Products · Carmen Guardian

Carmen Guardian checks texts from numbers you don’t know.

Carmen Guardian is the app on your phone. Texts from numbers not in your contacts are read on the device: who sent it, how old the link is, what it wants and whether it is rushing you. High risk texts go to junk with the reason attached.

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Carmen Guardian flagging a held-package text as High risk
Carmen Guardian check details: a fake delivery text, High risk, likely a package delivery scam, with the next step

What it does.

WatchesTexts from numbers not in your contacts.
How it alertsHigh risk texts with hard evidence go to the junk folder with the reason. Anything Carmen is unsure about stays, with a note. A notification when something needs a look.
Never readsTexts from your contacts. Those never leave the phone.
SetupInstall the app on iPhone or Android and turn on one switch in Settings.
WhereThe App Store and Google Play. You can also share a message or a link to the app, or paste it in.
High risk

A parcel held at the depot.

A text asks for a $2.99 release fee, then a customs charge, then sends a final warning. Carmen Guardian sees that the link is four days old and that no carrier charges a fee by text.

The text goes to junk with the reason. You do not need to pay or click anything.

What Carmen checks here.

How long it has existedA real carrier has had its address for years. This link is four days old.
How it readsA fee, a deadline and a final warning. Carmen has seen this wording before.
Whether Carmen has seen it beforeThe same text sent to fifty people this week.
What it is asking forA small payment now, your address, a card.

The privacy model.

What leaves the deviceThe scrubbed text or link, over an encrypted connection. Names, numbers and IDs are removed first, in the browser and on the phone.
What is keptThe verdict, the reasons, which account it was for, and when.
What is not keptThe messages Carmen screens for you. Each one is checked, answered and then discarded.
Who sees itOnly our software. A person sees it only if you ask for expert help.
Turning it offMail, browsing and phone screening are each a switch, per person.

Questions people ask.

Does it read my messages?

Only texts from numbers not in your contacts, on the device. Texts from people you know never leave the phone.

What if Carmen is not sure?

The text stays where it is, with a note saying what could not be checked. Carmen does not mark a text safe unless it can check it.

Can I turn it off?

Yes. Phone screening is its own switch.

Does it use credits?

No. Screening is included and not counted, within fair use. Credits are only used when you ask Carmen to look deeper at something.

Get started.

The free plan includes five checks a month on the website. For $5.99 a month you also get Carmen Monitor, Carmen Email and Carmen Guardian, running all the time.

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The suite:Ask CarmenCarmen MonitorCarmen EmailCarmen Guardian