Question 1

Is WhatIsReal free to use?

Accepted Answer

WhatIsReal offers a Free plan with 1 scam check per week via SMS. Our Standard plan ($10/mo or $96/yr) includes unlimited checks across SMS, email, and phone lookups with dashboard access. Our Premium plan ($12/mo or $120/yr) adds Suspicious Link Analysis, .eml file uploads, and enhanced analysis. Every new account starts with a free 7-day Premium trial — no credit card required.

Question 2

How accurate is WhatIsReal?

Accepted Answer

WhatIsReal uses advanced AI analysis combined with rule-based detection to catch the vast majority of common scams, phishing attempts, and suspicious messages. However, no system is 100% perfect. When in doubt, don't interact with the message and ask a trusted friend or family member.

Question 3

Is my information safe?

Accepted Answer

We do not store your personal information or the content of your messages. We analyze the message, generate a report, and discard the original content. All data is transmitted securely using encryption. See our Privacy Policy for full details.

Question 4

Who is behind WhatIsReal?

Accepted Answer

WhatIsReal is a product of Released Solutions LLC. We are dedicated to helping everyday people — especially seniors and those less familiar with digital scams — stay safe online and via text messages.

Question 5

How do I check a suspicious message?

Accepted Answer

You can paste or type any suspicious message into our Check a Message tool on the website. If you have a paid plan, you can also forward SMS messages directly to our number or forward emails to check@scan.whatisreal.info for analysis.

Question 6

Can I forward any message to check?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. Forward any text message or email you're unsure about. Free plan users get 1 check per week. Standard and Premium users get unlimited checks.

Question 7

How do I check a phone number?

Accepted Answer

Use our Check a Number tool to look up any phone number. We'll tell you if it's been associated with known scams, spam calls, or suspicious activity. You can also use Fraud Finder (powered by FTC data) to search the national fraud complaints database. These features are available to Standard and Premium plan subscribers.

Question 8

What types of messages can WhatIsReal analyze?

Accepted Answer

We can analyze SMS text messages, emails (including forwarded emails and .eml file uploads on Premium), and suspicious phone numbers. We detect phishing, smishing, vishing attempts, fake prize scams, impersonation, and more.

Question 9

What is the Suspicious Link Analysis tool?

Accepted Answer

The Suspicious Link Analysis tool lets you paste any shortened or suspicious URL to uncover where it really leads. It traces the full redirect chain, identifies the true destination domain, checks domain age and registration details, and assigns a risk score from 0 to 100. This feature is available exclusively to Premium subscribers and users on their 14-day trial period.

Question 10

How do I register my phone number?

Accepted Answer

After creating an account, go to your Dashboard and enter your phone number in the Phone Registration section. You must check the opt-in consent box to enable SMS features. Your number is stored securely and used only to identify your forwarded messages.

Question 11

How do I forward suspicious emails for analysis?

Accepted Answer

Premium plan users can forward suspicious emails to check@scan.whatisreal.info for analysis. You can also upload .eml files directly through the dashboard. The system will analyze the sender, links, and content for scam indicators.

Question 12

How do I opt out of SMS?

Accepted Answer

You can opt out at any time by texting STOP to our number, or by toggling off SMS in your Dashboard settings. You can also opt out by canceling your subscription. Once opted out, you will no longer receive SMS responses.

Question 13

Will I be charged for text messages?

Accepted Answer

Standard messaging and data rates from your carrier may apply when you text our number. WhatIsReal does not charge per-message fees — your subscription covers unlimited checks.

Question 14

What text commands can I use?

Accepted Answer

WhatIsReal supports three SMS commands: Text HELP to get step-by-step guidance on how to use the service. Text REPORT to get instructions on how to report a scam to the authorities. Text STOP to unsubscribe from WhatIsReal messages at any time.

Question 15

What is phishing?

Accepted Answer

Phishing is a type of cyber attack where scammers send fraudulent emails or messages that appear to come from legitimate organizations (banks, government agencies, popular services) to trick you into revealing personal information, passwords, or financial details.

Question 16

What is smishing?

Accepted Answer

Smishing (SMS phishing) is phishing conducted via text messages. Scammers send texts pretending to be your bank, a delivery service, or a government agency, often containing urgent language and suspicious links designed to steal your information.

Question 17

What is vishing?

Accepted Answer

Vishing (voice phishing) is phishing conducted over phone calls. Scammers call pretending to be from the IRS, your bank, or tech support, using pressure tactics to get you to share personal information or send money.

Question 18

What if I accidentally clicked a scam link?

Accepted Answer

Don't panic. Close the page immediately. Do not enter any personal information. Change your passwords if you already did, especially for banking and email. Enable two-factor authentication where possible. Monitor your accounts for unusual activity. You can also report the incident to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Question 19

How do I report a scam?

Accepted Answer

You can report scams to several authorities: the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at ic3.gov, or your state attorney general's office. For phone scams, you can also report to the FCC. WhatIsReal's Real Suspicious page also tracks community-reported scams.

Question 20

What are common signs of a scam message?

Accepted Answer

Watch for: urgent or threatening language ('Act now!', 'Your account will be closed'), requests for personal information, suspicious links or misspelled URLs, unexpected prizes or refunds, messages from unknown numbers claiming to be official organizations, and poor grammar or spelling.

Question 21

What does my Risk Score mean?

