Our Mission

HoaxHound was created with a simple mission: to help people identify and avoid email scams. In today's digital world, sophisticated phishing attempts and fraudulent emails have become increasingly common, putting personal information and financial security at risk.

We believe everyone deserves access to tools that can help protect them from online threats. That's why we've developed a free, accessible service that uses advanced AI technology to analyze emails and identify potential scam indicators.

How HoaxHound Works

HoaxHound uses artificial intelligence powered by Anthropic's Claude API to analyze email content for common scam patterns, suspicious language, urgency tactics, and other red flags that typically indicate fraudulent intent.

Here's how our service works:

1. You copy and paste the content of a suspicious email into our secure analysis tool
2. Our AI analyzes the text for multiple scam indicators and patterns
3. The system evaluates various aspects of the content, including:
   • Urgency language and pressure tactics
   • Suspicious links or requests for personal information
   • Grammar and spelling inconsistencies
   • Impersonation attempts of known organizations
   • Unusual requests or too-good-to-be-true offers
4. You receive an assessment indicating whether the email is likely legitimate or potentially fraudulent
5. The tool provides explanation of which specific elements triggered concern

Who We Are

HoaxHound was developed by a small team of cybersecurity enthusiasts who saw firsthand how devastating email scams can be. After helping friends and family members recover from phishing attacks, we realized there was a need for an accessible tool that anyone could use to quickly check suspicious emails.

Our team brings together expertise in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and user experience design to create a service that's both powerful and easy to use.

Understanding Our Limitations

While we strive for accuracy, it's important to understand that no automated system can detect 100% of scams. HoaxHound should be used as one tool in your security toolkit, not as the sole determinant of an email's legitimacy.

Some limitations to be aware of:

• Sophisticated scams designed to evade detection may not be identified
• Legitimate emails with unusual wording might occasionally be flagged as suspicious
• Context-specific emails may be misinterpreted without the full background
• New scam techniques may not be immediately recognized

We're constantly improving our algorithms and updating our detection systems as new scam techniques emerge.

Tips for Identifying Scams

Beyond using HoaxHound, here are some general tips to help you spot potential email scams:

• Check the sender's email address carefully - Scammers often use addresses that look similar to legitimate ones but have subtle differences
• Be wary of urgent requests - Scammers create urgency to pressure you into acting quickly without thinking
• Don't click suspicious links - Hover over links to see where they actually lead before clicking
• Be skeptical of unexpected attachments - These can contain malware or viruses
• Watch for poor grammar and spelling - Many scams originate from non-native English speakers
• Verify requests through official channels - Contact the organization directly using their official website or phone number, not the contact information in the suspicious email
• Trust your instincts - If something feels wrong or too good to be true, it probably is

Your Privacy and Security

We take your privacy seriously. Email content you submit is processed securely and is not shared with third parties except as necessary to provide our service. For complete details on how we handle your data, please review our Privacy Policy.