Most real websites have a contact page with a place of business and a phone number. If the site is missing this information or provides a fake number, be wary.
Bad grammar and misspellings are another sign of a fraudulent website. Excessive ads and intrusive pop-ups are also red flags that you should be on guard against.
Check the URL
A common way to spot a fake website is by checking the URL. If a site looks suspicious, try running it through a website checker like Google’s Safe Browsing tool or your web browser.
The best tip is to look for an EV certificate (Extended Validation). This is the highest level of authentication available and can be a good indication that the website is real.
Another telltale sign is if the company’s contact information is sparse or non-existent. If there is only an email address and a generic contact form, it is likely that the site is fraudulent.
Also, a legitimate company should have a strong social media presence and lots of reviews. If the only reviews are a few scattered ones, or they are generic, unnatural, and repetitive it could be a sign that the website is not legitimate. Lastly, it is always a good idea to enable two-factor authentication on your accounts. This will make it nearly impossible for scammers to get your password and access your account.
Check the Design
You would be surprised how many people ignore the address bar of their browser. This is a mistake because it has a lot of information about where you are online. You should get in the habit of glancing up at it every time you go to a new website.
Fake websites often try to trick you into entering your personal information or downloading malware and this Is Legit or Scam Reviews. They do this by using emotional language and a sense of urgency. They may warn that your account will be closed if you don’t react quickly or tell you to submit your financial information right away.
Another thing to look for is pixelated images or low-quality logos. If you see these types of things on a site, it is a bad sign and a surefire way to know that it is fake.
Check the Social Media Presence
Scammers often try to trick people into visiting a fake website by sending them links via email, text messages, or social media posts. They may use emotion and urgency (your account will be closed if you don’t act immediately, your package is on its way and you have to provide your information or download malware) to get you to click and enter your credentials.
Poor language, pixelated images and logos, and questionable design are red flags to watch out for. Legitimate websites will have a team of writers and editors to prevent this type of error.
Check how long the website has been active using a domain tracker or Wayback Machine. Also, look for a contact page or phone number. Legitimate companies will include this info so that you can easily contact them.
Check the Customer Reviews
Although this seems like a common sense tip, you’d be surprised how many people don’t pay attention to the address bar. This bar can reveal a lot about the website, including whether it is fake.
If a website is legitimate, it will have authentic customer reviews that you can check on Google. It will also have a detailed shipping and return policy. If a website lacks any of these things, it is likely a scam.
Scammers are constantly trying to outsmart people by creating fake websites with the same names as popular companies, using bogus security alerts to trick people into downloading malware and even creating contests where participants have to volunteer their personal information for a chance to win a prize that never shows up. By taking a few simple precautions, you can stay safe online and avoid being scammed. If you do happen to get fooled by a fake website, make sure you freeze your credit card and contact your bank immediately.
