Fraud on the internet is almost as old as the internet itself. Experts have made several guidelines to detect and identify fake websites. Here's a guide on how you can identify scams and stay safe online, in 2020.


Website scams come in many shapes and forms - some pretend to be brand they are not and try to get you to make a purchase, some obtain your personal information or passwords to potentially sensitive accounts while others might install ransomware on your computer or even mine bitcoin in the background using your computer.


Recently, while investigating numerous fake, fraudulent or phishing websites, I found out that they usually have a number of common traits to look for. But first, let us try to break down what scammers and con artists are after and what some common types of attacks are.


1.Phishing - Emails & websites impersonating a real person or company to gain personal and/or financial information

2. Cross-site scripting - A legitimate website with a vulnerability that allows third-parties to redirect you to a different website operated by them

3. Content injection - Rogue advertisements or popups that attempt to redirect you or force you to a different website that could lead to ransomware or virus and malware attacks.

4. Counterfeiting - A website purporting to sell products or services that impersonates a real brand and swindles customers of their money

The above list is by no means comprehensive, but constant vigilance - not just at the first step of an online transaction - is a necessity. To protect yourself against frauds online, you need to know what to look for and I hope this guide helps.


HERE ARE SOME EASY STEPS ON HOW TO DETERMINE IF A WEBSITE IS FAKE OR SCAM

1. Domain Name or URL - A lot of fraudulent websites will use a domain name similar to a brand name. I have seen fake sites related to Calvin Klein and Nike,These domain names might be www.nikesuperdiscounts or www.nikecollections (these are not real sites, but examples). If a company has a trademark on their name, their website and the domain name usually match the company name.

2. No Contact Information - If the website does not have a contact us page, or it if does and it only offers a form to fill out, with no location or other identifiable coordinates, this is a strong indicator of fraud. Any company offering products or services, should have a place of business (location) as well as a phone number and email to contact them. If none of this information is available, then they likely just want your credit card info.

Scammers have gotten wiser to these checks as time has gone on, they now copy the location and contact details, down to a embedded maps and Facebook, Twitter links from the website they are pretending to be. So we recommend that you exercise caution - remember, anybody can link to the correct Twitter handle or Facebook page. However, a verified Twitter profile or Facebook page (which many large brands have) is likely to include the link to the legitimate website. If in doubt, look for other markers before sharing personal information.


3.nCheck the Grammar and Spelling - If the fake website is attempting to present itself as an American or Canadian business, they will usually use English text. However, there will quite often be horrible grammar and spelling mistakes on the website. Many of these mistakes would be obvious to a native speaker of English; excessive use of poor grammar and spelling should be an instant red flag.

4. Check the WHOIS - Do a domain WHOIS lookup to see who owns the domain. The result will tell you the registrar (company that the domain was purchased through), when it was created, when it expires as well as contact details.

5. Test the Contact Information - If the website does list contact information, call, write or email the site, using their contact details, to check if it works. If you get an automatic voice messaging system, the number is not in service, or no one answers during business hours, then exercise caution.

6. Check if website is SSL Secured and if it is OV or EV certified - Many fake or fraudulent sites will not bother to buy an SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate. SSL certificates secure the transfer of your data when you submit sensitive information (creating an account, or submitting payment info). A scam site, quite often, won't bother with an SSL certificate, as the site will likely be shutdown within a couple months after the fraud has been reported.To assess the type of SSL certificate, click on the padlock icon in the address bar of your browser and investigate the details in the popup. Enterprise Validated certificates will list the name of the brand as well as a certificate authority on this window (the appearance of this information could vary from one browser to another).If the website is legitimate and secure, they will have HTTPS on the URL and a lock icon and in some browsers, even the company name.

7. Check the Shipping and Return Policy - If the website is selling a product over the internet, they will have a shipping and return policy listed on their site. If it is a real company, they should tell you how and where to return a defective product. If they are shipping a product, they should give you an idea how long it will take to arrive. If they have no return address and a vague shipping policy, do not shop at that website.

8. Check the Domain Name in Google - If you type the domain name into Google, if it is a real site, there should be links to that website from other websites. If only the domain comes up and no other search result appears for that domain name, then it is very suspicious.

9. Check Other People's Reviews - Type the website's domain name, followed by "reviews", into a search engine. Ideally, you will discover search results for other people's experiences in dealing with the website. If there are many negative negative customer reviews, then you will most likely want to avoid the site altogether.

Being a victim of a scam is never a pleasant experience. Follow these simple guidelines to protect yourself online and create the best possible shopping experience. If the site you're viewing feels suspicious, take a moment to research and investigate it before making a purchasing decision.

I hope this helps.