Scam websites refer to any website that deceives users into engaging in fraud or other malicious activity. Scammers take advantage of the anonymity provided online to hide their true identity and motives. These can include fake security alerts and giveaways that give the appearance of
legitimacy.
The internet can be used for many purposes. But not all of the websites are useful. Some
websites are legit, while others are set up for criminal activity. These websites can be used by identity thieves or credit card fraud.
There are many things you can do to check if a website is fake, Here’s what we recommend.
Your online security depends on being able to identify fake websites. It’s easy to spot fake
websites, which can help you protect your identity and financial data.Visit The Maker Depot if you are hesitant toward a particular site.
As we move to a new normal, the number of online scammers will only increase. It is vital to know how to verify the authenticity of a website. This will protect you against future scammers.
8 other internet tips to help you spot fake websites and fraud
The next section could also be known as our commonsense. It’s incredible how many people fail to notice this important information every day. These are just eight tips that will help keep you safe online.
1. Rely on Your Web Browser
Our browsers are the gateway to the internet. They are limited in what they can do for us, and sometimes won’t take us to certain places. Be open to the advice of your friends to not visit certain websites. Firefox, Edge and Safari all let you know when you’re about to go to unsavoury websites. This isn’t just guesswork. This analysis is based on user reports and data that clearly show that there’s a threat. This is a serious threat. Pay attention to what your browser says.
Bonus Tip. Despite all the bad advice contained in many other articles, don’t disable your antivirus and don’t drop your firewall. Ever.
2. Bad English is what should you be looking for
Websites that are successful take pride in their work. This means that website designers take pride in what they do. Be cautious if you notice a website written by someone with only
third-grade education or who doesn’t know English. These mistakes can be extremely dangerous if they appear in important pages.
Everybody makes mistakes, even big businesses. Be careful if your mistakes are too serious.
3. Take time to visit the Contact Us Section
It is possible for a website’s Contact Us section to be an indicator of authenticity or fake. What information do we have? Do you have to give the address? Is there also a phone number? Is it
actually connected to the company by that phone number? It is easier to feel confident when you have enough information. Run if they give your email address. Or worse, no contact information.
Verify the information. You can google the address or use street view. To see if the employee is listed on LinkedIn, check. Do your homework.
4. Is there too much advertising?
Ads are an integral part of our daily lives. No matter where or when you go, advertisements will be everywhere. Pay attention to the number of ads that are displayed on a website. If you click multiple links to get the page you want, you might be on a fake webpage. There is a fine distinction between UX design as well as the sale of advertisements. Websites that don’t adhere to this line are a warning sign.
5. Get a Digital Footprints
The beauty of the internet lies in its ability to connect people from all over the world. You are
likely to find others who have had similar experiences. They will often share their knowledge with you. Reviews can be used to determine if a site you are interested in is legitimate.
You can visit The Maker Depot to view an overview of the website and find out whether it is real or fake.
6. Check out the Who.Is.
This tip is great for advanced users.
Who.Is is a database that can help you identify who owns a site. While you can view the WHO.IS registered website for any number of sites, access to this site has been restricted due to GDPR
issues.
Who.IS registrations will give you information about who owns the website, and whether it is owned or not. A website owned by a corporation will have an “Organization” as well as an address. A website will have an individual’s “Name” as well as an address.
7. Refer the Shipping and Return Policy
Every legitimate ecommerce store will have a shipping/returns clause. It is a best practice.
Anyone selling something on a website without the documentation is suspicious. It is suspicious if the link does not look right, or if it copies a policy from another website.
We don’t expect that you will read all of it. However, a quick glance can give you all you need.
8. What payment methods are they open for?
This tip is particularly relevant for ecommerce. What payment options does the website accept? Major credit cards are accepted almost everywhere. A few other payment options are available. It’s a red flag when a website asks to wire money via Western Union or send money to an unknown PayPal account.
These methods are most often used to avoid scrutiny and prevent a transaction becoming reversed. A legitimate website will have nothing to hide and won’t engage in any suspicious business practices.
What should you do when you find a fake website?
If you visit a fraudulent website, please do not enter any personal data. Do not submit the form if in doubt. Avoid clicking on links in emails, online messages, or DMs you aren’t familiar with. It’s easy to spot a fake website and decide whether or not you should buy from it.To prevent any all this hassle you can check reviews of any site in The Makers Depot.
If you fall prey to these malicious sites, you must immediately take immediate action. An attacker cannot exploit you. You have the power to stop them. These are just two ways that you can reduce the damage from a successful scam.
- If you have been in contact with the scammer, please cease communicating with them.
- Stop making any pending or ongoing payments to scammers.
- Cancel all credit cards compromised to avoid paying any additional fees
- You should update all of your most sensitive passwords and pins including bank and email accounts.
- Freeze your credit card to stop scammers from getting into it.
- Report any scam to institutions or service providers that might be able.
Notifying the authorities is vital if you wish to prevent further scams against yourself or others. Report a fake website to Google Safe Browsing right away and we’ll be alert the next time
