Buzz
A fraudulent website is a scammer’s attempt to appear like a trustworthy business when, in reality, they offer no actual products or services. Their goal is to deceive you into thinking they do, and ultimately get you to hand over your money. Be cautious of two main types of fake websites: those that try to copy a legitimate site, and those that create their own distinct fake website.
In the video below, Jordan Liles, a journalist for the fact-checking platform Snopes, explains how a fake website imitates the Kay Jewelers site. Scammers are skilled at replicating trusted websites, so unless you’re vigilant, it’s easy to click on a fraudulent link, navigate through the fake site, lose money, and even risk having your personal data compromised.
In this other video, Liles demonstrates a different type of fake website that doesn’t imitate any reputable site, but instead creates its own unique scam. This particular fraudulent site capitalizes on the name of the popular YouTuber MrBeast, who is famous for giving away money and prizes.
Warning Signs of Fraudulent Websites
Domains: Pay close attention to the domain name in both URLs and emails. Fake websites often use invented domains, such as lifehaker.com, hoping you’ll miss the typo. Others use subdomains, like www.Mytour.com.lh.com, to make the site seem legitimate. What matters is what appears before the last ‘.com.’ Likewise, legitimate companies typically don’t use Gmail or Hotmail addresses; they have custom domains, such as @Mytour.com.
Design: The design quality can be a major clue. Just like the fake Kay Jewelers site promoting a New Year sale in November, any discrepancies like these are signs of a fraudulent site. Think of them as glitches in a simulation—they indicate the site was hastily designed by scammers and is full of imperfections.
Secure website: You can tell if a site is secure by looking for a lock icon in the URL bar (before ‘Mytour.com’). If it’s locked, it means you’re on a ‘secure’ page. Also, check for HTTPS—this encryption ensures your connection is protected. If there’s no lock or the link starts with HTTP, the site is not secure and may expose you to hackers.
Check the about/contact us page: While hackers can be technically savvy, they often neglect creating a convincing backstory for their so-called ‘business.’ If their ‘about’ page doesn’t seem genuine or lacks contact details, proceed with caution. Legitimate businesses provide clear contact information.
Tools to Spot Fraudulent Websites
While paying attention to the details mentioned earlier is helpful, sometimes you need a faster and more thorough check. Luckily, technology can assist. Here are two websites that specialize in detecting fake sites:
Domain Tools: Recommended by the Better Business Bureau, the ‘Whois’ lookup tool from Domain Tools provides essential details about a website’s creator, origins, and creation date.
Check out the Whois results for the MrBeast fake site. You’ll notice several red flags we’ve covered earlier. The site is brand new, registered in São Paulo, Brazil (despite MrBeast apparently living in North Carolina), and the email address is “[email protected].” A little too obvious, even for a scam.
Scam Detector: Another excellent, free tool is Scam Detector. It checks many of the same factors as Domain Tools, but instead of showing all the data, it gives a score out of 100 based on its own criteria for evaluating a site’s legitimacy. MrBeast’s fake website scored a surprisingly high 62.5, despite being a scam. This shows that you shouldn’t rely entirely on these tools; a bit of critical thinking is still necessary.
With the right tools and a sharp eye for spotting fake websites, you now have the power to protect others who may not be as aware. It’s your responsibility to always report a scam, especially if you’ve been tricked yourself.
