Everything you need to know — from what happens the moment you install, to protecting a parent and understanding what our warnings mean.
Getting started
What happens after you install
Most of your protection turns on automatically the moment Scam SafeGuard is installed. You don't need to configure anything to be protected.
Already working from the moment you install: Automatic checking of links on social media, links in your email and messages, and every page you visit in the background.
Here's a quick picture of what Scam SafeGuard does, and which parts need you to take action:
All three protection types turn on automatically when you install — no setup needed.
1
Automatic protection — nothing for you to doLinks on Facebook, Gmail, WhatsApp Web and more are checked before they open. A quiet background checker also keeps an eye on every page you visit.
2
On-demand tools — use when you want toRight-click any link to ask us to check it. Or paste a suspicious text message into the extension and we'll check every link in it.
3
Settings — only if you want to change somethingThe default settings work well for most people. You can adjust your warning level, add a Caregiver Lock PIN, or manage your safe list at any time.
Automatic protection
Works automatically
Links on social media
When you click a link on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, or WhatsApp Web, Scam SafeGuard checks it before the page opens.
You don't do anything. If the link is safe, the page opens normally. If something looks wrong, you'll see a warning first.
This is where most scams come from. Fake giveaways, too-good-to-be-true deals, and fake parcel delivery notices all travel via social media. This protection turns them off before they can do any harm.
Automatic protection
Works automatically
Links in your email and messages
When you click a link inside Gmail, Outlook, WhatsApp Web, or Google Messages (on your computer), Scam SafeGuard checks the destination before it opens.
You don't do anything. Your bank, AusPost, myGov and thousands of other well-known sites are recognised instantly and open straight away with no delay. For anything unfamiliar, we check it quietly and forward you through if it's safe — or show a warning if it's not.
We check your links — not your emails. Scam SafeGuard can see where a link points to. It cannot read your emails, see who sent them, or read what the message says. This is not a policy — it's how the product is built.
This works in web versions only. Gmail, Outlook, WhatsApp Web, and Google Messages in your Chrome browser. The native apps on your phone work differently — see "How to check a text message from your phone" below.
Automatic protection
Works automatically
Fake online shops
Scam SafeGuard watches for websites pretending to be real shops — brand-new sites set up overnight with stolen logos and made-up reviews. If you land on one, you'll see a warning before you enter your card details.
You don't do anything. The background checker quietly watches every page you visit and alerts you if something looks like a fake shop.
On-demand tool
You choose when to use this
How to check any link yourself
You can check any link you see in your Chrome browser — without clicking it — by right-clicking and asking Scam SafeGuard to check it for you.
1
Find a link you want to checkAny link on any webpage in Chrome — a search result, a link in an article, a button on a website.
2
Right-click the link (don't left-click)A small menu will appear. On a Mac, you can also hold Control and click.
3
Choose "Check with Scam SafeGuard"Look for this option near the bottom of the right-click menu.
4
See the resultWe'll show you whether the link is safe, unusual, or dangerous — before you visit it.
Useful when you're not sure about a link and want to check before clicking. Great for search results, links in online articles, or anything you've been sent and opened in the browser.
Right-click any link in Chrome and choose "Check with Scam SafeGuard" to check it before clicking. The option appears in the right-click menu.
On-demand tool
You choose when to use this
How to check a text message from your phone
Got a suspicious text on your phone? Scam SafeGuard can't run on phones, but there's a simple way to check any message — copy it, and paste it into the extension on your computer.
1
Copy the suspicious text messageOn your phone, press and hold the message until the copy option appears. Tap "Copy."
2
Open Scam SafeGuard on your computerClick the Scam SafeGuard shield icon in the top-right corner of Chrome. If you don't see it, click the puzzle piece icon and find Scam SafeGuard.
3
Click the "Check a Message" tabYou'll see it at the top of the extension popup.
4
Paste the message and tap CheckClick in the text box and press Ctrl+V (Windows) or Command+V (Mac) to paste. Then click "Check."
5
See which links are safe and which aren'tWe'll check every link in the message and show you the result for each one.
This works for any message — not just texts. WhatsApp messages, emails forwarded to you, anything suspicious. If it's got a link in it, paste it here and we'll check it.
Copy the suspicious message on your phone. On your computer, open the extension, go to "Check a Message," paste the text, and tap Check. Results appear for every link in the message.
Helping a parent check a text? You can do this for them — copy the message from their phone, paste it into Scam SafeGuard on your computer, and tell them the result. It takes about 30 seconds.
On-demand tool
You choose when to use this
The "Check Links" button in Gmail and Outlook
When you're reading an email in Gmail or Outlook, Scam SafeGuard adds a "Check Links" button near the top of the email. Clicking it checks every link in that email at once and shows you the results.
1
Open an email in Gmail or OutlookIn your Chrome browser, open the email you want to check.
2
Look for the "Check Links" buttonIt appears near the top of the email, added by Scam SafeGuard.
3
Click "Check Links"We'll check every link in the email and show you which are safe and which to avoid.
Useful when you get an email that looks a bit off and want to check all the links before clicking any of them. Good for newsletters, unexpected delivery notices, or anything from an unfamiliar sender.
Understanding Scam SafeGuard
What our warnings mean
When Scam SafeGuard spots something, you'll see one of three types of warnings. A warning isn't a disaster — it's us doing our job. You're always in control of what happens next.
The three warning states you may see. Most links are safe and open normally with nothing shown. When we show a warning, you're always in control of what happens next.
✓ Safe — page opens normally
We checked and everything looks fine. The page opens as usual, with nothing shown. Most links will be in this category.
⚠ This site looks unusual
Something caught our attention — the website might be brand new, have an unusual address, or show other warning signs. We're not certain it's dangerous, but we want you to know before you continue. You can go back to safety, continue just this once, or mark the site as safe if you know it's fine.
