One in ten U.S. adults falls victim to a scam or fraud every year. The types of online fraud continue to grow with the increase of internet sites and advances in technology. Thanks to the internet, we currently have a wealth of information at our fingertips. However, not all websites are created equal\u2014some are more credible than others. If you consume content online, whether it\u2019s for work, school, or leisure, it\u2019s important to distinguish between legitimate sources and unreliable sources. Continue reading to learn how to know if a website is legit and how you can stay clear of illegitimate websites with a reliable safety checker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Given how common scammers and identity thieves seem to be on the internet these days, it’s normal to be concerned about a website’s legitimacy. Scams and phishing can happen anywhere, and it can be hard to stay safe online. The main goal of phishing and other online scams is to quickly get private information and use it for bad things, usually to make money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When used online, “scam” is a pretty broad word. An online scam might start with a fake email or text message that directs you to a fake website. A fake website is any unreal website that is used for fraud or other bad things. “Phishing” is a type of scam that is used to get information without permission. Bad people frequently use text chats and emails, which can appear very real, to obtain this information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Web security keeps systems, data, and identities safe. It’s up to you to find out if a website is a scam in this case. It can be hard to tell which websites you can trust when there are so many of them. Some websites look real, but their only goal is to steal your money or payment information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In essence, some common signs can help you spot a fake website that is full of malware. Watch out for websites with strange names that don’t look like they belong on the internet or that ask for money or personal information. How do you get better, though?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is to say it all begins with being aware of safety. It gives you the ability to look closely at signs and requests that don’t seem right. It also makes people more likely to check the legitimacy of a website through trustworthy sources and pay close attention to emails or links they didn’t ask for, which lowers their risk of falling for phishing, malware injection, and other cyber threats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Scams to steal your identity, account information, or other personal information can range from the amateur to the sophisticated. Use these steps to help determine whether you should trust a website that is linked to or that you stumble upon, especially if you plan on providing them with any personal information. Legitimate websites can be checked in several ways. Consider these helpful tips to know if a website is legit the next time you need to evaluate a website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Start with the address bar when you want to check the legitimacy of an online store. Hackers often use URLs that are very close to the real site’s URL but not the same. Search Google to see if you get the same page when you type something in the wrong place. Check the address bar for a padlock icon as well. Click the padlock to reveal a drop-down menu with details like the number of cookies being used, other site settings, and whether sending your information to this site is safe. It also verifies that the web address goes to the company. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is recommended that you look closely at the layout of the URL to find any signs of bad behavior. Web addresses, or URLs, can tell you a lot about a website and what it’s trying to do. Once you’ve checked the URL layout, here are three important things to keep in mind:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A legitimate website’s name is generally easy to remember. On some websites, you might see misspelled versions of well-known brands or businesses, like micr0soft.com instead of Microsoft.com.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Write down any subdomains or directories that are in the web address. Authentic websites often organize their different services or parts with subdomains. Nevertheless, if the subdomain or directory looks strange or is not connected to the main name, it might be a fake website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Warning: Avoid URLs that are too long or hard to understand. Usually, website URLs are short and simple, making them easy to remember and understand. Randomly or complicatedly formed URLs may be a sign of a malicious or phishing website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another way to know if a website is legit is to look for a site seal. Trust seals are logos or symbols placed on websites to indicate that they have undergone security checks by a reputable organization. So, look for companies that offer well-known trust seals. Trust seals from respected companies like Norton, McAfee, or the Better Business Bureau (BBB) can show that a website has been updated to meet the most recent security requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trust badges are frequently clickable and should open a page or window confirming the legitimacy of the website. Therefore, always look for additional signs when evaluating a website’s legitimacy, because a trust seal could just be a fake picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Poor English is always a red flag. It’s normal to make mistakes, but if you see misspelled words, wrong verb tenses, or problems with subject-verb order on the home page, ask yourself why a professional would not notice them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Watch out for awkward sentence patterns and paragraphs that aren’t put together well. If you see phrases that are hard to understand, it could mean that scammers put together the content and articles quickly without proofreading them first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n