Spot the Scam

A free daily scam quiz. Three new messages every day. Some are scams, some are genuine. Can you tell?

[{"slot":1,"kind":"text","truth":"scam","sender":"021 XXX XXX","subject":"","body":"Monday, 6:10pm. You are waiting on an online order.\n\nYour parcel could not be delivered because a signature is needed. Please arrange a new delivery date immediately: nz-deliver-date.example/book","action":"","tells":["A text from a mobile number that rushes you to a link to rebook a delivery is a warning sign.","Do not use the link; check the courier's own website or app with your tracking number."],"label":"Signature needed text","author":"unknown","author_note":"Drafted by Claude (an AI) from the reported pattern in the source."},{"slot":2,"kind":"email","truth":"genuine","sender":"Kiwi Courier <hello@kiwicourier.example>","subject":"Out for delivery text","body":"Monday, 10:40am. A parcel you ordered on Thursday is due today.\n\nKiwi Courier: your parcel (tracking number KC771204) is out for delivery today. Track it in the Kiwi Courier app. Nothing to pay.","action":"","tells":["It gives a tracking number you can check and asks for nothing.","The app shows the same update, so you can check there without any link."],"label":"Out for delivery text","author":"unknown","author_note":"Drafted by Claude (an AI). Author is set to unknown on all messages. Do not display a human or AI label."},{"slot":3,"kind":"text","truth":"scam","sender":"Police support line","subject":"","body":"Monday, 3:30pm. A call goes to voicemail from a number that looks like the police.\n\nVoicemail transcript: this is the police. Your cryptocurrency wallet details have been exposed. Open the link we are texting you and enter your recovery phrase to secure your funds: wallet-secure-nz.example/verify","action":"","tells":["Never share a recovery phrase with anyone; the police do not ask for it, and a caller's number can be faked.","Hang up and call the police yourself on 105."],"label":"Police wallet voicemail","author":"unknown","author_note":"Drafted by Claude (an AI) from the reported pattern in the source."}]
[{"slot":1,"kind":"text","truth":"scam","sender":"0412 XXX XXX","subject":"","body":"Monday, 5:45pm. You have an online order on its way.\n\nYour delivery is on hold. Verify your postcode within 48 hours to avoid return: deliverynow-au.example/verify","action":"","tells":["A text with a short deadline that asks you to verify your details by link is a warning sign; a real delivery company does not ask this way.","Do not use the link; check your order in the shop's own account or the courier's own app."],"label":"Verify your postcode text","author":"unknown","author_note":"Drafted by Claude (an AI) from the reported pattern in the source."},{"slot":2,"kind":"email","truth":"genuine","sender":"Banksia Books <orders@banksiabooks.example>","subject":"Your order has shipped","body":"Monday, 11:20am. You ordered a book on Friday.\n\nHello Mia, your order 70315 has shipped and should arrive in 3 to 5 working days. You can follow it in your account at banksiabooks.example. There is nothing more to pay.","action":"","tells":["It matches an order you placed and asks for no payment and no details.","If you are unsure, sign in to your account by typing the shop address yourself."],"label":"Order shipped email","author":"unknown","author_note":"Drafted by Claude (an AI). Author is set to unknown on all messages. Do not display a human or AI label."},{"slot":3,"kind":"text","truth":"scam","sender":"0431 XXX XXX","subject":"","body":"Monday, 8:10pm. A text arrives from a number you do not know.\n\nYour parcel could not be delivered. Pay a small redelivery fee of 2.95 dollars to book a new time: redeliver-au.example/pay","action":"","tells":["A small fee to rebook a delivery, asked for by text, is a common trick.","Do not use the link; ask the courier in its own app, and do not pay anything you were not expecting."],"label":"Redelivery fee text","author":"unknown","author_note":"Drafted by Claude (an AI) from the reported pattern in the source."}]

How it works

  1. Read it. A text, email or pop-up, as it would land on your phone or screen.
  2. Call it. Scam or genuine. Then, if you like, a bonus: who wrote it?
  3. See the tells. Every answer shows what gives it away, so you're ready when a real one arrives.

Questions

Is it free?

Yes. No account and no download.

Where do the messages come from?

The scams are built from real ones reaching phones now. The genuine ones are modelled on messages real organisations send. Some are written with AI. Names, numbers and links are changed, so nothing in the game is live.

Why ask who wrote it?

Scammers now use AI to write messages that read well. It's a bonus round. The main question is always scam or genuine, and you can skip the bonus any time.

Why did a genuine message look like a scam?

Scam warnings make all of us more careful, so genuine messages can look suspicious too. That's normal, and it's why we show the tells for genuine ones as well.

Do you keep my answers?

Your answers stay on your device. We count totals, like how many players spotted each message, and nothing that identifies you.

Can I run it with my members, staff or class?

Yes. Use the form on this page and we'll set it up with you.

What if I get a suspicious message for real?

Check it in Flggd. You get a verdict with the reasons in seconds.

Want this for your members, staff or class?