Scams continue to increase and become more sophisticated. Scammers aim to get personal information that they can use to access your financial data or steal your identity.
One common scam involves using spoofed websites, clever imitations resembling legitimate business sites. Banks and other financial institutions have had their sites spoofed, which is why it’s so critical to remain vigilant. Scammers often use “sponsored links” to lure people into clicking on them and providing information, often unknowingly. Such deception can pose a significant risk, exposing individuals to potential identity theft, malware, and financial loss.
Follow these tips to protect yourself.
What to Watch For
Keep an eye out for the following areas of concern:
- URL issues: Watch for unusual domain extensions. Even a single letter out of place indicates that you’re on a spoofed site.
- Privacy policy: Real sites have privacy policies available. If you don’t see one, think twice.
- Grammar/spelling mistakes: Legitimate business sites make efforts to avoid errors. If you see improper spelling, poor grammar, or formatting mistakes in content, that’s often a clue that you’re on a fake site.
- Request for personal information: Most financial institutions do not ask for login information over the phone. If someone requests such information, like a username or password, do not provide it.
- False security notification: After navigating to a site, you could see a screen that notifies you of a login issue, directing you to call a number. You might see wording around “unauthorized activity” or other details designed to make you feel worried.
Protecting Yourself
Taking steps to prevent issues is another measure of protection.
- Question urgency: Most scammers will attempt to create a sense of urgency. You should question this by verifying all information through official channels.
- Avoid searching for sites: Rely on saved bookmarks when visiting sites, particularly financial ones, to avoid accidentally navigating to a spoofed site.
- Call before you act: Contact the requesting company before taking action. For example, if you get a notification from your bank, use the number on your debit card or the official website to ensure you’re speaking to an authorized individual.
- Use secure networks: Only access your financial accounts through secure networks. If possible, enable multi-factor authentication for increased security.
