
Have I Been Pwned (haveibeenpwned.com)	Check if your email was in a data breach	Free
Google Safe Browsing	Built into Chrome — warns about dangerous websites	Free

When in Doubt

If you're unsure about a message:

1. Don't respond to it
2. Don't click any links in it
3. Check it with Ask Arthur at askarthur.au
4. Contact the organisation directly using their official phone number or website
5. Report it to Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au

It's always better to take an extra minute to verify than to fall for a scam. Stay safe.