How to spot scam messages

Tutorperch has automatic protections — we auto-redact contact details and external links until the unlock fee is paid, and we manually review safeguarding submissions. But no automatic system catches everything. This page is the short version of what to watch for.

The patterns

Real scams we've seen on this platform tend to follow the same shape. If a conversation fits one or more of these, slow down — and consider reporting.

1. Pushing the conversation off-platform.

"Can we discuss this through email?" "Let's switch to WhatsApp/iMessage." "I prefer a Zoom call before I commit." Real students happily message on Tutorperch while they're deciding — they understand auto-redaction is there for everyone's safety. A scammer's first move is almost always to get you onto a channel where our redactor can't see what they're sending you.

What you'll see: a redacted phrase like [contact details hidden — unlock to view] near the start of the conversation, often after just a sentence or two of small talk.
2. Fake meeting links.

Real Zoom links are zoom.us/j/<numbers>. Real Teams links are teams.microsoft.com/…. Real Google Meet is meet.google.com/….

Anything else dressed up to look like a Zoom link — domains like joinlivemeet.es, zoom-meeting-join.com, secure-zoom.app — is a phishing page that captures your password or installs malware. Our redactor catches these and replaces them with the contact-details placeholder; if you ever see one slip through, do not click it.
3. Manufactured urgency.

"I'm waiting for you to connect." "I need to schedule this today." "My daughter starts on Monday." Real parents are willing to take a few days to evaluate a tutor; scammers want to keep you moving fast so you don't stop to think. If a new conversation feels strangely time-pressured, that's the signal to pause.
4. Generic "I want to hire a tutor" boilerplate.

Word-for-word identical opening messages sent to many tutors at once are a red flag. Lines like "I came across your profile and I'm interested in hiring a tutor for my daughter" with no mention of subject, level, exam board, or the child's current attainment usually mean the sender doesn't have a real student in mind — they're casting wide.

Real first messages mention a specific subject + level + what the child is struggling with. If the message could have been sent to any tutor on the platform, it probably was.
5. Asking you for your contact details.

"Could you share your best email address so I can send the meeting invite directly?" "What's your phone number?" The unlock fee is how Tutorperch works — if a parent wants your contact details, they pay the £9.99 to unlock them on their side. Anyone asking you to type your contact info into a message (rather than paying for it) is trying to bypass the platform.

Side note: you typing your own phone or email into a message also gets redacted — our system blocks contact details going either direction until unlock.

What Tutorperch does automatically

Auto-redacts phone numbers, emails, URLs, and chat handles (WhatsApp / Telegram / Snapchat / Instagram etc.) in any message until the unlock fee is paid.
Catches lookalike domains and obfuscated formats (name [at] domain dot com, defanged URLs, etc.) — not just plain text.
Manually reviews every safeguarding submission (DBS / PVG / AccessNI) so the badge on a tutor's profile is something we've seen with our own eyes.
Logs everything — when admin investigates a reported conversation we have a complete transcript.

What we don't do: read every conversation in real time. The protections are automated and structural; the human judgement step is yours, plus the report queue.

If something looks off

Don't click external links. Even if they look like Zoom / Teams / Google Meet, double-check the domain. Redacted links are redacted because something about them tripped the filter.

Don't share your contact details in response to a request before the other party has paid the unlock fee. Genuine students pay; scammers ask.

Report the conversation. Every thread page has a "Report" button in the top-right corner. Admin reads every report.

If in doubt, report. We'd rather see ten false-alarm reports than miss one real phishing pattern.

If you've already engaged

Did you click a redacted link or one you've now realised was suspicious? Run a virus scan, change passwords for any account you signed into recently, and watch your bank statements for unfamiliar charges.
Did you share your contact details before the unlock? Block the number / email on your end. The scammer can't reach you on Tutorperch once we suspend their account; they may still try via the channel you shared.
Did you arrange a payment off-platform? Stop. Don't send any money, and report the conversation immediately so we can suspend the account and check for other targets.
If you suspect actual fraud, also consider reporting to Action Fraud — they're the UK national fraud + cybercrime reporting centre.