Phishing Checker: How to Check a Link or Email for Phishing
A phishing checker helps you verify whether a link or email is a phishing attempt before you click. Learn the signs and how to check safely.
Phishing Checker: How to Check a Link or Email for Phishing
Phishing is the most common online scam: a fake message tries to trick you into clicking a link and entering your password, one-time code, or card details on a look-alike page. A phishing checker helps you verify a link or email before you click — so you never reach the fake page in the first place.
How to check a link safely
You don't need to click a link to inspect it.
- On a computer: hover over the link and read the address in the bottom corner.
- On a phone: press and hold the link until a preview appears.
Look for:
- Misspelled domains (
paypa1.com,arnazon.com) - Extra subdomains (
login.bank.com-secure-verify.com) - Unusual top-level domains or long random strings
- A domain that doesn't match the brand the message claims to be from
How to check an email
- Check the sender's actual address, not just the display name.
- Look for generic greetings ("Dear Customer").
- Watch for urgency ("verify within 24 hours or your account closes").
- Be suspicious of unexpected attachments.
The fastest check
Paste the link or email into the GoCheckAI phishing checker. It returns a risk score and explains the specific red flags — a mismatched domain, urgency language, or a credential request — so you know exactly why it's suspicious.
Common phishing targets
Phishing most often impersonates:
- Banks and payment apps — see PayPal scam, Apple Pay scam
- Healthcare portals — see MyChart phishing scam
- Delivery services and retailers — see Amazon scam
- Government agencies — see scam calls
If you already clicked or entered details
- Don't enter anything else on that page.
- If you entered a password, change it immediately from a trusted device and enable two-factor authentication.
- If you shared an OTP, treat that account as compromised and contact the service.
- If you entered card details, freeze your card and call your bank.
Then get a personalized action plan and read our broader phishing scam guide.
Related guides
Important
This article is for general informational purposes only and is not legal, financial, or professional advice. GoCheckAI is an independent platform and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always report crime to official authorities in your country.
High Risk of Recovery Scam
Scam victims are often targeted again by fake “recovery agents.”
- Anyone claiming “We can recover your money for a small upfront fee” is almost certainly a scammer.
- Recovery is never guaranteed. No legitimate service charges an upfront fee to retrieve stolen funds.
- Scammers buy victim lists — expect fake “hackers”, “officials”, and “lawyers” to contact you.