Many Nigerians have faced problems with online scammers. We want to help you recognize fake websites. Some websites might promise things like free money or phones, but they’re not real
Fake websites can look real, and even smart people can be tricked. So, how do these fake sites operate, and what can we do to stop them?
These websites pretend to offer great things but want to steal your information or money. They might look like real sites, but they’re not. Here are some of the ways to identify them.
14 Ways to identify scam pages online
- Analyse the source of the website link: Most website links come from somewhere – search results, social media sites, friend messages, you name it. Fake website links are no exception. And the source of their links can be the best way to know that the website is a fraud. Always check the source of the links you plan to open.
- Check the website link: Before you click on a link, look at the website’s address (URL). This is really important, especially if you got the link from a sketchy source like a spam email or a weird comment on social media.
- They offer unrealistic promises or very cheap stuff. Be careful online. Don’t trust websites that promise unrealistic stuff, like getting rich quickly. Always check if a website is legit before sharing your info or money. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.
- Check Shipping and Return Policies: Real online stores have a special page that explains how they send you stuff and how you can return it. If the website you’re on doesn’t tell you how to return things, it might be a scam. Also, look for basic legal info like terms and conditions, privacy rules, and data policies. It’s likely not a real company if you can’t find these.
- Watch out for spammy accounts: If you see accounts that keep sharing the same link over and over in a short time or if they’re giving you the wrong info about where a link goes, be careful. They might be up to no good
READ ALSO: Bank customers who fell victim to fraudsters in 3 months lose N472m
- Look at the website’s address: The easiest way to spot a fake website is when the web address doesn’t match the real company’s website. For example, scammers might use a web address that looks similar to the real one but isn’t quite right.
- Check how to contact the company: Legit companies usually give you different ways to get in touch with them, like phone, email, live chat, or a real address. If you can’t find these options, be cautious before you do anything on that website.
- Look at the website’s address: When you’re on a website, see if there’s a little padlock symbol and “HTTPS” at the start of the web address. It means the site is safer because it keeps your information private. If it doesn’t have this, it might not be as secure, and your data could be at risk from sneaky people trying to spy on you.
- Look at what’s on the website: Pay attention to what’s written and posted on the website. Be cautious if you see profiles that seem to be made to write fake reviews on sites where people rate and review stuff.
- Spotting fake reviews: Fake reviews usually don’t talk about the product or service in detail. Instead, they’re super positive or super negative about the brand itself. Real reviews give specific info.
- Mistakes can be a sign: Scammers want to trick you fast, so they might make mistakes on their websites. Be careful if you see weird errors or things that don’t look right. Legit companies usually don’t mess up their websites like that.
- Check the website’s privacy info: Many websites have to follow laws that say they must tell you how they use and protect your info. They usually have a page or a link with all this info. Make sure to find it and read it really carefully before you share your info or buying anything on the website.
- Use a Website Checker: Phishing and fake websites are a big problem, but there are tools to help. You can paste a website’s link into a tool like Google’s Safe Browsing Site Status to check if it’s safe.
- If You See Lots of Ads and Pop-Ups, Do a Virus Scan: Sometimes, fake websites don’t want your info or money, but they want to put bad stuff on your device. They make annoying pop-up ads that can give your computer or phone a virus.
Hackers use these viruses to spy on you, find your secrets, or even lock your device until you pay them money. If you’ve recently visited a site like this, you should check if your device is okay.
You can use antivirus software like Aura to check for viruses and keep you safe. It can also warn you if a website looks dangerous or fake.
Case study: People who have been scammed online
Here are some of the stories of people who have been scammed online with scam websites and pages:
- A woman was scammed because she clicked on a link asking her to start doubling money, not knowing they wanted to scam her.
- A concern Nigerian discovered a fraudulent email in their inbox. The email claimed to be from GTBank and urged recipients to upgrade their internet banking information online. However, it became clear after checking properly that this email was part of a scam.
The email contained a link to a website that appeared to be an exact replica of the genuine GTBank internet banking platform. The scammers had gone to great lengths to mimic the bank’s website, making it look convincing at first glance.
- A lady got tricked when she tried to buy an iPhone online. She thought she found a great deal because it was much cheaper than the usual prices. However, it turned out that the people selling it were not honest, and they were just trying to steal her money.
Keep your eyes open for the things listed above to stay safe. This way, you’ll know what they’re trying to do and keep your data safe.
