According to a source, there are an estimated 1.2 million fake websites on the internet. That’s right – one out of every twelve websites is a scam! With so many scams online, it can be hard to tell which websites are legitimate and which ones aren’t. This guide will teach you how to spot a fake or scam website. We’ll cover everything from identifying red flags to checking the web address for accuracy. So whether you’re looking to buy something online or want to make sure that your favorite website is safe, keep reading for our tips on spotting a fake website.
Check the Domain Name
The first step is to check the domain name of the website. A fake website will often have a domain name similar to a legitimate website but slightly different. For example, a fake website might use .com instead of .net or use a different country code top-level domain (ccTLD).
Another way to spot a fake website is by checking the domain name registration. A legitimate website will have whois privacy turned on, which means you cannot see the website’s owner. On the other hand, a fake website will have whois privacy turned off, and you will be able to see the owner of the site.
Pay Attention to the Address Bar
One of the easiest ways to spot a fake website is to pay attention to the address bar. The address bar is the long white box at the top of your browser where you type in a web address. When you’re on a legitimate website, you’ll see the website’s name and logo in this area. However, on a fake website, you may see something different. For example, the address may be misspelled or have extra characters.
Watch for Poor Grammar and Spelling
One of the easiest ways to spot a fake or scam website is by looking for poor grammar and spelling. If a website is full of typos and bad grammar, likely, it’s not a legitimate site. Also, be wary of sites written in a foreign language but have poor grammar. This is often a sign that someone, not a native language speaker, created the site. Another red flag to watch for is a website that looks like they made it in a hurry. If a website looks like it was put together quickly and didn’t have a professional appearance, likely, it’s not a legitimate site.
If you’re ever unsure about a website, you can always do a quick Google search to see if there are any scam reports or negative reviews about the site. This can help you avoid getting scammed by a fake or illegitimate website.