Practise spotting scams
Every message here is made up, and nothing you do on this page can go wrong. There’s no score and no time limit — just a chance to notice what a scam feels like, before one arrives.
Worried about a real message right now?
Stop. Do not reply, click or share codes. Contact the organisation independently. Speak to someone you trust.
I need help with a real message
If money or bank details have already been shared, go straight to Urgent help.
Helping someone else? A quick tip
Let them read the message and choose for themselves, even if you can see the answer — noticing it themselves is the whole point. There are no wrong answers here to be embarrassed about.
Scenario 1 of 6
Text message
Appears to be from HMRC
HMRC: our records show you are owed a tax refund of £284.60. You must claim within 48 hours or the payment will expire. Claim here: hmrc-refund-claim.example
Made up for practice — not a real message, and nothing here can be tapped.
What would you do next?
There’s no catch, and no clock. Choose whichever you’d honestly do.
Nothing you choose here is saved. Your answers stay on your screen and disappear when you close it — there’s no score kept, and nothing to sign in to.
Read how the common scams workPrefer paper? Print this as a one-page guide — a steady backup to keep by the phone, in case a screen ever freezes or goes blank.
One clear next step