IS IT A SCAM? Diagnostics from the SCARS Institute

Sometimes a message, a call, or a new friend online just feels a little off.

You may not be sure what is wrong, and that is okay. It is better to know. Better safe than sorry.

These unique diagnostics are free tools from the SCARS Institute that help you look at what is happening and see it more clearly.

There are currently six diagnostics, one for each kind of scam we see most often. There is one for romance scams, one for crypto investment scams (also called pig butchering), one for phone calls, one for emails, one for text messages and direct messages, and one for money mule scams, where someone asks you to move money for them. You pick the one that fits your situation.

Each diagnostic asks you 25 simple questions, and you answer each one Yes or No.

• Answer Yes if the thing happened, even if the person gave you a good reason for it. Scammers are very good at giving good reasons.
• Answer No only if it did not happen, or if you checked it yourself in a way the other person could not control.

Please answer on your own. Do not ask the person you are unsure about to help you, because they may try to steer your answers.

When you finish, you get a score from 0% to 100%. 100% is bad!

The score shows how closely your situation matches the patterns of a real scam. It also puts you in one of four levels: Below Caution, Caution, Warning, or Danger. Each level comes with clear steps for what to do next, like stopping payments, calling your bank, saving your messages, or reporting the crime. Some answers are so serious that they raise your score right away, because they are strong signs that a crime is happening now.

Your privacy matters to us. We never see your name or who you are. If you need a break, you can save your work with a resume code and come back later, even on a different phone or computer. You can also save a copy of your results to share with someone you trust.

Please remember this. A high score does not mean you did anything wrong. Scammers are skilled criminals who plan every step, and they fool smart and careful people every day. If you are worried, that feeling is worth listening to. Taking a few minutes to check is a strong and caring thing to do for yourself.