Is that link safe to click?
Got a link in a text or email, or a website you’re not sure about? Paste the address here and we’ll check it for the warning signs scammers use — safely, without ever opening it.
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Tip: on a phone, press and hold the link and choose “copy link” first. We never open the link — we only examine the address.
Examining the link…
Not sure about a message?
If a link, text or email feels off, don’t click — check with us first. We help Dorset homes and businesses spot and stop scams, calmly and without judgement.
Checks the link’s address for common phishing tells, right in your browser. A clean result isn’t a guarantee — when in doubt, don’t click.
Watch: check a scam email, then report it
This checker in use on a made-up scam email, then where to report scam emails and texts in the UK.
1 min 37 s · a spoken guide with captions · the emails are made up · Watch on YouTube
Free tools in the film: Spot the Scam quiz · Techies One Mail for Windows
What the video says
Got an email that doesn’t feel right? Here’s how to check it in under a minute, and where to report it in the UK. It’s free, and it helps stop the scammers. Step one: look for the warning signs. Scam emails pretend to be a company you know, like Royal Mail or your bank. They rush you, and ask you to click a link or pay a small fee. Here, the sender’s address isn’t really Royal Mail’s, and it wants £1.45 within 24 hours. That’s a scam. While it’s open, our free Techies One Mail app checks new emails for these signs, and moves likely scams to a Scams folder, with the reasons why. Step two: check a link before you click it. Copy the link, and paste it into our free Link Safety Checker. It only reads the address, and never opens the page. This one uses a number instead of a proper name, and it isn’t secure. So don’t click it. Step three: report it. Forward the email to report@phishing.gov.uk. That’s the National Cyber Security Centre’s free service. Then delete it. Got a scam text? Forward it to 7726. If you’ve already clicked, paid, or shared your details, call your bank straight away on the number on the back of your card, and report it to Report Fraud. And you can practise spotting scams with our free quiz.
// IS THIS WEBSITE SAFE?
Checking a whole website, not just a link
The checker works on any web address, so you can paste the address of a shop or website you’re not sure about, too. It looks for the same warning signs in the address. What it can’t see is what’s on the page, so before you buy anything or sign in, run through these:
- Is it the real company’s address? Type the company’s name into a search engine yourself, or use the address on a letter or bill, rather than a link from a message or an advert. Fake sites copy real ones with an extra word, or a different ending such as .shop, .online or .co instead of .co.uk.
- Is the price too good to be true? Big brands at a fraction of the usual price, on a site you’ve never heard of, is the classic fake shop.
- How long has it been around? Scam shops are often only weeks old. Get Safe Online’s free Check a website tool gives a trust score drawn from many sources.
- How do they want paying? Paying by card or PayPal gives you a way to get your money back if things go wrong. Being asked to pay by bank transfer only is a warning sign.
- Can you reach a real person? No address, no phone number, or only a contact form, is a warning sign. Look for reviews on other websites, not just the shop’s own.
- A padlock doesn’t mean safe. It means the connection is private, nothing more. Scam sites have padlocks too.
Already paid, or typed in your card details? Ring your bank straight away on the number on the back of your card, or call 159, then report it to Report Fraud. Our I’ve been scammed guide walks you through it step by step, and how to spot a fake website goes further.
// GOOD QUESTIONS
Frequently asked
What does the link safety checker do?
It examines a web address for the tell-tale signs of a phishing or scam link — things like a missing secure connection, an IP address instead of a domain, disguised characters, or a shortened link that hides where it really goes — and explains what it finds in plain English.
Does it open the link?
No — and that’s deliberate. We only read and analyse the address in your browser, so it’s completely safe to check a link you’re unsure about.
If it says ‘no red flags’, is the link definitely safe?
It’s reassuring, but not a guarantee — a clean-looking address can still be malicious. Always ask yourself: were you expecting this link? If a message feels off, don’t click — check with us.
I’ve clicked a bad link — what now?
Don’t panic. Don’t enter any details, close the page, and if you already typed a password, change it straight away. See our I’ve been scammed guide, or call us — we’ll help.
Where can I learn to spot scams myself?
Try our free Spot the Scam quiz and our online safety hub — both in plain English, no jargon.
Is this website safe? How can I tell?
Paste its address into the checker above to look for the warning signs in the address itself. Then ask: did you find the site yourself, or follow a link from a message or advert? Is the price too good to be true? Do they want paying by bank transfer only? Can you reach a real person? A padlock on its own doesn’t mean a site is safe.
Can it tell me if a shopping website is a scam?
It checks the address for warning signs, but it can’t see the shop itself — its prices, reviews or how new it is. Get Safe Online’s free Check a website tool gives a trust score from many sources, and our guide to spotting a fake website covers the rest.
Does a padlock mean a website is safe?
No. The padlock only means the connection between you and the site is private. Scam websites have padlocks too, so it tells you nothing about who runs the site.
Had a suspicious message?
Forward it, screenshot it, or just describe it — we’ll tell you if it’s a scam and what to do, with no judgement. Helping Dorset stay safe online since 1995.
01202 775566 · help@365techies.co.uk · MON–FRI 9AM–5PM
// HOW IT WORKS
How to check if a text message link is a scam
To check if a text message link is a scam, copy the link and paste it into this free checker, which reads the web address in your browser and flags the phishing warning signs scammers use — without ever opening the link — so you can decide before you tap.
Warning signs this checker looks for in a link's address (in your browser, without opening it):
- Not secure (no HTTPS) — the connection isn't encrypted, so never enter passwords or card details.
- An IP address instead of a domain name — a classic phishing sign.
- An '@' in the address — text before an @ is ignored by browsers and used to disguise the real destination.
- Disguised 'punycode' (xn--) characters — can make a fake site look identical to a real one.
- A shortened link (bit.ly, tinyurl, t.co and similar) — hides where it really goes.
- A long chain of subdomains — lots of dots used to look official.
- An unusual domain ending (e.g. .zip, .tk, .xyz, .top, .click) — used far more by scam sites.
- An unusually long web address — can hide the true destination.
Step by step
- Copy the link, don't tap it — On a phone, press and hold the link in the text message and choose 'Copy link' instead of opening it.
- Paste it into the checker — Paste the full address, including the part before the first slash, into the box.
- Run the safety check — Press 'Check this link' — the tool examines only the address in your browser and never visits the site.
- Read the warning signs — See the plain-English verdict and any red flags, such as a shortened link, an IP address, a disguised '@', or an unusual domain ending.
- When in doubt, don't tap — A clean result is reassuring but not a guarantee; if the message was unexpected, don't tap the link and check with the sender or with 365 Techies.
Good to know
How can I tell if a link in a text message is a scam?
Genuine couriers, banks and companies rarely ask you to tap a link and pay a fee or log in; watch for shortened links, an IP address instead of a name, misspelt brand names, an '@' in the address or an odd domain ending — paste the link into this checker to have those signs flagged for you.
Does this checker actually open or visit the link?
No — and that is deliberate. It only reads and analyses the address text in your browser, so it is completely safe to check a link you are unsure about; it never loads the page.
Does the checker scan the link against a virus or blocklist database?
No — it inspects the address for common phishing tells rather than scanning a live threat database, so a clean result means no obvious red flags, not a guaranteed-safe site; if a message feels off, don't tap the link.