--- title: "Is this a scam? A 60-second check ยท Jeyki Security" description: "Answer a few yes or no questions about a call, text or email and get a clear verdict and next step. Free, private and takes about a minute." url: "https://jeyki.ca/guides/is-this-a-scam-60-second-check" --- 1. [Home](https://jeyki.ca/) 2. [Guides](https://jeyki.ca/guides) 3. Is this a scam? A 60-second check Interactive decision flow # Is this a scam? A 60-second check Answer a few quick yes or no questions about the message or call you got. You will get a verdict: stop, slow down, or probably fine, with what to do next. Nothing you choose is sent anywhere. If you are already on the phone with someone, hang up first and come back. Last reviewed September 28, 2026. Written by Jeyki Security, free to use and print. [Email this to a parent](mailto:?subject=Is%20this%20a%20scam%3F%20A%2060-second%20check&body=Hi%2C%20I%20thought%20this%20free%20guide%20would%20help%20you%3A%0A%0AIs%20this%20a%20scam%3F%20A%2060-second%20check%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fjeyki.ca%2Fguides%2Fis-this-a-scam-60-second-check%0A%0AIt%20is%20written%20for%20people%20in%20Canada%20and%20takes%20a%20few%20minutes.)Share or copy linkPrint this guide ## Start the check Think of the call, text, email or message you are unsure about. Answer each question with Yes or No. If you are on the phone with the person now, hang up and do this after. Your answers stay on this page. ### Are they asking you to pay in gift cards, cryptocurrency, an e-Transfer, a wire or a courier who picks up cash? Or to move money to a "safe account" or buy something and send them the details. [Yes](#scam-check-stop) [No](#scam-check-secret) ### Are they telling you to keep it secret, or not to talk to your bank or your family? [Yes](#scam-check-stop) [No](#scam-check-rush) ### Are they rushing or threatening you, for example arrest, a closed account or a lost refund if you do not act today? [Yes](#scam-check-claims) [No](#scam-check-link) ### Do they say they are your bank, a government agency, a tech company or a family member? [Yes](#scam-check-verify) [No](#scam-check-slow) ### Does it want you to click a link, open an attachment or sign in? [Yes](#scam-check-expected) [No](#scam-check-code) ### Were you expecting this exact message, from this company, right now? For example a code you just asked for, or a receipt for something you just bought. [Yes](#scam-check-checkfine) [No](#scam-check-verify) ### Are they asking for a code, a password, your SIN or card number? [Yes](#scam-check-stop) [No](#scam-check-outofblue) ### Did they contact you out of the blue? [Yes](#scam-check-slow) [No](#scam-check-fine) Verdict ### Stop. This is very likely a scam. Do not pay, do not share anything and do not reply. Hang up or delete it. For a text, forward it to 7726. If you have already sent money or details, call your bank first, then the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre on 1-888-495-8501. [What to do after a scam](https://jeyki.ca/after-a-scam) Verdict ### Slow down and check it another way. Do not use the phone number or link they gave you. Close it and contact the company or person yourself, using the website you type in or the number on your card, bill or contacts. If it is a family member in trouble, hang up and call them back. [Family emergency calls: what to ask](https://jeyki.ca/guides/ai-voice-clone-grandparent-scam-calls) Verdict ### Probably fine, but check before you sign in. If you were expecting it, it is likely real. Still, go to the company's site or app by typing the address yourself instead of using the link, and never read a code out to anyone who contacts you. Verdict ### Treat it with care. Contact from someone you do not know is a reason to slow down, even without a threat. Do not click, do not reply and do not give details. If it might be real, check it yourself with the company. If in doubt, ask someone you trust. Verdict ### Probably fine. None of the usual warning signs showed up. If money or details come into it later, come back and run the check again. BackStart again ## Why these questions Almost every scam has at least one of the same few features: pressure to hurry, a payment that is hard to undo, a request for secrecy, a link or code that opens your accounts, and contact you did not ask for. The check cannot prove something is real. Even if it says probably fine, confirm anything that involves money or a password by going to the real website or calling a number you already have. ## Three rules that always work 1. Hang up and call back on a number you already have. 2. Type the website address yourself. Do not follow the link. 3. Never share a code, a password or your SIN with someone who contacted you. For texts, see the quiz on [how to spot a scam text message](https://jeyki.ca/guides/how-to-spot-a-scam-text-message-canada). For calls from the tax agency, see [is the CRA really contacting me](https://jeyki.ca/guides/is-the-cra-really-contacting-me). ## Common questions ### Does a probably fine verdict mean it is safe? No. It means none of the common warning signs showed up in your answers. If money, a password or personal details are involved, still check by going to the company's website yourself or calling the number on your card or bill. ### What are the most common signs of a scam? Pressure to act fast, payment in gift cards, cryptocurrency or e-Transfer, a request to keep it secret, a link or attachment you did not expect, and contact out of the blue from someone claiming to be a bank, government agency or family member. ### Who can I ask if I am still not sure? Ask a family member, call the company on a number you already have, or forward the message to me through the scam check plan. Taking a day to check never costs you anything real. ### Should I report a scam I did not fall for? You can. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre takes reports even when nobody lost money, and forwarding a spam text to 7726 is free. Reports help stop the next person. ## Sources 1. [Report cybercrime and fraud, National Cybercrime and Fraud Reporting System](https://reportcyberandfraud.canada.ca/) 2. [How to report fraud and scams in Canada, Competition Bureau of Canada](https://competition-bureau.canada.ca/en/fraud-and-scams/tips-and-advice/how-report-fraud-and-scams-canada) 3. [Recognize a scam, Canada Revenue Agency](https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/corporate/scams-fraud/recognize-scam.html) 4. [Reporting spam text messages to 7726, Get Cyber Safe (Government of Canada)](https://www.getcybersafe.gc.ca/en/blogs/reporting-spam-text-messages-7726) ## Related guides - [How to spot a scam text message in Canada](https://jeyki.ca/guides/how-to-spot-a-scam-text-message-canada) A short quiz with realistic Canadian examples, then the red flags and what to do. - [Is the CRA really contacting me? How to check](https://jeyki.ca/guides/is-the-cra-really-contacting-me) What the CRA does and does not do, a short quiz, and how to check for yourself. - [AI voice cloning scam calls: what to ask](https://jeyki.ca/guides/ai-voice-clone-grandparent-scam-calls) What to ask, the hang-up rule, and a safe word generator with a card to print. ## Want a person to check it for you? With the scam check plan you forward me anything that feels off and get a clear answer, with the reason, within one business day. It is C$12 a month and covers up to 4 people. [See the scam check plan](https://jeyki.ca/services#scam-check)