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10 Signs a Shopping Website Is Fake
That’s why you won’t find much in terms of contact information. And if you do manage to track down a phone number or email address, it may not actually lead anywhere. If that’s the case, you can do a website scammer check using Google’s Safe Browsing tool to see it’s legitimate. Take a look at the URL — that’s the virtual “address” that appears at the top of the web browser.
Some cybercriminals set up sites just one letter off from real sites, hoping you’ll mistype the URL. If you used a search engine to get to the site, look in the address bar to confirm that you’ve landed on the webpage you wanted. Consumer Action Center Director Lori Silverman says it’s easy to get scammed while shopping online.
Though there are some good websites that sell products are huge discounts, we need to think twice before making payments or entering our personal information. For example, let’s say you want to get your hands on a new Michael Kors handbag. https://www.crypto-trading.info/ While you’re casually browsing the web, surprisingly, an ad pops up – offering 40% off the fall collection. But you’re a cautious shopper, so you diligently check the link to make sure it’ll take you to the real Michael Kors website.
Scammers can buy ads and invest in search engine optimization, so their websites appear at the very top of search engine results. They use fake virus alerts and misleading buttons to trick you into downloading malware rather than submitting sensitive information. Creating a https://www.topbitcoinnews.org/ website scam is a form of fraudulent and malicious activity that most hackers and scammers practice. It’s relatively cheap, and copying the content of a legitimate site is not difficult either. Authentic websites often possess certificates that vouch for their legitimacy.
Click on the Padlock Icon in the Address Bar
For example, scammers often use domain names that are similar to — or even contain — the official URL within the fake domain name. If you identify a scam shopping site, you can report it to Google or Microsoft, as well as the FTC (if you’re in the U.S.) or the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). Be sure to include as many details as you can about why you believe the site is fake. If you’re using price comparison https://www.bitcoin-mining.biz/ tools or apps, make sure they are from trusted sources to avoid accidentally clicking on fraudulent links. To ensure they comply with the laws surrounding consumer protection rights, reputable retail brands are transparent about their return and refund policies. Scammers, on the other hand, often don’t bother putting much thought into the return policies that feature on their sites—if they choose to include one at all.
However, letting your guard down is exactly what scammers are counting on. Taking place on November 11, and primarily celebrated in Asia, Singles’ Day is considered the world’s biggest online shopping event. This is followed by Black Friday, the post-Thanksgiving weekend sales extravaganza that falls on November 24 this year, and Cyber Monday, on November 27. When shopping online, remember to heed cybersecurity warnings and be cautious when you sense something isn’t right. A little due diligence can save you a big headache down the road. Whether it’s from the Better Business Bureau, PayPal or Google, trust seals tell users that they can make secure transactions.
There are different types of scams online, and scam sites also come in different shapes and sizes. Each scam website type has distinctive features that could serve as a red flag for spotting them. If you suspect you’re the victim of an internet shopping fraud, there’s good news and bad news.
Check the domain name closely
Change your passwords for any accounts that you may have entered your information on. You should also scan your device for malware using an antivirus program. However, fraudsters tend to move quickly and often don’t want to take too long to build a fake shopping website, as it could easily be identified as fraudulent and get taken down. This is why they tend to opt for simple, inexpensive website templates that come with limited features—often just enough to convince unsuspecting customers that they’re the real deal. NordVPN’s Threat Protection feature also keeps tabs on fake websites and helps you prevent landing on them. Its URL scanner checks the websites against its blocklist of sites to see if the website is secure.
- Also be skeptical of clicking any links you receive by email, text, or direct message, unless you’re sure it came from the company itself.
- If you’re using price comparison tools or apps, make sure they are from trusted sources to avoid accidentally clicking on fraudulent links.
- If you’re charged for an item you never received or that is not as described, you can dispute the charge with your credit card company.
- If you take a real website and its fake copy, another clear difference could be the domain age.
- While the URL does look like it’s coming from the real Michael Kors online shop, it’s not.
If you see huge discounts on a product on an unknown shopping website, look for its products on the official website as well as other trusted retailers. Then, you can say if the shopping website offering huge discounts is genuine or fake. They resemble an existing major shopping website and deceive you with just a letter change. Websites that resemble major e-commerce websites are just there to scam you. They look almost similar but if you carefully look into the URL, you will find a spelling change.
It’s super easy, and you can do it while sitting on your couch eating pizza. Plus, there are no pesky salespeople asking if you need assistance every 42 seconds. ⁴ Child members on the family plan will only have access to online account monitoring and social security number monitoring features. Most of these phony websites offer luxury items such as popular brands of clothing, jewelry, and electronics at a fraction of the usual cost. These deals usually come with the promise of free shipping and overnight delivery, making them even more appealing.
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Counterfeit sites predominantly feature stolen imagery—usually lifted off a legitimate retailer’s site or taken off of Google. As a result, most of the images featured on scam sites are low quality, and sometimes appear pixelated. Going back to the Vivobarefoot example, a quick search of the legitimate company domain reveals it was created over 18 years ago, which makes sense considering it’s an established brand. Conversely, the alleged copycat site was only created eight months prior to our search. If you happen to interact with a fake online store, you could end up being swindled and victimized by identity theft. Scammers can use your information for identity theft, contacting and fooling your loved ones, taking loans, opening new accounts in your name…the list goes on.
Use a website checker
The customers who get carried away by the discounts on the products they want enter sensitive information like credit card details etc. get their money stolen. Some websites even make people download malware they create for phishing or extorting customers to make payments to unlock files locked by the malware. Fake websites thrive in the holiday season on the customers who seek huge discounts on the products they want to buy. If you are not careful while making purchases online, you might get robbed by scammers online. The following tips can help you spot fake shopping websites and stay safe while shopping online.
Genuine retailers never list products with a bad website design. There will be dedicated teams that take care of the user interface and design of the website to induce users to purchase more products. Another great way to tell whether a website is legitimate or not is to read reviews from multiple sources. Trustpilot is a review site that lets you see what real customers have to say about websites, products and services. Similarly to Google and Microsoft, cybersecurity companies also work on cyber threat intelligence and can help take down fake websites.
If that information includes any financial details or can give indirect access to financial information, you also risk losing money. The details you get can differ depending on the certificate type. But you’ll be able to see the domain in the certificate details, which would reveal the website’s actual domain, even if the scammers tried to fool you by piling on subdomains. Social media and online forums are full of fake posts and comments written by bots and trolls, so spreading fake websites there is not uncommon. If it’s an email, look at the sender, content, signature, and other phishing email giveaways. Ask yourself whether you expected this email and does it make sense that you’re getting it.
Most retailers use simple domain names based on the name of their business, like tiffany.com, bananarepublic.com, or bestbuy.com. That’s why typos and random numbers in the URL are tip-offs that you’re on a fraudulent website. Sometimes the goal of a fake app or website isn’t to steal your information, passwords, or money — but to infect your device with malware. The website should also include basic legal information, such as its terms and conditions, privacy policy, and data collection policy. If you can’t find this information, it’s likely not a legitimate company. Official retailers have a dedicated webpage detailing their shipping and return policy.