How to Spot a Scam Website: SEOSpace Shares Tips to Stay Safe Online
Despite the fact that the average online consumer is a lot more savvy about the nature of online threats, online scams continue to be a growing concern. There has been an increase in phishing and fraudulent websites, with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center reporting that there were a record 880,000 complaints in 2023, with reported losses exceeding £10.8 billion.
“It’s vital that people learn to be more vigilant when they’re using the internet, especially when they are visiting unfamiliar websites,” says website expert Henry Purchase Founder of SEOSpace. “Think before you click any link, and be certain that you don’t offer any personal or financial details before you have fully scoped out the site.”
Most scam websites are built to deceive users into revealing sensitive information, making fraudulent payments, or installing malicious software. A December 2024 survey from McAfee revealed that the average person encounters 10 scams daily. With new technological trends like deepfakes in the market, this number may continue to grow over the coming years.
In order to help people be more vigilant and safer online, Henry Purchase has outlined a host of the red flags that people should be aware of online, and what they can do to ensure that they don’t get caught in online scams.
“The tactics that online scammers use might evolve over time, but the way to beat them remains the same,” says Purchase. “When you start looking out for these red flags, you start to see them a lot more often, giving you a better idea of just how many scams are out there.”
1. Unsecure Connections: Legitimate websites typically use HTTPS in their URL, indicating a secure connection. Online shoppers should never buy from an unsecured website.
2. Inconsistent Branding: Scammers will often get the details of the brands they impersonate wrong, using mismatched logos, colour schemes, or other things that look “off.”
3. Poor Grammar and Spelling: Scam websites frequently feature more grammatical errors, misspellings, and odd turns of phrase, often due to the use of AI writing, lack of professional editing, and non-native English writing.
4. Unbelievable Offers: If an offer online seems to be too good to be true, it often is. Scam sites lure victims with unrealistically low prices and free product offers.
5. Suspicious Domain or Email Sender Names: If the domain name or email address doesn’t match the brand it is supposedly from, then the website or email is likely a scam.
About SEOSpace:
SEOSpace is a leading Squarespace SEO agency, using its online expertise to help its clients increase their brand visibility and drive more visitors directly to their sites. With a host of SEO services, including a free website audit and course that teaches their clients the ins and outs of search optimization, they aim to help businesses of all sizes realize the potential power of SEO.
