--- title: "Screenshot scam checker: upload and check | TapSafely" url: https://tapsafely.com/screenshot-scam-checker source: TapSafely description: "Can't copy the message? Upload a screenshot of a text, chat, ad or social post. Our free AI scam checker reads it and shows the warning signs." --- [Home](https://tapsafely.com/)/[Free tools](https://tapsafely.com/tools)/ Screenshot checker Free screenshot checker # Screenshot scam checker: upload it and we'll check it Some things can't be copied: Instagram ads, marketplace chats, pop-ups and voicemail transcripts. Take a screenshot, upload it here, and our AI reads it and checks it for scam signs. - **Social media ads:** fake shops, giveaways and celebrity investment ads - **Marketplace chats:** buyers and sellers asking to move off the app - **Pop-ups:** fake virus warnings and support numbers - **Any language:** our AI reads text in most major languages Free, no sign-up, in any language. We don't store what you check. [Open the free checker on this page](https://tapsafely.com/screenshot-scam-checker) to check a message, link or screenshot. ## How to take a screenshot - **iPhone:** press the side button and volume up together (or the side button and Home button on older models). - **Android:** press the power and volume down buttons together. - **Windows:** press Windows + Shift + S, then select the area. - **Mac:** press Shift + Command + 4, then select the area. Before uploading, crop out anything personal, such as your name, phone number, address or account numbers. ## What we look for in a screenshot - The words used: urgency, threats, prizes, easy money and requests for codes. - Brand names and logos, and whether the web address shown matches the real brand. - Payment requests: gift cards, crypto, bank transfers to individuals or "fees" to release money. - Signs of fake profiles, fake reviews and too-good-to-be-true prices. ### Your screenshot is not stored We send the image to our server for the AI check and discard it straight after. We keep only anonymous counts for Scam Weather. ## Tips for the best results - Include the whole message, the sender's name and any link. - For long chats, take two or three screenshots and check the most important one first. - If the screenshot contains a link you can copy, also check it with the [link checker](https://tapsafely.com/link-checker). ## Questions people ask What image types can I upload? PNG, JPG, WEBP or GIF, up to 8 MB. Large images are shrunk on your device before upload. How long does a screenshot check take? Usually 5 to 20 seconds, because the AI has to read the image first. Can I check a screenshot of a phone call or voicemail? Yes, if the screenshot shows the transcript or the caller details. For calls in general, remember that caller ID can be faked. Is there a daily limit? Screenshot checks use AI, so there is a fair daily allowance per person to keep the service free. Text and link checks still work if you reach it. Can you tell if a photo or video is a deepfake? Not reliably. We look at what the message asks you to do, which is the best clue. See our guide to deepfake scams for how to verify a video. ### 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 ### Marketplace buyer and seller scams Fake payment links, overpayments and couriers that never come. How marketplace scams target both sellers and buyers, and… Read guide](https://tapsafely.com/scams/marketplace-seller-scams)[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)[Guide ### Deepfake video scams AI can fake a face and voice on video. How deepfake ads, fake video calls and fake bosses are used to steal money, and h… Read guide](https://tapsafely.com/scams/deepfake-video-scams) ## More free tools [Free tool ### Link checker See who really owns a link, how old the site is and where it leads, before you open it. Open tool](https://tapsafely.com/link-checker)[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 ### QR code checker Scan a QR code safely and see where it leads before anything opens. Open tool](https://tapsafely.com/qr-code-checker)