Image Credit - Playground AI
Everyone knows about phishing attacks, it’s normal but it’s time to be aware because now scammers have found a new version of phishing attacks and that is website cloning scams.
How does it work?
Scammers create a Fake website that looks like a reputable website and take the domain that looks like the real website by making a slight change in the domain, after trusting people on the website, they share their personal information and through the fake website, scammers collect data by which they can commit scams.
How do you find fake websites?
- Check the domain or URLs properly, which can help to differentiate a real website from a fake one.
- Check website reviews.
- Verify the padlock icon.
- Check that the website runs on HTTPS instead of HTTP.
- Do not click on links sent by someone.
Red flag
- Suspicious pop-ups/ads
- Without any reason payment requests.
- Unexpected redirects
- HTTP instead of HTTPS
- Missing or fake Contact information.
- Protecting Yourself from Website Cloning Scams.
As we all know awareness is our first defense. Always check URLs twice, before entering personal information. Review the security indicators in the address bar, like HTTPS & Padlock. To detect phishing attacks, always use a modern dedicated browser extension. If you find any suspicious sites kindly report this can also help others stay safe. Website cloning scams are a new iteration of traditional phishing, but they might be a significant risk.
Important FAQs - Website Cloning Scams:
In this kind of scam scammers create a duplicate website, similar to an existing one, with a minor change in the domain name. Fraudsters need our private data to cheat us so they use this kind of website to collect our personal information.
Kindly check the domain name carefully and ensure the presence of HTTPS instead of HTTP, check for the padlock icon also, and read website reviews, if you find un-wanted suspicious pop-ups or payment requests kindly be alert.
Unwanted pop-ups or ads, unexpected payment requests, redirects to unknown sites, the absence of HTTPS, and missing or fake contact information will be red flags.
Use secure browsing, and use URLs starting with HTTPS. Don’t click on links from unknown sources. Use a browser extension design to prevent and detect Phishing attempts and report such websites.
If you come across a suspicious or cloned website, do not enter any private information and report the site to relevant authorities or platforms (like Google, Chrome Safe Browsing) to prevent others from becoming victims.
If you found the information helpful, kindly share it with your family and friends, and spread awareness against these kinds of scams. Stay tuned with us for more informative blogs…