Spotting Fake Websites

Today I challenged myself to identify and compare fake websites with their authentic counterparts. I examined three examples and noted the subtle discrepancies that revealed their fraudulent nature.

1. Example 1:

Fake: www.goggle.com

Real: www.google.com

Observation: The fake site transposes letters by using goggle instead of google This slight misspelling can easily trick an unsuspecting user who does not scrutinize the URL carefully.

2. Example 2:

Fake: www.paypa1.com

Real: www.paypal.com

Observation: In this case, an extra letter has been added to the brand name. The 1 makes the URL look almost identical to the real site, yet it is a common phishing tactic designed to catch users off guard.

3. Example 3:

Fake: www.instagrm.com

Real: www.instagram.com

Observation: Here, the fake website is missing an a in the middle of the name. Such a minor error can be easily overlooked but is a clear indicator that the site is not legitimate.

What Makes These Websites Fake?

1. Subtle Misspellings: Fraudsters often use minor typos or letter rearrangements to create URLs that look similar to genuine ones.

2.Visual Deception: The design and layout might mimic the real website, but these small textual errors are red flags.

3. Domain Authenticity: Even a slight alteration in the domain name can indicate a phishing attempt.

This exercise reminded me that vigilance is crucial when browsing online. Even minute differences in a URL can signal a fake website, so it is important to double-check website addresses before entering any personal information.