Free Scam Checker: Check Links, Emails, Texts & Websites
Not sure whether to trust that text, email, or website? Paste the content below and our tool will analyse it for common fraud patterns. We check for phishing tactics, malicious URLs, impersonation attempts, and urgency-based manipulation.
Analysis happens in your browser. We do not retain the full pasted content or a scan history. Read the warning signs and next steps.
Scam Checker
Paste it once. We will work out what kind of check it needs.
PNG, JPG, WEBP up to 10 MB, 24 MP, max 8,192 px per side
PDF, DOCX, TXT up to 10 MB
Free, no sign-up. A low-signal result never guarantees that something is safe.
Privacy: Your message and any uploaded files are analysed in your browser; the full content and file bytes are never stored. To check community reports and reputation, only the specific links, phone numbers, emails or IP addresses found are sent to our server — never the full message or file itself. Extracted public IP/domain reputation data may be cached temporarily.
This tool provides guidance. Always verify requests through official channels when in doubt.
What is a scam checker, and when should I use one?
A scam checker is a tool that scans a message, email, link, or website for the patterns scammers actually use — urgency, impersonation of trusted brands, lookalike domains, requests for OTPs or gift cards, and dozens of other tells. Instead of guessing, you get a clear risk rating with the specific red flags called out.
Use this scam checker whenever a message lands in your inbox or DMs and your gut says "wait — is this real?" The full message and file stay local; only applicable extracted indicators are sent securely for community and external reputation checks.
Common situations this tool handles
- "I got a scam message — is this a scam?"Paste it into the checker above, or use the dedicated SMS and WhatsApp scam checker for messaging-app scams.
- "Someone asked me for my OTP / verification code"That's almost always fraud. Run the message through the SMS/WhatsApp checker and never share codes with anyone.
- "I clicked a suspicious link — what now?"Open the have I been scammed damage-control checklist — it walks you through the first hour after a phishing click.
- "Is this website legit, or is it a fake?"Use the link / URL scam checker — it flags lookalike domains, new registrations, and known phishing patterns.
- "Has anyone else been targeted by this?"Search the scam report lookup or browse the full community scam report database for the phone number, URL, or email address.
- "Is this IP address or server suspicious?"Look up an IP from an email header or log with the suspicious IP address checker — it flags addresses linked to phishing and fraud.
- "Is this PDF, document, or QR code safe?"Select Screenshot or File above, then choose a screenshot or document to start the check. It checks embedded links, QR codes, payment details and metadata — your file is scanned in your browser and never uploaded.
- "Is this email a phishing attempt?"Paste the email body into the email phishing checker — fake invoices and credential-theft attempts follow predictable templates.
Step-by-Step: How to Use This Scam Detection Tool
Copy the suspicious content — whether it is a text message, the body of an email, or a URL someone sent you — and paste it into the input box above. Choose the input type if prompted, then select Check for scam signals to start the check.
When the check completes, review its label — Low signals, Caution, or High signals — together with the explanations, available check coverage and suggested next steps. A low-signal result never guarantees safety.
No automated tool is perfect. If you remain uncertain after checking, contact the supposed sender through official channels. For example, if someone claims to be your bank, call the number on your card — not the number in the suspicious message.
Fraud Patterns and Warning Signs This Tool Detects
Urgency and Threat Language
Scammers create panic to prevent clear thinking:
- • "Act immediately or lose access to your account"
- • "Your package will be returned if you do not pay now"
- • Threats of arrest, lawsuits, or account termination
- • Artificial deadlines ("respond within 24 hours")
Unusual Payment and Information Requests
Legitimate organisations do not operate this way:
- • Requests for passwords, PINs, or security codes
- • Payment via gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfer
- • Asking you to read back a verification code
- • Requests to download software for "security"
Brand and Authority Impersonation
Fraudsters exploit trust in known organisations:
- • Banks and financial services (Chase, HSBC, PayPal)
- • Delivery companies (DHL, FedEx, UPS, postal services)
- • Government agencies (tax authorities, immigration)
- • Technology companies (Microsoft, Apple, Amazon)
Suspicious URL Structures
Malicious links often have telltale patterns:
- • Misspelled domains (e.g., paypa1.com, arnazon.com)
- • Real brand in subdomain (paypal.scam-domain.com)
- • URL shorteners hiding the actual destination
- • Unusual top-level domains for known brands
Already Clicked or Responded?
Not sure if it already happened?
If you are thinking "I clicked a scam link" or "I gave my details to a scammer", do not panic. We have a dedicated tool to help you assess the damage and take control.
Immediate steps if you already acted:
- Entered credentials on a fake site? Change that password immediately on the real website. Enable two-factor authentication if available. Use a unique password for each account.
- Provided payment card details? Contact your bank or card issuer immediately. Request a new card number. Monitor statements for unauthorised charges.
- Sent money to a scammer? Contact your bank or payment service immediately. File a report with local law enforcement. Report the scam to consumer protection agencies.
- Gave remote access to your device? Disconnect from the internet. Run a full antivirus scan. Change all passwords from a different device. Consider professional malware removal.
Reporting scams helps protect others. Consider reporting to your local consumer protection agency and the platform where you received the scam.
What to Do After Checking Your Suspicious Content
- 1Review the result and check coverage above. If the result shows Caution or High signals, treat the message as potentially fraudulent. Do not click links, call numbers, or reply to the sender until you verify the request independently.
- 2Verify through official channels. If the message claims to be from a company or organisation, contact them directly using contact information from their official website — never from the suspicious message itself.
- 3Avoid clicking embedded links. Instead of clicking, type the official website address directly into your browser. Scammers rely on you automatically clicking without examining the destination.
- 4Block and report the sender. Most messaging platforms allow you to report scam messages. This helps protect other users from the same campaign.
- 5Learn more about specific scam types. Read our comprehensive guides on identifying phishing, impersonation, and online fraud to recognise future threats.
Pattern Detection
The checker looks for suspicious wording and link patterns, then explains the warning signs it finds.
Privacy First
Full messages, emails, and files are not retained as scan history. Applicable extracted indicators may be checked securely, with public IP/domain reputation data cached only for its documented short lifetime.
Clear Results
Check for warning signs and read the next steps. No sign-up required.
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