How to check if a link is safe to open: the checks that matter
The checks you can run on a link without opening it, and a checker that does the same reading for you on your phone.
You can check a link in under a minute without opening it. Press and hold to copy, paste it into the box above, and read the rating and the reasons. The check looks at the address only, so treat the answer as a reason to look closer or to stop, never as permission to type your details.
In the worked example the site is paytm-login.xyz, and the checker found 3 warning signs. The heaviest is worth 35 points. Try your own link in the box above: the rating, the points and the list of reasons all change with the address.
The checker runs in your browser and sends nothing anywhere, so you can try any link, including one you are unsure about.
Common questions
What are the steps to check a link without opening it?
Copy it without tapping, read the address from right to left, find the name just before the first single slash, look for an @ sign, a second address or words like login and bonus, then paste it into a checker and read the reasons.
How do I copy a link without opening it?
Press and hold the link and choose the copy option from the menu that appears. Then paste it into the box above. In some chat apps the menu says copy link address or copy link text.
What if every check on a link comes out clean?
Then the address has no marks, which is not the same as the site being fine. Ask where the link came from, and never type an OTP or payment details on a page you reached through a forwarded link.
What should I do if a link scores High?
Do not open it, and do not type your number, an OTP or payment details on it. Ask the sender by another route, such as a phone call, and start from an address you already know instead of the link.
Can a link be dangerous when the checker rates it Low?
Yes. Low means the address itself earned few warning points. The checker cannot see who runs the site, how old it is or what the page does, so a low rating is never a green light.