6 Ways to Check if a Website is Legit or Trying to Scam You
There are a few ways you can quickly check whether a website is legit or trying to scam you. The first is to look for common signs of fraud.
These include poor grammar and spelling mistakes (though even larger companies make these sometimes), pixelated or low-quality images, and awkward designs.
- Check the URL
A website address or URL is the unique identity of a web page. When browsing online, it’s good practice to always check the URL of a site before clicking on it. Look for a padlock next to the web address, which indicates that the website is secure and encrypted.
A real website will also display logos for security certifications, such as DigiCert and Verisign. However, scammers can easily fake these logos too.
To make sure the website is safe, paste the URL into a safety checker tool such as Google’s Safe Browsing Site Status or VirusTotal’s free link scanner. These tools will scan the website for malware, phishing attempts, and other vulnerabilities.
- Check the Design
Website scams come in many forms, from standalone sites to unauthorized overlays on legitimate websites https://islegitorscam.com. The goal of all scams is to steal your information or infect your devices with malware.
If you notice low-quality visuals or awkward designs, it’s a good idea to look elsewhere. Also, be suspicious of sites that only offer non-reversible payment methods, like cryptocurrencies or cash apps, or have no contact information on their site.
Clone websites often imitate bank login pages or password reset pages, so any information you submit on these fake sites ends up in the hands of fraudsters. Scareware sites are another common type of fake website scam, and they use scary virus alerts to trick you into downloading malware.
- Check the Content
Fake websites often try to trick you into sharing sensitive information (like your account passwords or financial details), downloading malware, or purchasing products that don’t exist. They often use fear or urgency in their calls to action to get you to act quickly and without thinking.
Look out for poor spelling and grammar, pixelated images or graphics, and out-of-date logos or branding. Also, be wary of websites that seem to have a disproportionate amount of ads or pop-ups. Legitimate companies will always try to keep their sites clean and user-friendly. Often, the best way to find out if a website is illegitimate is to check its content.
- Check the Payment Options
Shopping online can be a safe and convenient way to get the items you want, but scammers are always trying to steal your information or money. From fake package delivery websites to fraudulent Medicare or health insurance sites, there are many different ways that people can be fooled by phishing and scams.
Scammers often use urgency or fear to trick you into providing your credentials, downloading malware, or submitting your information. Watch out for language that sounds like it’s been written quickly or doesn’t sound natural, and be especially wary of a website that only lists a contact form.
Fake websites may also be missing important pages, such as the privacy policy or shipping and return policies.
- Check the Reviews
Scam websites often use fear and excitement to get people to provide sensitive information. This can include financial details, logins or passwords, account verification codes and Facebook IDs. The attackers then misuse any data they obtain from their victims.
Look at the number and quality of reviews on the site. If there are lots of oddly similar reviews, this could be a red flag as fake reviewers tend to use the same phrases repeatedly.
Also, look for typos and grammar errors. While a few mistakes are inevitable, an excess of them suggests that the website was put together quickly and is less likely to be legitimate.
- Check the Contact Information
The internet is not a place that exists in a vacuum, so chances are someone else has had an experience with the company. It’s easy to find out whether those experiences were good or bad with a little bit of research on Google.
Scammers often use fake websites to steal sensitive information, like passwords, login credentials, or verification codes. If a website is asking for this type of information, report it to Google Safe Browsing. Other red flags to look out for include low-resolution images and awkward designs or layouts. It’s also a bad sign if there is no contact information listed on the site or only a generic form to fill out.
