Welcome to the 21st century! With the rise of technology, everything has become fast, easy, and convenient. Society has become more dependent on the internet, smartphones and tablets and life goes around without even going out. It also has never been easier to scam other people! With just a simple click, things can turn around really bad. In this article, we’ll help you spot scam websites and protect yourself. But before that, you also have a part in making the internet a safer place. One way to do it is by watching out for and reporting scamming websites, 먹튀. Here’s how you can tell if a website is a fake or a scam.
1. Check the Address Bar
The first thing to look for on a website is the https:// at the beginning of the address, where the “S” stands for secure. This means that the website uses encryption to protect data from hackers. Though it does not guarantee that a website is a scam if it only has http:// (no “s”), this is a red flag and you should never enter personal information in this page.
Google Chrome, and other web browsers, also give a hint in knowing if the website is safe. When a site is secure, you may see a small padlock next to the web address, or the address may be highlighted in green. This means that the website has one of the highest levels of encryption and can be trusted.
2. Watch Out for the Domain Name
Scammers’ favorite trick is to create websites with addresses that are like those of large brands or companies. Think for example Yah00.com or Amaz0n.net. Since this might not be that obvious, it’s always worth double-checking the address bar if you’re redirected to a website from another page.
3. Search for the Domain Age
Scammers know when the internet traffic is greater. For example, more people will be shopping online during the holidays than usual, so scammers put together real-looking websites very quickly around those times. By checking the domain age, you can see how long the website has been in business, giving you a better sense of its veracity. If the website has only been created hours ago, you might want to get out of that page.
4. Poor Grammar and Incorrect Spelling
Excessive spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar mistakes may mean that a website was put up quickly. Companies with legitimate websites put effort into presenting a professional website. If the content of the website has a lot of errors or doesn’t sound natural and professional, take a closer look.
5. Transparency
Legitimate companies put out contact details where users can reach out to them. This includes phone, email, live chat, and physical address. If the only method of contact is an online email form, proceed with caution.
Also, look for the “About Us” section, terms and conditions, a privacy policy, and, if it’s a shopping site, shipping and returns information. Check out each of those pages to make sure they are there and fully populated with actual information.
6. Secure Payment Options
This one’s for those who love to wander on shopping websites. These platforms should offer standard payment options, such as credit cards or PayPal. If they require you to use a wire transfer, money order, or other unsecured, nonrefundable, and nonstandard form of payment, maybe shop on a different website.
7. Too Good to be True
Sometimes, you’ll see major discounts and sales, which does not automatically mean that it’s fake. But if things are just too good to be true, it’s because it is. For example, if an online store sells the latest iPad model listed at an 80% discount, that’s more like a dream, right? Chances are high that you‘ll never see the goods you purchase or the money you spent so exit these pages.
8. Do Your Research
Try to survey the website first. A quick online search of reviews of a website will tell you a lot. If you don’t find any customer reviews anywhere, that’s a concern and if you see loads of negative reviews, that’s a clear signal to walk away.
