--- title: "Is this link safe? Free link checker | TapSafely" url: https://tapsafely.com/link-checker source: TapSafely description: "Paste any link to see who really owns it, how new the website is, where it redirects and whether it copies a known brand. Free, no sign-up." --- [Home](https://tapsafely.com/)/[Free tools](https://tapsafely.com/tools)/ Link checker Free link checker # Is this link safe? Check it before you open it Paste a link from a text, email, ad or chat. We show who is really behind it, how old the website is, where it redirects and whether it pretends to be a brand you trust. We never open it on your device. - **Real owner:** the actual website name, not the words around it - **Look-alikes:** brand names with extra words, swapped letters or odd endings - **Website age:** brand-new sites are a classic scam sign - **Hidden redirects:** short links and where they really end up Free, no sign-up, in any language. We don't store what you check. [Open the free checker on this page](https://tapsafely.com/link-checker) to check a message, link or screenshot. ## What the link checker looks at - **The real website name.** In `paypal.com.account-check.top` the real site is **account-check.top**, not PayPal. We pull out the part that matters and show it to you. - **Look-alike brands.** Scammers register names like `amaz0n-refunds.com` or `royalmail-redelivery.info`. We compare the address with the real domains of well-known brands, banks and agencies. - **How new the site is.** Many scam sites are only days old. When the registry data is available we show the registration date. - **Where the link really goes.** Short links and tracking links can hide the destination. We follow redirects on our server, not on your phone. - **Risky patterns.** Unusual endings such as .top or .xyz, raw IP addresses, words like "verify", "refund" or "unlock", and addresses built to look like a login page. ## How to read a link yourself in 10 seconds 1. Find the first single slash after `https://`. Ignore everything after it. 2. Look at the last two parts before that slash, for example **bank.com** or **bank.co.uk**. That is the real website. 3. Ask: is that exactly the company's real address? Extra words, hyphens, numbers or a different ending mean it isn't. 4. If you can't tell, don't tap. Open the company's app or type its address yourself. ### A padlock doesn't mean safe The padlock only means the connection is encrypted. Scam sites get padlocks for free in minutes. It tells you nothing about who runs the site. ## Signs a link is dangerous - It arrived in a message you didn't expect, with a deadline or a small fee. - It asks you to log in, "verify" your account or enter card details. - The website name is close to a real brand but not quite right. - It's a short link (bit.ly, tinyurl and similar) from someone you don't know. - It downloads a file or asks you to install an app or allow notifications. ### Already opened it? Opening a scam page is usually not a disaster on its own. The danger is what you type in. If you entered a password, change it on the real website and turn on two-step verification. If you entered card or bank details, call your bank using the number on your card. [See the full plan](https://tapsafely.com/been-scammed). ## Questions people ask Is it safe to paste a suspicious link here? Yes. We never open the link in your browser. Our server looks up the address and follows redirects without running anything on your device, and we don't store the links you check. Can a link hurt me if I only open it? Usually the risk comes from what you do next: typing a password, card number or code, or installing something. Very rarely, a page can try to exploit an out-of-date browser, so keep your phone and browser updated. Does a padlock or https mean a website is safe? No. It only means the connection is encrypted. Most scam websites use https too. How do I check a shortened link? Paste it here. We follow the short link to its final address and check that address, so you don't have to open it. The result says low risk. Is the link safe? Not necessarily. Low risk means we didn't find common warning signs. New scam sites appear every day, so if a page asks for money, codes or personal details, go to the company's website or app yourself instead. ### Already clicked or paid? Acting in the first hour matters. [What to do now](https://tapsafely.com/been-scammed) ### Still unsure? Describe what happened and our AI assistant will help, in any language. Ask TapSafely ### Check by email Forward suspicious emails to **check@tapsafely.com**. [How it works](https://tapsafely.com/check-by-email) ## Related guides [Guide ### Phishing links and fake login pages Learn the one skill that stops most scams: reading who really owns a link. With examples of look-alike addresses and fak… Read guide](https://tapsafely.com/scams/phishing-links)[Guide ### Is this website legit? How to check in two minutes Not sure a shop, bank page or booking site is real? Quick checks, from reading the web address to domain age, before you… Read guide](https://tapsafely.com/scams/is-this-website-legit)[Guide ### Fake online shops Huge discounts, countdown timers and a shop that never delivers. How to check whether an online store is real before you… Read guide](https://tapsafely.com/scams/fake-online-shops) ## More free tools [Free tool ### Scam text checker Paste a suspicious text or WhatsApp message and get a clear risk level in seconds. Open tool](https://tapsafely.com/scam-text-checker)[Free tool ### Scam email checker Paste an email, or forward it to us, and see if it's phishing. Open tool](https://tapsafely.com/scam-email-checker)[Free tool ### Screenshot checker Upload a screenshot of an ad, post or chat you can't copy. 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