Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you want to know about ProtectMyCircle — answered in plain English.
About ProtectMyCircle
What is ProtectMyCircle?
ProtectMyCircle is an AI-powered scam detection service built for everyday people — especially older adults and their families. You paste a suspicious email, text message, or phone call description into the checker, and within seconds you get a plain-English verdict: safe, warning, or danger — along with exactly what to do next.
Who built it?
ProtectMyCircle was built by Garland A. Hurt, a 40-year veteran of information security and banking cybersecurity based in West Tennessee. After watching family members and neighbors lose money to scams that could have been caught, Garland built the tool he wished existed. Read his full story →
Is this a real company or just a website?
ProtectMyCircle is a real service owned and operated by Garland A. Hurt. It is not a template, not a side project, and not affiliated with any larger corporation. Every feature was designed specifically for protecting families from real scams that are happening right now.
How It Works
How does the scam checker work?
You paste the text of a suspicious email or text message into the checker — or attach a screenshot. Our AI reads the content and analyzes it for dozens of known scam patterns: fake sender addresses, suspicious links, urgent threats, requests for gift cards or wire transfers, impersonation of government agencies, and more. It then gives you a clear verdict and tells you what to do.
Can I attach a screenshot instead of typing everything out?
Yes. The checker accepts JPG, PNG, and PDF attachments. You can drag and drop a screenshot directly onto the upload area. This is especially useful for emails with logos and formatting that might be visually deceptive — our AI can read those too.
How accurate is it?
ProtectMyCircle uses the same AI technology that powers some of the most advanced cybersecurity tools available. It is highly accurate for known scam types and patterns. That said, no tool catches 100% of scams, and we always recommend using your own judgment alongside the results. When in doubt, don't click — check first.
What types of scams can it detect?
ProtectMyCircle is trained to detect phishing emails, text message scams (smishing), grandparent scams, Medicare and Social Security fraud, fake tech support, job and hiring scams, romance scams, lottery and prize scams, gift card demands, impersonation of banks and government agencies, and more. New scam types are added regularly.
Is my message stored or shared?
No. Messages you check are analyzed in real time and are never stored, logged, or shared with third parties. We do not build profiles from your checks. Your privacy is a core part of how ProtectMyCircle was designed. See our Privacy Policy for full details.
Plans & Pricing
Is it really free?
Yes — anyone can check 2 messages per day for free with no account required. No credit card, no signup. Just go to the checker and paste your message.
What does the Family plan include?
The Family plan is $7/month and covers up to 5 family members. Everyone on the plan gets unlimited scam checks, a weekly scam alert newsletter, and priority support — plus the member dashboard where you can monitor your family's check activity. Our 10-module training center is free for everyone, no plan required.
Is there a free trial?
Yes — the 2 free checks per day are essentially an ongoing free tier. We also offer a 7-day money-back guarantee on the Family plan. If you're not satisfied for any reason in your first 7 days, contact us and we'll refund you in full.
Can I cancel anytime?
Yes, absolutely. There are no long-term contracts and no cancellation fees. You can cancel your Family plan at any time from your dashboard or by contacting support.
Do you have a plan for businesses?
Yes — we offer scam protection for small businesses and their teams. See our business plans →
Family & Account Questions
How do I add a family member?
After you sign up, we'll email you a unique family access code. Share that code with up to 4 family members along with a link to the checker — they enter the code and their own email address on the Check a Message page and get instant, unlimited access. No account or password needed on their end. You can add up to 5 people total including yourself.
Does my elderly parent need to be tech-savvy to use this?
No — that was one of our core design goals. The checker is as simple as possible: paste, click, read the result. The verdict is written in plain English with no jargon. We also have a step-by-step guide to setting it up for a parent.
What if a family member gets scammed — what do we do?
We have a detailed guide for exactly this situation. Read: What to do immediately if you were scammed →
Support
How do I contact support?
Email us at support@protectmycircle.com or use the contact form. We typically respond within 24 hours, Monday through Friday.
I think I found a scam that wasn't caught — can I report it?
Yes, please do. Send it to support@protectmycircle.com with the subject line "Missed scam report." This helps us improve detection for everyone.
Still have a question?
We're happy to help. Send us a message and we'll get back to you within 24 hours.
Contact us