Your quick guide to spotting scams — and exactly what to do when one shows up in your inbox or on your phone.
smdl.app/guide
This guide — everything on this page, any time you need a refresher.
smdl.app/check
Your checking tools — paste a suspicious link, text, or email and get a verdict. Unlocks with the email your drills go to.
ScamDrill sends you safe, pretend scamsso you can practice spotting the real ones. Nothing we send can hurt your computer or your money — it's practice, like a fire drill. Every time one arrives, it's a chance to get a little sharper. And when you spot one, you'll get a friendly note explaining what gave it away.
Realistic but completely harmless fake scams, sent now and then so spotting them becomes second nature.
Click one by mistake? No problem. You'll see a simple breakdown of the red flags so the next one is easier to catch.
Spotting scams earns points and builds a streak, so you can see yourself getting better over time.
Got something suspicious in real life? Send it to us and we'll tell you whether it looks safe or risky — and why.
This is the whole guide in a nutshell. If you only remember these three, you're in great shape.
Reporting is the goal — it's how you earn points, and it helps protect other people too. You don't need to be 100% sure. If it feels off, report it.
Suspicious email
Forward it to spam@scamdrill.com
ScamDrill practice text
Reply with the single word SCAM — but only to texts that start with [ScamDrill Training]
A real scam text is different — never reply to it. Replying tells scammers your number is active. Just delete it. Not sure whether a text is a real scam or a ScamDrill drill? Don't reply — forward it to (571) 582-4381 to check it (Step 2).
Send us anything you're unsure about and we'll reply with a plain-language verdict — safe, suspicious, or somewhere in between — and the reasons why.
An email
Forward it to check@scamdrill.com (up to 10 checks a day)
A text message
Forward it to (571) 582-4381 (if texts are switched on for you)
A link — or anything else
Open smdl.app/check and paste it in — it even shows where shortened links really lead
Anyone can also use the free checkers at scamdrill.com/resources/email-scam-checker and /sms-scam-checker.
Because our practice scams look real, your spam filter might hide them. Two quick steps fix that for good:
Add us to your contacts
Save sim@scamdrill.app to your email contacts — it's the address your practice drills come from, and email apps trust your address book
Allow the sender domain
Add scamdrill.app to your safe-senders list so every drill lands in your inbox
These work against almost every scam — practice or real.
Clicked something you shouldn't have?
It happens to everyone, and it's never too late. With a real scam: stop, don't send any money or codes, and tell someone you trust. If you shared a password, change it. The more you practice here, the less likely it is to happen for real.