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Independent consumer protection publication Educational guidance — not legal or financial advice

Scamil · Free email scam scanner

Scamil Email Checker — Check If an Email Is a Scam

Quick answer: Paste any suspicious email into Scamil, our free scam email checker, and we scan the headers and body for phishing language, payment traps, and impersonation — so you can see if an email is a scam before you click a link or reply.

Privacy: Scamil analyzes your paste in memory only. We do not store the email, headers, or personal details.

Minimum 20 characters · max 12,000. Free phishing email checker — not legal advice.

How does Scamil check if an email is a scam?

Scamil is a rule-based phishing email checker trained on patterns from verified scam alerts on ScamReporting.org. When you paste an email, we run three layers:

  1. Header analysis — display name says “PayPal” or “Amazon” but the sender is Gmail/Yahoo; Reply-To domain does not match From
  2. Phishing language — verify your account, password expired, unusual sign-in, secure-message links, fake invoices
  3. Payment & impersonation — gift cards, wire, crypto, Zelle, IRS/Medicare/USPS lures, and look-alike domains

Need to check a text instead? Use our general Scam Checker or search known senders in Scammer Lookup.

How to tell if an email is a scam (red flags)

  • Urgent threats — account suspended, arrest, or shutoff unless you act immediately
  • Payment by gift card, cryptocurrency, or wire (legitimate companies never ask this)
  • Links that do not match the real company domain when you hover or long-press
  • Generic greetings (“Dear customer”) instead of your name
  • Unexpected attachments or “secure message” portals

Learn more: how to spot phishing emails · Gmail phishing guide · business email compromise

What to do if Scamil flags your email

  1. Do not reply, click links, or open attachments.
  2. Verify through the real company’s official app or website — not phone numbers or links in the email.
  3. Report the scam and read Get Help if you already paid or shared data.

Frequently asked questions

How do I check if an email is a scam?

Copy the full email (headers + body), paste it into Scamil, and click Scan. We flag phishing language, payment traps, and header tricks in seconds.

Is Scamil email checker free?

Yes. Scamil is a free rule-based screener on ScamReporting.org. No account required; your paste is not stored.

Should I paste email headers?

Yes, when possible. Include From, Subject, and Reply-To lines — we check for display-name impersonation and Reply-To domain mismatches.

Does this replace Gmail or Outlook spam filters?

No. This is a second opinion before you reply or click. Keep your inbox filters enabled.

What if only the email body pasted without headers?

Body-only still works. We run all scam language patterns; header checks activate when From/Subject lines are present.