NordVPN launches a new scam checker to help you spot phishing and fraud – and it's completely free to use

NordVPN has launched a free scam checker to help people identify suspicious messages before interacting with them.

This web-based tool allows you to upload texts, emails, and DMs for analysis. It detects common signs of phishing, including malicious links, suspicious phone numbers, and scam-related language.

The launch expands NordVPN's growing set of security features housed within Threat Protection Pro, and cements its status as the best VPN for most people.

However, many of these protections require a NordVPN subscription. The scam checker is available for free through NordVPN's website.

What does the scam checker do?

NordVPN says the checker can analyse plain text and images containing text, such as screenshots of suspicious messages. When an image is uploaded, the tool extracts and scans the text rather than analysing the image itself.

The checker looks for phone numbers, email addresses, and URLs, then compares them against databases of known malicious activity.

It also uses nexos.ai, an enterprise AI platform launched by Nord Security co-founder Tomas Okmanas, to analyse the wording and structure of messages for patterns commonly linked to phishing. This can include urgency, scare tactics, and impersonation.

NordVPN is advising users to avoid sharing personal data when submitting messages. It also notes that submissions may be used to help improve its scam-detection systems.

The checker supports screenshots in .png and .jpg format (up to 10 MB). It also has the ability to analyze up to five email addresses, URLs, or phone numbers in one scan. The tool currently supports the English language and can be used on desktop, mobile, and tablet.

Why is NordVPN adding more scam protection tools?

NordVPN has released a number of scam protection features in recent months. Call Protection was expanded to cover Android users in Europe. It also boasts features such as email protection, a link checker, and hijacked session alerts.

All fall under its powerful Threat Protection Pro feature. Available on desktop, it can block phishing and malicious URLs, ads, and trackers, while also scanning downloads for malware. Threat Protection Pro is included in NordVPN Plus plans and above, with prices starting at $3.89 per month.

"AI has made phishing and scam messages significantly harder to spot. The days when a poorly written email was an obvious red flag are gone," said Domininkas Virbickas, product director at NordVPN.

"Scammers can now generate polished, personalized messages at scale, which is why we built this tool to give people a simple way to check any message they’re unsure about."

How to use NordVPN's Scam Checker

The scam checker is free and does not require a download or app update. To use it:

• Head to NordVPN's website
• Open NordVPN's scam checker page
• Paste a suspicious message or upload a screenshot
• Wait for the scan to finish
• Review the result before taking any action

NordVPN says the checker will also be added to its mobile app in the future, where users will be able to open it through Threat Protection Pro.