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.
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.