In the era of digital transformation, possessing the skill to distinguish fraudulent websites is not merely advantageous, but rather imperative to safeguard oneself on the internet. Being able to identify a fraudulent website is crucial in safeguarding your personal and professional identity, financial data, and login credentials for your social networks and email accounts.
COVID-The incidence of fraudulent activities and identity theft is increasing.These fraudulent activities may take the form of unsolicited calls, text messages, social media calls, or web pages. As we adapt to a changing landscape, it is important to note that the prevalence of online scams is not expected to diminish and may, in fact, escalate. Acquiring the knowledge of verifying the authenticity of a website can aid in safeguarding oneself against fraudulent websites presently and in the years to come. Also check out: 먹튀사이트
How to verify a website ?
- Please verify if the URL has been spelt correctly.
A significant indicator of a fraudulent website is an incorrectly spelt URL. Criminals may alter a URL by making slight modifications, such as utilizing amaz0n.com.
- Please ensure the presence of site seals.
A website seal indicates the authenticity of a website. Typically, clicking on the seal provides more details about the web page and the verification process.
- Please search for a padlock.
A website’s padlock symbol indicates that the website is protected by a TLS/SSL certificate, which protects user data for security purposes. To ensure a secure connection, you may locate the lock icon situated on the upper left corner of the address bar. There are three kinds of certificates issued by TLS that display a lock: Domain Validation, Organization Validation, and Extended Validation.
- It is recommended to use only safe payment methods.
It is recommended that shopping websites provide customers with standard methods of payment, such as debit cards or PayPal. We suggest avoiding websites that require unprotected and nonrefundable forms of payment such as wire transfers or money orders.
Here are some other methods to confirm the authenticity of a website:
In addition to verifying the presence of a lock, site seal, and then running the URL via an internet site checker, it is recommended to search for the following kinds of trust signs on a website:
- Privacy policy
- Information about how to reach the company, including its location and phone number
- return policy
- Check for any grammatical errors and spelling
- Review from online and their own site
If you come across a fraudulent website, here’s what you should do.
If you come across a fraudulent website, refrain from sharing any sensitive information such as financial details, login credentials, verification codes, Instagram login, or even your personal details like name and phone number. Furthermore, it is advisable not to click on links that come from unknown sources such as emails, online posts, or direct messages. Being able to determine if a website is fraudulent can assist you in making an informed decision about whether or not to make a purchase from that site.
It is advisable to immediately report a fraudulent website to Google’s Safe Browsing and promptly exit the site.
