Watch out for Fake Websites

A lot of fake websites keep popping up and we get many questions about them. Contact Us if you have any suspisions.

And let’s just say it out blunt ..

IF IT IS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE – IT PROBABLY IS !!

How to spot scam websites?

1. Double-check the domain name

Many fraudulent websites use a domain name that references a well-known brand or product name

2. Is the offer too good to be true?

If prices seem too good to be true then, sadly, they probably are.  Scam websites use low prices to lure bargain-hungry shoppers in order to quickly sell fake, counterfeit or non-existent items. 

3. Never pay by bank transfer

If you are asked to pay for something online via a bank transfer, don’t do it. If you buy an item that turns out to be fake or non-existent with a credit or debit card, you do have some rights to get your money back. But if you pay by bank transfer, there’s very little you can do to get your cash back.

4. Browse the website

Take a couple of minutes to double-check the site. Visit the homepage or the ‘About us’ pages and read the information.

5. Check the returns policy  

If the company is selling a product online, it should have a shipping and returns policy listed on its website.

6. Read online reviews

Look at reviews across a number of sources, such as Trustpilot, Feefo or Sitejabber, which aggregate customer reviews. Don’t look at just one review website – make sure you check several.

7. Look for a padlock /SSL Encryption

A padlock next to a website’s URL means the site is encrypted, so what you do on on it – such as browse or make payments – can’t be intercepted. Most websites now have this feature, so if you notice a site doesn’t have one it could be a red flag.

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Fraudsters send scam emails, texts, or messages with links to sites that look genuine, but they are designed to steal your passwords and personal or financial information.

Scammers create convincingly fake sites that mirror bank login pages, password reset pages for services like Amazon and Netflix, or package delivery requests. But any information you enter goes straight to the scammers — who then use it for identity theft or financial fraud. 

The Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG) found almost one million new phishing and fake websites in the first three months of 2022 alone [*].

The apwg.eu, established in 2013 as the anti-phishing working group european foundation, is an industry association focused on unifying the global response to cybercrime