Malwarebytes says its free Scam Link Check can scan a link before you open it. Use it when an unexpected message asks for a login, payment, personal details, or quick action.
In 60 seconds
- Anyone unsure about an unexpected link should pause before opening it.
- Copy the link without opening it, then paste it into Scam Link Check.
- If the result is unclear, contact the company through its official website.
- Do not enter passwords, payment details, or personal information through an unexpected link.
Who should care and what to do today
This matters to anyone who receives an unexpected link in a text message, email, social media post, messaging app, QR code, or search result. Pay closer attention when the message asks you to log in, make a payment, share personal details, or act quickly.
Malwarebytes says its free Scam Link Check lets you check a suspicious link before opening it. Copy the link without opening it. Paste it into the tool and wait for the result.
Do not use the link while you decide what to do. Do not enter a password, payment details, or other personal information into an unexpected website. These are general safety steps, not findings about any particular message or website.
What Scam Link Check shows
Malwarebytes says the tool analyzes the website behind a pasted link using its threat intelligence technology. Threat intelligence means information used to identify known or suspected online dangers.
The tool can provide a safety result and details about the website’s domain and reputation. It can also show signs that the site may be copying a known brand, where the link ultimately leads, a preview of the website, and recommended next steps.
Malwarebytes lists several situations in which someone may want to check a link. These include a package delivery problem, a bank account warning, a password reset, a request to verify an identity, a toll or fine, a refund, or a prize. These examples are not proof that every message about one of those topics is a scam.
If the result is unclear
Malwarebytes says not to click the link yet if the tool cannot determine whether it is safe. Instead, contact the company through contact details on its official website. Open a known website yourself rather than using the address in the message.
General guidance: verify unexpected requests through a separate, trusted channel, especially when they involve money, passwords, or personal details. Do not reply to the suspicious message or use a phone number, email address, or website address supplied only in that message.
A link check gives information about the website behind the link. It does not by itself confirm that the message came from the person or company it claims to represent. If you already entered a password or payment information, contact the affected service through its official website or a known phone number and change the exposed password from a trusted device.
Does this affect me?
- Who may be affected
- Anyone unsure about a link in an unexpected text, email, social post, messaging app, QR code, or search result should care.
- How to check
- Look at what the message asks you to do, then copy the link without opening it and paste it into Malwarebytes Scam Link Check.
- What to do
- If the result is unclear, contact the company through contact details on its official website before clicking.
- What to avoid
- Do not enter passwords, payment details, or personal information through an unexpected link, even if the page looks familiar.
Common questions
Can I check a link from a text message or QR code?
Yes. Malwarebytes says Scam Link Check can be used with links from text messages, emails, social media, messaging apps, QR codes, and search results. Copy the link without opening it, then paste it into the tool.
What if the tool cannot tell whether the link is safe?
Do not click it yet. Contact the company through its official website instead. Do not use a phone number, email address, or website address provided only in the suspicious message.
Does a scan prove that a message is genuine?
No. The tool provides information about the website behind the link. Verify unexpected requests through a separate, trusted channel, especially when the message asks for money, passwords, or personal details.
Primary source
This article is based on Malwarebytes Labs, “Is this link safe? Find out with Malwarebytes Scam Link Check,” published October 15, 2026: https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/product/2026/10/is-this-link-safe-find-out-with-malwarebytes-scam-link-check. The tool’s features and recommendations are attributed to Malwarebytes. Read the complete original source.
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Article history: Published Oct 15, 2026 at 10:11 am EDT. Updates and corrections are noted here when material facts change.