✕ This site is dangerous
This website is on a known scam or phishing list. We strongly recommend going back. The page has been blocked to keep you safe.
If we flag a site you know is fine, just click "I trust this site — don't ask me again" on the warning screen, and we'll add it to your safe list. See the next section for how to manage your safe list.
Understanding Scam SafeGuard
Your safe list
Your safe list contains sites you've told us are fine. We won't check them again. You can add to it directly from a warning screen, or remove entries at any time in Settings.
To add a site to your safe list: When you see a warning for a site you know is fine, click "I trust this site — don't ask me again." It's added to your safe list immediately.
To remove a site from your safe list:
1
Open the Scam SafeGuard extensionClick the shield icon in the top-right corner of Chrome.
2
Go to SettingsClick the settings gear icon.
3
Find "Trusted Sites"Scroll down to see your safe list. Click "Remove" next to any site to take it off the list. The site will be checked again next time you visit.
Settings
Adjusting your protection level
The default settings work well for most people. But if you'd like to change how warnings are shown or how strict the protection is, open Settings from the extension popup.
Show warnings for: Choose whether to be warned for high-risk links only, caution links and above, or every scan result. "High risk only" is the default and works well for most people.
Protection level: Three options.
1
Standard (default)Balanced protection. You'll see warnings for dangerous and unusual sites, and have the option to continue if you choose.
2
CautiousMore warnings, fewer exceptions. Good if you want to err on the side of caution.
3
Maximum ProtectionDangerous sites are blocked completely — no option to continue. Recommended for people who want the safest possible experience, or for a parent's device.
If you're setting up Scam SafeGuard on a parent's computer, "Maximum Protection" combined with Caregiver Lock (below) gives the highest level of safety.
Protecting a parent
Caregiver Lock — protecting a parent's settings
Caregiver Lock lets you protect Scam SafeGuard's settings with a 4-digit PIN — so they can't be turned off accidentally, and so a scammer on the phone can't talk a parent into disabling their protection.
"Turn off your security software" is a real scammer tactic. Caregiver Lock means that even if a scammer calls and asks your parent to disable their protection, they can't — without the PIN only you know.
To set up Caregiver Lock:
1
Open Settings on the parent's computerClick the Scam SafeGuard shield icon in Chrome, then the settings gear.
2
Scroll to "Caregiver Lock" and click "Set up"You'll see the setup section near the bottom of the Settings page.
3
Enter a 4-digit PIN and click "Save PIN"Choose something you'll remember. Write it down and keep it somewhere safe — if you forget it, the only way to reset it is to reinstall the extension.
4
Done — the settings are now lockedThe protection settings can only be changed by entering your PIN. The parent can still use the extension normally, mark sites as safe, and dismiss warnings.
Keep your PIN somewhere safe. If you forget it, you'll need to uninstall and reinstall Scam SafeGuard to reset it. There's no "forgot PIN" option — this is intentional, to prevent scammers from resetting it remotely.
Common questions
Common questions
Can Scam SafeGuard read my emails?
No. Scam SafeGuard can see where a link points to — the web address. It cannot read your emails, see who sent them, read the subject line, or read what the message says. This is not just a policy — it's how the product is built. We never receive email content.
How do I check a suspicious text message from my phone?
Phones can't run browser extensions, so Scam SafeGuard can't check links on your phone directly. The best way is to copy the message on your phone, open Chrome on your computer, click the Scam SafeGuard icon, go to the "Check a Message" tab, and paste the message in. We'll check every link in it. See How to check a text message from your phone above for step-by-step instructions.
A site I know is safe was flagged. What do I do?
Click "I trust this site — don't ask me again" on the warning screen. The site is added to your safe list and we won't check it again. You can also remove sites from your safe list at any time in Settings. If you think we've got it wrong in a way that might affect others, email us at [email protected] and we'll review it.
Does it work on mobile?
The extension works on desktop and laptop computers (Windows and Mac) in Chrome. It doesn't run on phones or tablets. For suspicious texts on a phone, see the "Check a Message" feature above — you can copy a text from your phone and check it on your computer in about 30 seconds.
What's the difference between "Caution" and "Dangerous"?
"This site looks unusual" (amber warning) means something caught our attention — like a brand-new website or an address similar to a well-known brand — but we're not certain it's a scam. "This site is dangerous" (red warning) means the site is on a known scam or phishing list and is very likely harmful. For red warnings, we strongly recommend going back. For amber warnings, use your judgement — if you know the site, mark it as safe.
I set up Caregiver Lock and forgot the PIN. What do I do?
Unfortunately there's no PIN recovery option — this is intentional so scammers can't reset it remotely. To clear the PIN, you'll need to uninstall Scam SafeGuard from Chrome and reinstall it from the Chrome Web Store. Your safe list will be cleared when you do this. If you'd like help with this, email [email protected].
Can I turn off checking for certain sites or features?
Yes. In Settings you can turn off specific protection types (social media links, email and message links, or background checking) independently. You can also add sites to your safe list so they're never checked. If Caregiver Lock is on, changes to protection settings require your PIN.
Is Scam SafeGuard free?
There's a free tier that covers core link checking. A Premium plan (around $3–5 per month on an annual subscription) adds features like the weekly Trusted Contact digest. There are no surprise renewals and you can cancel at any time — if you're within 30 days of purchase, you'll get a full refund.
Still need help?
Send us a message and we'll get back to you as quickly as we can.
Links on social media
When you click a link on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, or WhatsApp Web, Scam SafeGuard checks it before the page opens.
You don't do anything. If the link is safe, the page opens normally. If something looks wrong, you'll see a warning first.