Spotting the Red Flags: How to Identify Fake Websites and Avoid Cyber Scams

According to Forbes, there are currently 5.35 billion internet users, and that number is expected to grow to 7.9 billion by 2023. Cybercrime is a numbers game. If cybercriminals can get one-half of one percent or just .5% of internet users to use a fake website, that is still 26,750,000 potential cyber victims. Although fake websites look safe, some characteristics can help uncover their dangerous identity.

• Poor Design: Fake websites often have inconsistent fonts, low-resolution images, and an unappealing layout. They may also be littered with improper grammar and spelling mistakes.
• Suspicious URLs: The URL may take advantage of possible search engine typos like samaon.com instead of amazon.com.
• Improper Links: Genuine websites will have links that function as intended. Clicking on scam website links may take you to places that make no sense or do not work at all. An example would be clicking on an Instagram link that takes you to another location.
• Unsecured Website: Websites that do not have “https://” in their URLs are big red flags. Look for the padlock symbol to ensure the website is encrypted and secured.
• Ridiculous Offers: Too-good-to-be-true pricing lures in potential cyber victims. Investigate the online store’s validity when they offer heavily discounted items.

Here are three examples of fake websites:

Fake Website: Walofficials.com
Real Website: Walmart.com

This fake website offers ridiculously low prices relative to the actual website. Another giveaway is the use of stock photos instead of real product images. There is also improper grammar and misspelled words, another alarming sign. Finally, even though the cybercriminals try to trick you with the word “official,” the fake website only has half of the legitimate company’s name in the URL.

Fake Website: WilkoClosing.com
Real Website: Wilko.com

This fake website also offers heavily discounted prices relative to the actual retailer. It does not offer customer service features like live chat or customer service phone numbers found on the real website. Unlike the actual website, the bogus website is loaded with misspelled words, bad grammar, and inconsistent formatting.

Fake Website: BrooksShoeOutlet.com
Real Website: Brooksrunning.com

Again, this website offers deals that are too-good-to-be-true. The fake website has a minimal selection of shoes compared to the actual website. The customer service contact information gives a generic Outlook email address rather than the company email provided on the real website. Finally, relative to the authentic website, the counterfeit website feels clunky, hard to navigate, and riddled with improper grammar and syntax errors.

Conclusion

Fake websites are a significant threat to uninformed internet users. They often lure cyber targets by offering “too-good-to-be-true” pricing relative to the actual online retailer. By recognizing the warning signs and double-checking the website URLs, safe internet users can protect themselves from becoming another cyber victim.