Hack of the day: Check if a number or website is already flagged

In today’s digital world, scams are becoming more sophisticated and harder to spot. Fraudsters frequently use new phone numbers, email IDs, websites, and payment links to trick unsuspecting people into sending money or sharing sensitive personal information.

A single click on a malicious link or a rushed payment can expose you to identity theft, financial loss, or even long-term fraud. That’s why it’s important to pause and verify before you trust an unknown contact.One simple but powerful way to protect yourself is by checking whether a number, email, or website has already been flagged as suspicious. India’s official cybercrime portal provides a suspect-check feature that lets you quickly search identifiers and see if they’ve been linked to complaints.

While it doesn’t guarantee safety, it can serve as an early warning system — helping you avoid obvious traps before they cause damage.

What it solves

This tool helps you identify whether a phone number, email ID, website, or payment trail has already been reported as suspicious. It gives you a chance to spot red flags before you trust, click, or pay.

How to do it

1. Visit cybercrime.gov.in.2. Open the suspect search or repository section (if available).

3. Enter the phone number, email ID, website, or payment identifier you want to check.4. Review whether the entry has been flagged or linked to complaints.5. If results look risky, avoid making payments or sharing details.

A word of caution

A clean result does not guarantee safety. Scammers constantly change numbers, domains, and payment trails. Use this check as a warning signal, not a final guarantee. Always combine it with other safe practices like verifying sources, avoiding unknown links, and double-checking payment requests.