📖 SniffTest Resources
Learn to spot a scam before it spots you
Plain-English guides for the moment something online does not feel quite right. Pick a route below, or have a sniff around.
Start with the basics
A 4-part series on how scam messages actually work-
What is phishing? How scam messages work and how to spot them
Phishing is the most common form of online fraud. Here is what it is, how the different types work, and the signals that give a phishing attempt away.
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What is smishing? How SMS phishing works and how to spot it
Smishing is phishing via text message. Here is how it works, what the most common lures look like, and what to do when you receive a suspicious text.
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Quishing: the QR code scam you need to know about
Quishing is phishing via QR code - and it is getting more common. Here is how it works, where to watch for it, and how to check a QR code before you scan.
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What is vishing? How scam phone calls work and how to spot them
Vishing is phishing by phone call. Here is how it works, what the most common UK scam scripts look like, and what to do if you receive one.
Check before you click
Quick checks for links, sites, texts, and QR codes-
How to tell if a link is safe before you click it
Before you tap a suspicious link, how to read the web address, spot fakes, use a checker, or go straight to the real site. Plain steps, no jargon.
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How to check if a website is legit
How to read the web address, spot a fake shop, check HTTPS and domain age, and run a site through SniffTest before you pay or log in.
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How to spot a lookalike (typosquat) domain
Scammers register web addresses that look almost identical to real brands - paypa1.com, amaz0n-support.net, microsoft.com. Here's how lookalike domains work and how to catch them before you trust a site.
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How to spot a fake login page
Scammers clone real sign-in pages pixel for pixel to steal your password. Here's how cloned login pages work, the tells that give them away, and how a deeper scan catches the ones that look perfect.
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How to spot a fake shop from a social media ad
Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook ads often lead to scam shops. Here is how to tell a fake store from a real one before you pay.
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How to spot an investment or crypto scam
Fake trading platforms and "pig butchering" scams promise steady, impossible returns - then trap your money. Here's how they work, the warning signs, and how to check a platform before you deposit a penny.
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How to check a QR code before scanning it
QR codes hide their destination until you scan them. Here is how to check where a QR code actually goes before you open anything.
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How to spot a fake delivery text
Fake parcel delivery texts are the most common scam text in the UK. Here is how to tell a real one from a fake, and what to do if you're not sure.
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How to spot a fake bank text
Fake bank fraud alerts are among the most common scam texts in the UK. Here is how to tell a real one from a fake, and what to do instead.
When something has happened
If you already clicked, scanned, or shared somethingAbout SniffTest
How we compare to other checkers, and why we can be trusted-
SniffTest vs ScamAdviser vs URLVoid: which free scam checker should you use?
A plain-English comparison of three free URL safety checkers - what each one checks, how they differ, and which to reach for first.
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SniffTest vs ScamVoid review: is ScamVoid safe and accurate?
ScamVoid review and comparison with SniffTest. Is ScamVoid safe to use? Is it accurate? Here's what it checks, where it falls short, and what to use instead.
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SniffTest vs URLVoid review: is URLVoid safe and accurate?
URLVoid review and comparison with SniffTest. Is URLVoid safe to use? Is it accurate? Here's what it checks, where it falls short, and what to use instead.
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SniffTest is another new website. Why should you trust us?
We are not after your wallet or your logins. Here is what we do instead, and how we keep a URL check as boringly safe as we can make it.