How to Spot a Fake/Scam Website?
Website Scam Detector - Since the advent of email services and the internet in general, fake websites have become increasingly common. Even with the knowledge of the existence of fake or scam websites, many people still fall victim, as it has become increasingly difficult to identify them.
To ensure you do not fall victim to fake websites, it is important to learn how to spot a fake website. Sometimes, investing in the best scam website detector can go a long way in protecting your business and your client from scam websites. Here are common telltale signs of fake or scam websites.
4 Common Ways to Check Scam Detector Website
#1. Pay Attention to The URL Bar
Whenever you click on a website, the first thing you need to look at is the address bar. Safe websites start with https:// where the s at the end stands for secure. This indicates that the website is protected and safe for data transfer, which is safe from hackers.
Be wary of websites that start with Http:// without an s at the end, as this is one of the common signs of a scam website or unsecured website. If a website does not have as ass in the address, it means that it is not encrypted, and thus hackers can intercept your data when on this site.
Safe websites sometimes also have a padlock at the begging of the address bar followed by https://. This shows that the website uses the highest level of encryption. Google Chrome and other browsers also commonly highlight unsecured websites on the address bar as a way of warning you against the site.
#2. Check The domain name
Most hackers and scam websites use names that mimic other real websites. This is especially when it comes to large brands and companies. Commonly used websites include Yahoo, which is offered as YahOO.com, or Amazon, which is provided as AmazOn.net. Scammers understand that most internet users do not bother to scheme through the address to check for validity. It is always advisable to double-check that you are on the right site before sharing your data.
#3. Check The Certificate Details
This is a more advanced method of checking for validity as it entails diving deeper into the browser menu. To do this, it is important to have a deeper understanding of SSL. When an URL does not show the green address bar for safety, the ’s’ secure feature is the only indication that it is a safe website. This means that no 3rd parties are tracking your online activity or intercepting your connection.
To check the certification details, you can simply click on the padlock icon on the address bar. For Firefox, Chrome, and Safari, you can go to more information and click on the view certificates option. You can also click on the three dots to go to the menu and click on more tools for chrome. Go to the security tab under developer tools and click on view certificate.
The certificate menu gives you all the information that was verified before the issuance of the certificate. With the certificate open, navigate to ‘subject.’ This shows the organization the certificate represents. Ensure the certificate is registered to the right company to ascertain that you are on the right website.
#4. Trust seals
When a company or organization invests heavily in the site's security and its clients, they usually ask for credit or proof of this investment. Most trusted websites show trust seals that include seals from antivirus programs, google store seals, PayPal accreditation, and other service seals.
These seals are commonly placed on login pages, homepages, and checkout pages. They are easily recognizable and serve to remind the user that the page they are on is secured. You can click on these trust seals to get more information. This shows that the certificate is legitimate. Always click on the seal to ensure it is not just an image placed on the page by a scam website.
Using a scam website detector
If you do not want to go through the processes above, you can invest in a scam website detector tool. This program alerts you whenever you are about to visit a scam or unsecured website. Most antivirus programs also act as scam website detectors and alert you whenever you are redirected to an unsecured site.
Conclusion
The internet has made life easier by creating a global community. This also means that most cybercriminals use the internet to access user data. By knowing what to look for in a legitimate website, you are better placed to protect your personal information, company data, and client information.
