McAfee Simplifies Safety with the Industry’s Most Complete Scam Detector — Now with Instant QR Code Scam Checks and Smarter Social Messaging Scam Protection

The enhanced Scam Detector blocks more everyday scams, making protection simple and accessible for everyone.

• Americans spend 114 hours – nearly three work weeks each year – trying to separate real from fake online.
• Over half of Americans who land on a suspicious page after scanning a QR code take risky actions such as entering personal information, installing an app, or connecting their wallet.
• Scammers are getting sneakier: more than a quarter of suspicious social messages contain no link at all and 44% of Americans have replied to a suspicious DM with no link.

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--McAfee, a global leader in personal protection, today announced upgrades to Scam Detector that make staying safe wherever you’re connected stronger, smarter, and simpler. Scams come through many channels and methods, and the enhanced Scam Detector provides protection every place you need it. You can now instantly check whether a QR code is safe and more easily spot suspicious DMs across your favorite apps. It’s more protection and more peace of mind, at no added cost, so you can feel confident wherever you’re connected.

In 2025, according to McAfee’s 2026 State of the Scamiverse report, Americans were hit hard by online scams, receiving an average of 14 scam messages per day across text, email, and social media. On top of that, people lost nearly 114 hours a year just trying to decide what was real and what wasn’t. It’s a growing burden, and a clear call for protection that meets people in the real moments where online risks show up.

“Scams aren’t just getting smarter they’re getting more personal. Powered by AI, they’re evolving more quickly and getting more targeted every day,” said Joe Manna, Chief Product and Engineering Officer, McAfee. “With these upgrades, we’re making scam protection stronger, faster, and easier for everyone. It’s our job to stay ahead of the threats, something we’ve done for over 25 years.”

Taking QR code scan safety from guesswork to go-ahead

Scams are evolving fast, making it harder for people to know what's safe. Cybercriminals are now hiding malicious links behind QR codes on menus, parking meters, posters, delivery packages – anywhere someone might scan without thinking twice.

McAfee research shows this threat is now mainstream. 68% of people scanned a QR code in the past three months and 18% landed on a suspicious or unsafe page. That makes QR, code scams a mainstream threat. Scam Detector’s instant QR safety checks help people avoid risky links before they tap, addressing a risk that nearly half of Americans see as very or extremely serious.

Regulators and law enforcement are also raising red flags. The FTC has warned consumers about QR code scam stickers placed over legitimate codes on restaurant tables and in public spaces¹, and the FBI has flagged cases where QR codes kick off payment and identity theft schemes².

A stronger social messaging safety net

Phishing isn’t just happening over email anymore. It shows up in everyday chats on WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, and Telegram, and many of these messages don’t include links, making them even tougher to identify. They use urgency, emotion, or AI-generated text that sounds surprisingly convincing.

The FTC reports that social media scams drove $1.9 billion in reported losses in 2024³, making it one of the top channels for fraud and identity theft.

Scammers are also changing their approach. 26% of suspicious social messages contain no link at all. Instead, scammers start the conversation with a vague “Hey…” or a friendly prompt meant to lower your guard. Scam Detector flags these risky messages in real time, helping you spot the scam before it escalates.

Smarter safety, no extra cost

This Spring, McAfee’s Scam Detector, with instant QR code scam checks and smarter social safeguards, will be included at no extra cost in all McAfee plans.

That unexpected DM threatening to leak private photos unless you pay? That’s a rising sextortion scam. A WhatsApp message promising quick cash from a “can’t-miss” crypto deal? Scam Detector can flag it before you get pulled in. Even that QR code on a parking meter or event flyer that looks legit – Scam Detector’s instant QR code scam check advises whether or not a QR code is safe before you take action.

McAfee makes it easy to tell what’s real and what’s not, giving you clear guidance and strong protection so you can stay ahead of scams for good.

What’s new in Scam Detector:

Regulators and security experts urge vigilance as AI blurs the line between real and fake content online. To help people stay safer, McAfee’s upgraded Scam Detector now includes:

• Instant QR safety checks. Scan any QR code, including parking, menus, deals, and more, and get quick confirmation the link is safe before you tap.

• Smarter social messaging protection. Get clearer warnings for suspicious texts, emails, and DMs – even those without risky links – across popular platforms, so you can spot more scams faster.

The stakes are high: one in three Americans has lost money to a scam, with an average loss of $1,160. And with 15% of victims falling for another scam within a year, proactive protection has never been more important.

Availability

The enhanced Scam Detector, including smarter social message protection, and the instant QR code scam checker will be available across all core McAfee plans in 11 geographies this Spring.

Methodology

A McAfee survey, which focused on the topic of online scams, and the impact of these scams on consumers, was conducted online in November 2025. 7,592 adults, age 18+, in 7 countries (US, Australia, India, UK, France, Germany, Japan), participated in the study.

About McAfee

McAfee Corp. is a global leader in online protection for consumers. Focused on protecting people in an always-online world, McAfee’s solutions adapt to user needs, empowering individuals and families with secure, intuitive tools. For more information, visit www.mcafee.com.

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¹ https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2023/12/scammers-hide-harmful-links-qr-codes-steal-your-information
² https://www.ic3.gov/PSA/2025/PSA250731?utm
³ https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2025/03/top-scams-2024#:~:text=People%20reported%20losing%20money%20more,than%20any%20other%20age%20group%20.