URL shortener risks

URL shortener risks come from short links that hide the real destination, so you cannot see if a tiny link leads to a fake bank or a download.

URL shortener risks: A URL shortener turns a long web address into a tiny one. This is handy in SMS and posts, but the short form hides the destination. Scammers use shortened links so you cannot see that the target is a fake bank page, a prize site or an app download.

Short links are everywhere in Indian SMS: delivery updates, offers, bill reminders and fake challans. Genuine companies use them too, so the format alone proves nothing. That is exactly why scammers like them. You cannot read a name inside a random string of letters, and you have to open it to find out where it goes. Some also lead through several redirects, so the first page may look harmless while the final one is not.

Before tapping, ask whether you expected this message at all. Preview where the link leads using a link checker, or long press to see the address on some apps. If the message is about money, KYC, a parcel fee or a refund, skip the link entirely and open the official app yourself. This small habit stops a large share of message scams.

Tips

• Do not tap a short link in a message you did not expect.
• Use a link checker, such as Safeavio's link check, to see where a short link leads before opening it.
• For money, KYC or parcel messages, ignore the link and go to the official app.

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