Bank Alert
High Risk
"Your account has been compromised. Click here immediately to secure it or all funds will be lost within 2 hours."
Paste a suspicious message.
See what it is really doing.
Copy the full text of any text message, email, or social media message that feels off. The decoder will highlight each manipulative phrase, name the tactic, and tell you how to respond safely.
Risk Level
Suggested Safe Response
Common Scam Patterns
These are real-world examples of scam messages with each tactic labeled. Browsing these helps you recognize the patterns the next time something lands in your inbox.
Package Delivery
High Risk
"Your package could not be delivered. Confirm your address and pay a $2.99 redelivery fee at the link below."
Prize Winner
Medium Risk
"Congratulations! You have won a $500 gift card. Claim it now before it expires. Over 10,000 people have already claimed theirs."
Tax Refund
High Risk
"You are eligible for a $1,247 tax refund. Verify your Social Security number to process the payment within 24 hours."
Romance Scam
Medium Risk
"I saw your profile and felt an instant connection. I am stuck overseas and need help with a small transfer. Can you send $500? I will pay you back double."
Tech Support
High Risk
"We have detected a virus on your computer. Call this number immediately to prevent all your files from being deleted."
Printable Reference Card
Print this one-page card and keep it near your computer or phone. It lists the top 10 manipulation tactics scammers use and what each one is designed to do.
Top 10 Manipulation Tactics
v1.0 · 2026- Urgency — "Act now or else." Designed to stop you from thinking clearly.
- Authority — "This is the IRS / your bank / the police." Pretends to be someone you trust.
- Fear — "Your account will be closed." Threatens a bad outcome to force action.
- Reward — "You won a prize." Promises something for free to get your attention.
- Curiosity — "You won't believe this." Uses vague hooks to make you click.
- Social Proof — "Thousands have already claimed." Makes it seem normal and safe.
- Personal Info Requests — "Verify your SSN." Asks for data only you should have.
- Link Pressure — "Click here immediately." Wants you to visit a fake site.
- Too-Good-To-Be-True — "Double your money." Offers unrealistic returns.
- Isolation — "Do not tell anyone." Tries to keep you from asking for help.
Safe Response Templates
When you are not sure if a message is real, use one of these templates. They help you verify without giving away personal information or clicking suspicious links.
Bank or Financial Message
You get a text saying your bank account is locked.
Do: Open your banking app directly or call the number on the back of your card.
Do not: Click any link in the text or reply with account details.
Say: "I received a message about my account. Can you confirm if you sent it?"
Prize or Lottery Win
You get an email saying you won something you never entered.
Do: Delete the message. Real lotteries do not ask you to pay fees to claim.
Do not: Send money, gift cards, or personal information.
Say: Nothing. Just delete it.
Package Delivery
A text says a package could not be delivered and asks for a fee.
Do: Check your order status on the retailer's official website.
Do not: Pay a redelivery fee through a link in a text.
Say: "I will check my order status on the official site."
Tech Support Call
Someone calls saying your computer has a virus.
Do: Hang up. Real tech companies do not make unsolicited calls.
Do not: Give remote access or pay for "support."
Say: "I will contact the company directly if I need help." Then hang up.
When Real Messages Look Like Scams
Some legitimate messages use similar wording to scams. Here is how to tell the difference without ignoring something important.
Real Fraud Alerts from Your Bank
Your bank may text you about suspicious activity. The difference: they will never ask you to click a link to "verify" your account. They will ask you to call the number on your card or check your app.
Actual Delivery Notices
Carriers like UPS or FedEx do send delivery updates. But they will not ask for payment via text link. They direct you to their official website or app.
Government Notices
Real government agencies rarely demand immediate action by text or email. They send letters by mail. If you get a threatening text from "the IRS," it is almost certainly fake.
Password Reset Emails
Legitimate password reset emails come from the service itself and do not ask you to reply with your password. They link to the official site. Check the sender address carefully.
How the Decoder Works
1
You Paste the Message
Copy the full text of anything suspicious. It can be a text, an email, or a social media DM. The longer the message, the more the decoder can find.
2
Patterns Are Matched
The decoder scans for known manipulation phrases and structures. Each match is tagged with the tactic it represents and given a severity weight.
3
You Get a Breakdown
See every flagged phrase highlighted in context, a risk score from low to critical, and a plain-language explanation of what each tactic is trying to do to you.
4
You Respond Safely
Use the suggested response or the template library to verify the message through official channels. Never use contact details from the suspicious message itself.
What to Know Before You Start
- This tool uses keyword and pattern matching. It does not use AI or send your message anywhere.
- All analysis happens in your browser. Your message is never stored on a server.
- A high risk score is a warning, not a verdict. Always verify through official channels.
- The pattern library is updated regularly but scammers change their methods fast.
- If a message feels wrong even with a low score, trust your gut and investigate.