Malwarebytes Launched Tool to Identify Scams
The web-based analyzer attempts to curb rising global fraud by vetting suspicious URLs in real time.
Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Cybersecurity
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Malwarebytes has released a free web tool, Scam Link Check, designed to evaluate URLs sent via text, email, or social media. The tool provides safety verdicts to help users identify phishing pages, malicious sites, and redirect chains.
Why it matters
The tool arrives as scam-related financial losses hit $442 billion globally, driven by sophisticated digital fraud that now outpaces trade in traditional illicit markets like drugs and weapons. With 85% of people now unable to distinguish scams from legitimate sites, automated verification is increasingly necessary to mitigate personal financial risk.
The tool assesses links by cross-referencing URLs against known malicious domains, phishing templates, and suspicious redirect chains. This analysis aims to counter the 19 percentage point increase in users who struggle to identify fraudulent sites compared to the prior year.
The players
Malwarebytes
A cybersecurity firm specializing in anti-malware software, endpoint protection, and remediation tools for consumer and enterprise users.
The details
Users interact with the service by pasting a URL into a web interface that initiates a security scan. The tool inspects the destination for malicious signatures and tracks redirect chains—a technique where a link passes through multiple intermediate websites before reaching its final landing page—to determine the intent of the sender. By automating this inspection, the tool addresses the limitation of manual human detection, which has failed to keep pace with evolving fraud delivery methods.
Timeline
2025: Americans lost approximately $21 billion to scams.
2026: Fraud trends were reported at the UN Fraud Summit.
October 5, 2026: Malwarebytes launched the Scam Link Check tool.
The Tech Race
The introduction of this tool aligns with the urgent trends reported at the 2026 UN Fraud Summit regarding the escalation of cyber-enabled fraud. It reflects an industry shift toward automated safety checkpoints to counter delivery methods that increasingly bypass individual scrutiny.
The service is available immediately for anyone to use when receiving unsolicited links through texts, emails, or chat applications. By pasting a suspicious URL into the site, users receive an instant verdict on whether the link is likely a phishing attempt.
The takeaway
The rapid growth of cyber-enabled fraud highlights a critical vulnerability in digital communication channels. Users should implement regular URL verification as a standard safety habit whenever receiving unsolicited messages.
Further reading
For more on evolving digital threats and defense strategies, visit Cybersecurity.
More information
Test suspicious links using the Malwarebytes scam link verification tool.
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