Is that text safe to open?

Paste a suspicious SMS and SafeToOpen checks the message and its links in seconds — free, and private by design.

Paste the full text of a suspicious SMS below and we’ll check whether it’s safe.

Paste here and we never collect your phone number. Messages should be 8–1022 characters.

How to spot a scam text message

Scam texts — also called smishing (SMS phishing) — are built to rush you into tapping a link or handing over personal details. Here’s what to look for, and what to do when you’re not sure.

Fake parcel & delivery texts

“Your package couldn’t be delivered — pay a small fee here.” Real couriers don’t ask for card details through a texted link.

Bank & payment alerts

“Suspicious login detected — verify now.” Your bank never texts a link to log in or confirm a code. Open the app you already trust instead.

Toll, fine & tax messages

Unpaid toll, traffic-fine or tax-refund texts with a link are a classic lure. Check the official website directly — never the link.

Prizes & refunds

“You’ve won” or “you’re owed a refund” texts exist to harvest your details. If you didn’t enter, you didn’t win.

“Hi Mum / Dad” family scams

A message from a “new number” claiming to be your child, then asking for money. Call them on their known number before doing anything.

Account verification

Texts impersonating Netflix, Apple, your telco or a courier, asking you to “reactivate” or “confirm” your account on a fake page.

Red flags in almost every scam text

  • Urgency or threats — “act now”, “final notice”, “your account will be closed”.
  • An unexpected link, often shortened or odd-looking.
  • Requests for secrets — passwords, card numbers or one-time codes.
  • An unknown or spoofed sender, or a generic “Dear customer” greeting.
  • Too good to be true — prizes, refunds or jobs you never applied for.

Still not sure? Paste the text above and SafeToOpen will check the message and its links for you — free, in seconds.

On your phone

Already tapped a link before you could check it?

It happens fast. The free SafeToOpen browser extension watches each page as it opens on your phone and steps in the instant a link leads to a phishing or scam site — even brand-new ones that block-lists haven’t caught yet. It works in Safari on iPhone & iPad and Edge on Android.

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Frequently asked questions

Everything you might want to know about verifying a text with SafeToOpen.

How can I tell if a text message is a scam?
Common red flags include a sense of urgency (“act now” or “your account will be closed”), an unexpected link or shortened URL, a request for passwords, card numbers or one-time codes, an unfamiliar or spoofed sender, generic greetings, and offers that look too good to be true. If a text shows any of these, paste it above and SafeToOpen will check the message and its links for you.
I clicked a link in a scam text — what should I do?
Don’t enter any details, and close the page. If you already typed a password or card number, change that password and contact your bank straight away. You can paste the link into our free URL scanner to see what it was. To stay protected next time, install the SafeToOpen browser extension — on a phone it checks each page the moment it opens in Safari on iOS and Edge on Android, and warns you before a fake login page can do any harm.
Does SafeToOpen work on iPhone and Android?
Yes. You can paste a text into this page from any phone, tablet or computer. For real-time protection when you tap a link inside a text, add the free SafeToOpen browser extension — it runs in Safari on iOS and Edge on Android and checks each page as it loads, catching brand-new scam sites that block-lists miss.
What are the most common scam texts right now?
The ones we see most are fake parcel or delivery notices, bank and payment “security alerts”, unpaid toll or fine demands, tax or refund messages, prize and gift-card offers, account-verification requests, and family impersonation (“Hi Mum, this is my new number”). They almost always push you to tap a link or share information quickly.
What is SafeToOpen SMS verification?
It’s a free service from SafeToOpen that checks suspicious text messages. We combine our scam-detection technology with AI to analyse the content and any links in a reported message, then tell you whether it looks safe or risky — and why.
Is it free? Do I need to sign up?
Yes, it’s completely free and there’s no account or sign-up. Just paste the text and check it.
How reliable are the responses?
It’s a valuable signal but can’t guarantee 100% accuracy as threats evolve, so false positives and negatives are possible. Use it alongside official sources. We explain the reasoning behind each assessment so you can make an informed decision.
Is there a limit to message size?
Yes — a message must be more than 8 words and fewer than 1022 characters.
Can I check a QR code or screenshot?
Yes — you can send images (such as screenshots) or QR codes to us via WhatsApp, Telegram or Viber.
What data do you collect, and how is it handled?
If you paste into the box on this page, neither your number nor user ID is collected. When you use a messaging app we may collect your user ID or phone number to reply — with the middle digits masked before storage. We keep the reported message (text and links), never sell it, and only share it if required by law. You can delete it any time via the link in the response. See our Terms & Conditions.
How do I share or delete a result?
Copy and share the result link with anyone — tap the link next to More in the reply. To remove your message, open that link and tap the trash-bin icon.

Protect your browser

The free SafeToOpen extension catches brand-new scam pages the moment they load — on Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari and iOS.

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