Practice tools · Quiz

Spot the scam

Look through 8 made-up messages, emails and calls. For each one, decide whether it is suspicious, then see which warning signs point to it.

8 examples
With explanations
Answers stay in your browser

Every example is invented. The organisations, names and addresses are not real. The links don’t work: they are plain text and use the “.example” domain, which is reserved for examples.

Signs you will learn to spot

Pressure and threats: “within 24 hours”, “your account will be blocked”.
Requests to pay a small amount, enter card details or approve a transaction.
Addresses that only resemble the real organisation’s.
Requests to keep it secret or to avoid a phone call.
Guaranteed profits and famous names in adverts.

How to use it

Read the example and choose “Suspicious” or “Looks genuine”. After you answer, the key signs are highlighted in the example and explained.

What this quiz cannot teach you

Real scam messages can be more convincing, and they change with the news. Doing well on this quiz is no guarantee that you won’t be fooled. The most important habit is to contact the organisation yourself, through a channel you already know, whenever you are unsure.