Text Message Scams
Guides covering fake delivery texts, bank impersonation SMS, HMRC alerts, and smishing attacks. Learn to identify and report suspicious texts targeting UK phones.
UK Consumer Protection
Check scams. Protect your money.
Beat the Scam helps you review suspicious texts, emails, websites, calls, job offers, crypto pitches, and payment requests before money or data is lost.
177guides published
17scam categories
Freeno account needed
Search scam topics
Try terms like “Royal Mail text”, “job scam”, “bank transfer”, or “crypto withdrawal fee”.
Latest scam alerts
- Bank Holiday Parcel Scam Wave UK: How to Spot and Avoid Fake Delivery Texts
- Amazon Scam Phone Calls UK: How to Spot a Fake Amazon Call
- Chargeback Scam UK: How Chargeback Fraud Works and How to Avoid It
- Gumtree Scams UK: How to Spot and Avoid Fake Listings and Buyers
- Google Voice Verification Code Scam UK: Don't Share That Code
Quick verification rule
Never rely on the link, phone number, QR code, or payment details supplied by the suspicious message itself. Open the official route yourself.
Practical checksFast steps you can use before clicking a link, paying a fee, or sharing personal information.
UK-focused adviceGuides written for common scams targeting UK consumers, delivery services, marketplaces, and payment methods.
Plain-English alertsNo jargon, no panic language, and no assumptions that every suspicious message is genuine.
AI scam checkerPaste a suspicious message and get an instant analysis powered by Claude AI — free, no account needed.
Scam categories
Find guides by scam type. Each category covers warning signs, verification steps, and what to do if you’ve already interacted.
Phone Scams
Guides covering vishing calls, fake bank calls, HMRC phone scams, and voice fraud targeting UK residents. Learn to verify callers and avoid phone-based scams.
Marketplace Scams
Guides covering Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree, Vinted, and eBay scams targeting UK buyers and sellers. Spot fake payment fraud, advance fees, and collection scams.
Payment Scams
Guides covering bank transfer fraud, advance fee scams, fake invoices, and APP fraud in the UK. Learn how to verify payment requests and protect your money.
Email Scams
Guides covering phishing emails, business email compromise, fake invoices, and email impersonation. Learn to identify and report suspicious emails in the UK.
Tech Support Scams
Guides covering fake tech support calls, remote access scams, and malicious software targeting UK users. Learn to spot and shut down tech support fraud.
Website Scams
Guides covering fake online shops, lookalike domains, and website verification. Learn how to check if a website is legitimate before buying or sharing details.
Investment & Finance Scams
Guides covering fake investment opportunities, pension fraud, clone firm scams, and financial impersonation targeting UK consumers. Learn to protect your savings.
Latest guides
Practical guides for the most commonly reported scams affecting UK consumers.
Text Message Scams
Bank Holiday Parcel Scam Wave UK: How to Spot and Avoid Fake Delivery Texts
During UK bank holidays, scammers send SMS messages pretending to be parcel delivery services, claiming you need to pay a fee or confirm delivery. These texts contain malicious links designed to steal your banking details, passwords, and money.
Phone Scams
Amazon Scam Phone Calls UK: How to Spot a Fake Amazon Call
Got an automated 'Amazon' call about a suspicious order or account? It's almost certainly a scam. Here's how the fake Amazon call works and how to stop it.
Payment Scams
Chargeback Scam UK: How Chargeback Fraud Works and How to Avoid It
Chargeback scams let a buyer keep the goods and get their money back, leaving the seller out of pocket. Here's how chargeback fraud works and how to protect yourself.
Marketplace Scams
Gumtree Scams UK: How to Spot and Avoid Fake Listings and Buyers
Gumtree is legitimate, but scammers use it. Here are the most common Gumtree scams targeting UK buyers and sellers, the warning signs, and how to stay safe.
Fraud & Impersonation
Google Voice Verification Code Scam UK: Don't Share That Code
Someone asks you to read back a Google verification code to 'prove you're real'? It's a scam to hijack your number. Here's how it works and what to do.
Fraud & Impersonation
beatthescam.com Guide: Spotting and Avoiding UK Consumer Scams
Complete guide to identifying common UK scams and protecting yourself. Learn warning signs, reporting procedures, and defence strategies from verified consumer threats.
Not sure about a message?
Paste a suspicious text, email, URL, or job offer into the free AI scam checker and get an instant plain-English verdict — powered by Claude AI.
Check a suspicious message →Works with:
- Suspicious texts and SMS
- Unexpected emails
- Unfamiliar website URLs
- Unusual payment requests
- Job offers that seem too good
How to spot a scam quickly
Slow the interaction down
Urgency and secrecy are common scam tools. Speed benefits the fraudster, not you.
Verify through a clean route
Open the official site or app yourself. Call published numbers, not the ones in the message.
Protect one-time codes and payment details
Security codes authorise actions. Treat them like passwords.
Pause before irreversible payments
Bank transfer and crypto payments need stronger checks than card payments.
Common questions
Does Beat the Scam verify messages for me?
The site provides educational checklists and examples so readers can verify suspicious messages themselves through official channels. The AI scam checker can give you an instant verdict on a specific message.
Can social media ads or polished emails still be scams?
Yes. Presentation quality is not proof of legitimacy. Verification path matters more than appearance.
What should I do first if I already paid a scammer?
Contact your bank or card issuer immediately, preserve evidence, secure compromised accounts, and stop further payments while you verify the situation.
About the site
Plain-English guidance
Every guide is written to be understandable under pressure — short sections, clear headings, and practical next steps.
UK-specific content
Guides focus on scams reported in the UK: HMRC impersonation, delivery fraud, bank transfer pressure, and UK marketplace platforms.
No scare tactics
The site does not assume every suspicious message is a scam. It helps you verify systematically using official channels.