Frequently asked questions
Everything we get asked most, in plain English. Can't find your answer? Email scamlysupport@scamly.app.
🔍 The basics
What exactly does Scamly do?
Scamly reads a message you give it and tells you — in about 3 seconds — whether it's safe, suspicious, or a scam. It also explains why, so you learn the warning signs over time.
Do I need to sign up to use it?
No. Open the app and start scanning. If you later want to sync scans across devices, add family members, or set up guardians, you can sign in with Google or Apple.
What can I scan?
Text messages, emails, screenshots, ads, voicemails, and even live phone calls (Guard & Family). You can also share any message into Scamly from another app's share menu.
Does Scamly work offline?
No — we need internet to run the AI scan. The scan itself typically takes 2–4 seconds.
🛡 Protecting family
Can I protect my elderly parents with Scamly?
Yes. Install Scamly on their phone and set yourself up as a Guardian. Any time Scamly confirms a scam on their account, you'll get a short private email with the sender, verdict and red flags — never the full message.
Does my family member need to download the app to be a guardian?
No. Guardians only need an email address. The alerts come to them as plain emails.
Can I share one subscription with my family?
On iPhone, yes — turn on Family Sharable in your App Store subscription settings and your Guard subscription covers up to 5 members of your Apple Family Sharing group for free. Android doesn't offer this; each Android family member subscribes separately.
How many guardians can I have?
1 on Free, 5 on Guard & Family.
💳 Pricing & subscriptions
How much does Scamly cost?
Free forever for 1 text + 1 screenshot scan per day. Guard is $4.99/month or $29.99/year (save ~50%) and unlocks unlimited scans, voicemail scanning, Live Call Assist and more. All paid plans include a 7-day free trial.
Will I get charged after the trial?
Only if you don't cancel. Apple and Google send a reminder before day 7, and you cancel in your usual subscription settings — not inside Scamly.
How do I cancel?
On iPhone: Settings → your name → Subscriptions → Scamly → Cancel. On Android: Play Store → menu → Payments & subscriptions → Scamly → Cancel.
Can I get a refund?
Refunds are handled directly by Apple and Google through your subscription settings. If you need help, email us at scamlysupport@scamly.app and we'll walk you through it.
I subscribed on another device — how do I unlock it here?
Open the app → Upgrade → Restore purchases. Make sure you're signed into the same Apple ID or Google account you used to subscribe.
🔒 Privacy & security
Where are my scans stored?
If you're not signed in, your scans stay on your device and never leave it. If you sign in, they sync privately to your Scamly account so you can see them across devices. Only you can see them.
Do you share my data with advertisers?
No. We make money from subscriptions, not from your data. We don't show ads, and we don't share, sell or rent your scans or your messages.
Can Scamly read all my SMS automatically?
No — and we think that's a good thing. iOS and Android don't let apps intercept your messages in a way that respects your privacy, and we wouldn't want to even if they did. You bring the message to Scamly — not the other way around.
How do I delete my account?
Settings → Data → Delete my account → tap twice to confirm. Everything is deleted immediately.
What AI do you use?
Anthropic's Claude Sonnet 4.6 for text and image analysis, and OpenAI's Whisper for voicemail transcription. Your scans aren't used to train either model.
🪪 Trust & limits
Is Scamly a guarantee against scams?
No, and we'd rather be honest about that than oversell. Scamly is a very good second opinion — but AI can miss things. Always double-check important messages through a channel (phone number, website) you already trust.
What if Scamly says a message is safe but I still lost money?
Please report the scam to your bank immediately and to your local scam authority. If it would help us improve, send us the message at scamlysupport@scamly.app — we review every miss.
I just lost money to a scam. Can Scamly help?
Not directly — we're a prevention tool, not a recovery service. But we'll point you at the right resources: your bank, local police, and your country's official scam-reporting channel (IC3.gov in the US, Action Fraud in the UK, Scamwatch in Australia).
Why does Scamly need camera / microphone / contacts permissions?
Only when you choose a feature that needs them: camera for screenshot scanning, microphone for voicemail scanning and Live Call Assist, contacts (optional) for picking a family member to warn. You can deny any of them without breaking the app.
📱 Getting started
Does the in-app helper and email support speak my language?
Yes. The in-app AI helper detects your language and replies in it automatically — French, Spanish, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Arabic, and about 90 others. For email, we reply in English with AI translation when needed; typical response time is within 24 hours.
Which phones does Scamly run on?
iPhone (iOS 15+) and Android (Android 9+). We don't currently have a web version — scams happen on your phone, so Scamly lives on your phone.
I shared a message to Scamly from WhatsApp and it worked. Can I do that from any app?
Yes — anywhere the share menu appears: WhatsApp, Messages, Mail, Instagram, Facebook Messenger, Chrome, Safari. Long-press the message or ad, tap Share, pick Scamly.
Why is the text so small?
Settings → Preferences → Senior Mode. One toggle makes verdicts, history and headings ~35% larger and bolder. You can turn it off at any time.
Still have questions?
Tap Help & support inside Scamly to chat with our AI helper, or email us. We read every email.