There is no doubt that, in today’s day and age, almost every corporation, big or small, uses the power of websites to showcase what they do. Companies almost have no choice — they have to sell or offer solutions via their websites, or at the very least, need to have online marketing and options to contact them.
However, many cybercrimes are made feasible by these very websites.
In 2023, the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) report on scam activity showed that Australians made over 601,000 scam reports, an 18.5% increase from 2022. The financial burden associated with these scams is significant. The top scams when measured by loss were investment scams, which reported a $1.3 billion loss. This was followed by remote access scams, which made $256 million, and romance scam, which made $201.1 million.
The need for equipping users with the necessary knowledge to identify scam websites is increasingly important.
This article will provide you with an overview of what fake, fraudulent, and scam websites are, outline the most common types, and teach you how to identify and avoid them.
What are fake, fraudulent, or scam websites?
These types of websites are created to manipulate you into revealing sensitive information, making payments, or downloading malware.
Malware is a term used to describe any kind of computer software with the ill intent of harming your device.
According to the Anti-Phishing Working Group, fake websites are an integral part of many phishing scams, which also regularly involve the use of emails, text messages, or phone calls.
Types of fake, fraudulent, or scam websites
Scammers use a variety of means to target innocent people. The most common types include:
Fake online stores with counterfeit deals/goods
Scammers create stores that are an exact replica of legitimate brands with the sole purpose of stealing your credit card information or tricking you into buying items that do not exist.
Fake password login pages
The creation of fake login pages has been rampant.
Fraudsters send phishing emails with content that states that your account (for example, Netflix, Google, or bank account) has been compromised and you need to click on the link in the email to reset it.
Upon clicking the link, you are taken to a fraudulent website where your login details can be stolen, which will grant the fraudsters access to your real accounts.
Pop-ups that download malware
Scammers create pop-ups on legitimate websites that then download malware onto your devices.
Malware has the potential to spy on you or scan your hard drive for sensitive information.
Fake customer support websites
These types of fake websites reel people in by presenting themselves as helpful. They mainly seek to gain remote access to your computer to steal valuable information.
Fake service provider websites
Scammers may sometimes pretend to be service providers, such as health insurance companies, or flight and travel businesses, purely to steal your details and use them for their own gain. These kinds of services often require personal and sensitive information, such as ID documents, so if the fake versions are successful in convincing you that they are legitimate, it can be very dangerous.
Fake package delivery websites
The eagerness that comes with waiting for ordered goods via online stores can be pressing.
Scammers leverage this excitement around online shopping and create websites that look just like Australia Post, FedEx, DHL Express, and others, just to steal valuable information from you.
How to identify these fake, fraudulent, or scam websites
Fake websites can be hard to spot. Here are a few ways to ensure you are not dealing with a fraudulent website. One of the biggest giveaways is in the quality and professionalism of the website. Most credible corporations invest huge sums in eCommerce website design and development, whereas scammers tend to use poor grammar, blurry images, and excessive pop-ups or ads that make it difficult to navigate the website. The majority of the time, scam websites are hastily put together without attention to detail. Below are some ways you can monitor the trustworthiness of a website:
- Check the domain name closely — fraudulent websites will often be very similar to the names of real, trusted websites, but with minor differences.
- Look for a padlock symbol on the address bar which shows that the site has a security certificate.
- Use a website checker or safe browsing tool.
- Check for poor spelling, design issues, and a missing “About Us” page. These show a lack of attention to detail by the website owners.
- Check how long the site has been active (domain age), there are different online tools you can use for this.
- Be conscious of deals that seem too good to be true.
- Look for user reviews, and check for reports of scams.
- Read the shipping and return policy if you are on an eCommerce site.
- Beware of non-traditional payment options such as cryptocurrencies.
- Run a virus scan if you experience numerous ads and pop-ups.
As technology continues to expand, unfortunately so do the abilities of, and opportunities for, scammers. When doing anything online, you should always prioritise distinguishing between what’s genuine and fake in order to protect your personal information and the security of your device.
//Branded Content
