We have become very dependent on navigating the internet, which comes with its own set of risks and challenges. How do you know if an unknown website can be trusted? Online fraud has become ubiquitous with over 18,000 fraudulent websites created nearly daily. Cybercriminals are constantly targeting unsuspecting users to extract sensitive information, including their personal and financial details from them. It is therefore crucial that you do not leave yourself vulnerable to these scammers and learn to assess whether a website is legitimate or not.
How can you browse safely online by verifying a website’s legitimacy and authenticity?
Verify Licensing and Registration
Check a website’s legitimacy by looking closely at its licensing and registration. Stringent regulations ensure consumer protection, which all legitimate websites, financial, e-commerce or gaming, should adhere to.
When verifying licensing you need to look for certificates or regulatory badges which are usually displayed in either the footer of the website or on its ‘About Us’ tab or section. You can cross-reference their license number with the issuing authority. For example, an online gambling website like discasino.com would be licensed and regulated by a regulatory body such as Curacao eGaming or the Malta Gaming Authority for instance. This lets you know that Discasino is a fully licensed and registered platform complying with industry regulations. A licensed site that complies with security standards will reassure users that their personal data and transactions are protected.
Any website operating without a license should be a warning signal and demand further investigation.
Scrutinise the Website’s URL
The URL (Uniform Resource Locator) appears in the address bar of your browser and should have the complete address of the website. Scammers often create fraudulent URLs that might look legitimate to the unsuspecting user.
Look for the ‘s’ in the ‘https’ of a website which stands for ‘secure’. If the URL displays as ‘http’ it means that the encryption of data shared between the user and the website is not secure. Be on the lookout for unusual extensions, extra characters or misspellings on the URL of a familiar domain name. The legitimacy of a website can also be verified by searching for its name. An authentic website would typically appear in search results with news articles and reviews.
Examine the Website’s Content and Design
Although a professional-looking website is not always a guarantee of legitimacy, a poorly designed website with outdated content is a clear warning sign of a possible fraudulent site. An authentic website would invest in technology to create clear navigation, visuals of high standards, and user-friendly layouts.
A website’s content concerning overall presentation, text, and imaging, should align with its stated purpose. Outdated or trivial content is another red flag. An authentic site will be frequently updated with new and original content.
Review the Contact Information
The contact information of a trustworthy website, a phone number, physical address or valid email address, will be easily accessible. A search on Google Maps will verify whether the address exists. Call the company using the telephone number provided, or send an email. A website that does not have valid contact details is most likely untrustworthy.
Look at the Customer Reviews
Always read the reviews of other customers, both positive and negative. This provides you with useful insights into the credibility of a website. A website with only high praise should be viewed as a red flag as these could all have been invented to deceive users. Visit any social media platforms and forums to gain deeper insights into the legitimacy of a website. Always ensure that the comments come from actual users and not bots or trolls. Trustpilot and Sitejabber, for example, are two independent platforms and reliable sources to visit for authentic user feedback.
Inspect Payment Methods
Legitimated websites often use secure payment methods like PayPal, Visa, Mastercard, or any other established payment gateways. Scammers, on the other hand, would ask for direct bank transfers. Never share any financial information with a site that looks even remotely suspicious. An online search can provide you with the reputation of the proclaimed payment provider. Always look out for secure payment icons, particularly, the padlock symbol next to the URL.
Look for Trust Seals and Certifications
Trust seals from reputable companies like McAfee Secure or Norton Secured offer additional assurance of a website’s legitimacy. However, these trust seals can be falsified. Verify the seal by clicking on it, which redirects you to the certifier’s website. Familiarise yourself with the logos of authentic security companies to spot imitations. Websites that display valid trust seals and certifications prominently are generally safe to use.
Check Responsiveness and Functionality
A website that does not function seamlessly across devices from desktops, and tablets to smartphones, has slow loading times or broken links, should rather be avoided. These may indicate a lack of maintenance or professionalism.