7 Ways to Spot a Fake Email or Website | Antivirus

Nowadays, scammers seem to hide in all forms of communication: risky emails and text messages, fake websites, phishing messages, suspicious calls and much more. Either way, they are just hoping to get their hands on our information and money. That is why we all need to learn to be vigilant to protect ourselves from online counterfeiting and scams. 


Spot a Fake Email or Website | Antivirus


Fortunately, some tell-tale signs will help you figure out if you are dealing with a scammer. How to Identify Fake Websites and News. 

  1. Watch out For Misspelt URLs. When you visit a particular website, e.g. If you want to visit your bank or a popular online retailer and end up on a website with a slightly different address, this is a sure sign that it is fake. The scammers hope that you will fall for it and enter your details on the counterfeit website.

You can protect yourself against this scam in various ways:  

  • If you're at a computer, hover your mouse over the link to preview the URL in the status bar. Then check that the link matches the real URL.
  • So if you z. For example, if you receive an email from “North Bank” and the link does not go to www.northbank.com but to something like www.banking-north.com, do not click on it.
  • On a mobile device, you can preview links to see the actual URL before you click.
  • You can also install Protegent WebAdvisor on your computer and mobile device, which will show if links are safe.
  • Also, check that the web address starts with “HTTPS” instead of just “HTTP” as this indicates that the website is secure. Also, look out for trust seals, such as Protegent SECURE. 

  1. Check the Sender's Email Address. Look at the sender's address to see who the email came from. It can claim to be from North Bank, but the real address of the sender is northbank@hotmail.com. An email account with a public service provider such as Hotmail, Gmail, or Yahoo! does not indicate a legitimate company. 
  2. Check the Salutation. If the message begins with “Dear Sir” (without your family name) or “Dear customer”, you should be puzzled. You usually address senders with whom you have a business relationship by name. 
  3. Look out For Low-Resolution Images and Typographical Errors. Spelling or grammar errors are another surefire indicators that the message or website is spurious. The bad image quality of the company logo or other graphics is also a clear indication of this. 
  4. Be Careful with Curious Inquiries. Your bank will not ask you for your PIN or credit card details via email or SMS. Nor does she call you to verify account details. This also applies to the tax office. Fake calls from the tax office regarding alleged tax debts are on the rise. Such notifications are always sent by post. 
  5. If You Have Any Doubts, Contact the Author Directly. If you have any doubts as to whether a request is genuine, please contact the institution or person who claims to be making it directly using their official web / email address or phone number.  

If you receive an email from a known sender who is asking for confidential information and it appears to be from a real email address, it could be email spoofing. Talk to the person to confirm that they actually sent the email. 

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This trick recently came to be known as part of the “ CEO scam ”. A hacker forges the e-mail addresses of real people in a company, such as B. the managing director or the hiring manager, and asks for confidential data, such as social security numbers and salaries of employees. Since they appear to be from persons in authority, recipients often respond with the requested information.

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