Accepted Answer

Your Risk Score is a number from 0 to 100 that represents how dangerous a message appears. 0–30 is generally Safe, 31–70 is Suspicious, and 71–100 indicates a Likely Scam. The higher the number, the more warning signs were found in the message.

Question 22

How is the Risk Score calculated?

Accepted Answer

The score is built from five analysis layers: AI Intent Analysis (up to 30 points) evaluates the overall purpose of the message; Language & Patterns (up to 20 points) detects urgency, threats, and manipulation; Sender Trust (up to 20 points) checks if the sender is known or suspicious; Link Analysis (up to 20 points) examines URLs for typosquatting, shortened links, and risky domains; and Domain Heuristics (up to 10 points) checks for brand impersonation and domain age.

Question 23

What is Identity Confidence?

Accepted Answer

Identity Confidence is a separate 0–100 scale measuring how much we trust the sender. High Trust (61–100) means the sender is known or well-authenticated. Medium Trust (41–60) means some verification passed but questions remain. Low Trust (0–40) means the sender is unknown, unverified, or using a disposable email. For emails with full headers, authentication checks (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) also boost or lower this score.

Question 24

What is Behavior Risk?

Accepted Answer

Behavior Risk is the combined risk score from all five analysis layers (0–100). It measures what the message is trying to do — request money, steal passwords, create panic, or trick you into clicking a link. A high Behavior Risk means the message uses tactics commonly seen in scams.

Question 25

What does the Score Breakdown show?

Accepted Answer

The Score Breakdown shows exactly how many points each analysis layer contributed. For example, if Link Analysis shows 15/20, that means the URLs in the message raised significant red flags. This helps you understand which specific parts of the message are suspicious.

Question 26

What does 'Domain registered X days ago' mean?

Accepted Answer

When we find URLs in a message, we check how old the website's domain is. Scammers frequently create brand-new websites (days or weeks old) to run their schemes and then abandon them. A domain less than 30 days old is a strong warning sign. Legitimate businesses typically have domains that are years old.

Question 27

What are Detected Signals?

Accepted Answer

Detected Signals are the specific red flags found in the message — things like 'Urgency: act now', 'Shortened link: bit.ly', or 'Mentions PayPal but sent from unknown domain'. These help you see exactly what triggered the warning so you can learn to spot these patterns yourself in the future.

Question 28

Can a message be Safe but still have some points?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A low score (under 30) with a 'Likely Safe' label means only minor signals were detected — for example, a legitimate marketing email might use slightly urgent language. The label takes both Behavior Risk and Identity Confidence into account, so a known sender with minor flags may still be classified as safe.

Question 29

What does Email Authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) mean?

Accepted Answer

These are technical checks that verify the sender's email is legitimate. SPF confirms the sending server is authorized. DKIM confirms the email wasn't altered in transit. DMARC ties them together with a policy. If all three pass, the sender's domain is verified — but it doesn't guarantee the content is safe. If they fail, the email may be spoofed (faked).

Question 30

What plans are available?

Accepted Answer

We offer three plans: Free (1 check/week via web), Standard ($10/mo or $96/yr — unlimited SMS, email, and phone checks with dashboard access), and Premium ($12/mo or $120/yr — everything in Standard plus Suspicious Link Analysis, .eml uploads, and enhanced analysis). All new accounts get a free 7-day Premium trial.

Question 31

How does the free trial work?

Accepted Answer

Every new account automatically receives a 7-day Premium trial with full access to all features — no credit card required. If you choose a paid plan, you get an additional 14-day trial managed through Stripe, and you won't be charged until the trial ends.

Question 32

How do I cancel my subscription?

Accepted Answer

You can cancel anytime from your Dashboard or by visiting the Cancel Subscription page. Your access continues until the end of your current billing period. No cancellation fees apply.

Question 33

What is your refund policy?

Accepted Answer

We offer refunds on a case-by-case basis within the first 30 days of a paid subscription. Please visit our Refund Policy page or contact us through our Contact page for assistance.

Question 34

How do I create an account?

Accepted Answer

Click 'Sign Up' on any page, enter your email address and create a password. You'll receive a verification email — click the link to confirm your account. Once verified, you'll have immediate access to your 7-day Premium trial.

Question 35

How is my data protected?

Accepted Answer

All data is transmitted using industry-standard encryption. We do not sell or share your personal information with third parties. Message content is analyzed and discarded — we do not store the messages you submit. See our Privacy Policy for complete details.

Question 36

Can I delete my account?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Contact us through our Contact page to request account deletion. We will remove all your personal data, including your profile, phone number, and any stored preferences. Active subscriptions will be canceled.

Question 37

Do I need an account to use WhatIsReal?

Accepted Answer

You can use the free web-based Check a Message tool without an account. However, an account is required for SMS forwarding, email forwarding, phone number lookups, dashboard access, and to track your analysis history.

Question 38

How do I save WhatIsReal to my contacts?

Accepted Answer

Visit your dashboard and click 'Save Contact' to download our contact card. You can also scan the QR code with your phone. Once saved, you can forward suspicious emails to check@scan.whatisreal.info anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

About WhatIsReal

Using the Service

SMS & Email Forwarding

Scam & Phishing Awareness

Understanding Your Score

Plans & Billing

Account & Privacy

Helping People Know What's Real

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