Is this QR code safe? Free QR code scam checker
Check a QR code before you open it: see what it does in plain words and get a verdict on scam signs like lookalike sites and hidden links, on your device.
Drop a photo or screenshot of the QR code
Read on your device. The image is never uploaded. Or paste a screenshot.
Choose a fileOn a phone this opens the camera. Take the photo; nothing is opened or sent.
How this check works
The code is read and judged on your device with fixed rules: lookalike and misspelled brand names, hidden addresses, short links, risky endings, installers, premium numbers, open Wi-Fi and payment requests. It is a quick heuristic check, not a guarantee. It cannot see the page behind a link or know a site is new. For a full read with a Safe Browsing lookup, use the QR code reader.
Before you scan in public
- Look for a sticker placed over the original code, on parking meters, posters and menus.
- A code that asks for a password, card or bank login right away is a red flag.
- For parking, tolls and deliveries, use the official app or type the address yourself.
Printing your own codes? Make codes people trust: verified before download.
Upload or paste a photo or screenshot of the code, take a photo on your phone, or paste the text it contains.
It is read on your device and explained in plain words: a website, a Wi-Fi network, a call, a payment, a contact.
Read the verdict and the notes. Nothing is opened for you, and you can copy the link to check it yourself.
Questions
What is quishing?+
QR code phishing: a scam code, often a sticker over a real one on a parking meter, poster or menu, or a code in an email, that sends you to a fake login or payment page. The code hides the address until you scan it.
What does the checker look for?+
Brand names on sites that are not the brand's, misspellings and lookalike letters, addresses hidden behind an @ or encoded characters, bare IP addresses, short links, risky endings such as .zip, app installers, premium phone numbers, open Wi-Fi and payment requests.
Does "Looks fine" mean the code is safe?+
No. It means nothing in the content matches a known trick. This is a quick heuristic check on your device and cannot see the page behind a link. Stay alert for any request for a password, card or bank login.
Is my image uploaded?+
No. The code is read in your browser and the check runs there too. The image and the link never leave your device, and the link is never opened.
What should I do with a suspicious code?+
Do not open it. If it claims to be your bank, a parcel company or a parking operator, go to their official app or type their address yourself. Tell the venue if the code is a sticker on their sign.
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