Start with the message in front of you
Do not click, reply, pay or call while you investigate. Use the relevant guide below, then verify the request through the organisation’s official app or a contact route you find yourself.
Email scams and verification
Is this email a scam?
Seven safe checks, three Australian fictional examples and a checklist you can print.
Use the seven-check routineEmail scam checker
Paste a suspicious email or add a screenshot for a plain-English second opinion.
How the checker worksPayPal email scams
Understand fake invoices, genuine PayPal features abused by scammers and unauthorised account activity.
Check a PayPal invoice or purchase emailDelivery messages
Australia Post scam texts
Redelivery fees, postcode and address requests, reply “Y” messages and safe parcel checks.
Check a delivery text or emailGovernment impersonation
myGov scam emails and texts
Why a myGov email with a link is a scam, plus current Services Australia reporting and recovery steps.
Check a myGov messageAlready clicked, paid or shared information?
Do not wait for a website answer. Contact your bank immediately if money or card details are involved. Secure affected accounts and get tailored identity support from IDCARE. If there is an immediate threat to life or risk of harm, call 000.
- Cyber.gov.au: recover from scams — practical recovery and reporting steps.
- IDCARE: contact and individual support — individual identity and cyber support; 1800 595 160 when checked.
- Scamwatch: report a scam — report suspicious contact and help warn others.
How to use these guides
Read the quick answer first. Compare the tactics—not just the wording—with the message you received. Examples are fictional, text-only and clearly labelled; no customer submission is presented as an example.
Follow the official verification and reporting links. AskScam is independent and does not represent PayPal, Australia Post, myGov, Services Australia, Scamwatch, your bank or any other organisation mentioned.
We do not promise that a guide or automated answer can identify every scam. A second opinion is useful only when paired with official verification and, where needed, prompt recovery help.
Official sources and further help
Checked by the AskScam editorial team on 5 November 2026. Contact details and reporting steps can change; follow the linked official page for current instructions.
How we review these guides
We use official Australian and organisation guidance as primary sources, check links and contact details before publication, and label fictional examples. These examples are written for education; they are not messages received from customers. AskScam uses automated assistance to help draft and classify content; the editorial team checks the claims, citations, examples and safety steps before publication. We do not claim a second opinion is proof of safety.
Material safety corrections will be dated and described here. Published 5 November 2026; no material corrections have been recorded. AskScam is independent and the organisations cited do not sponsor or endorse these guides. To suggest a correction, email check@askscam.com with the guide name and correction only—no personal messages or identity documents.