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Website scams
Scammers can pretend to be anyone online to deceive you into trusting them.
United States lost $74 million to online scams last year.
Scammers create fake websites to look like well-known brands. They impersonate famous people and make it look like they recommend the product or service. They use fake reviews to make you trust them.
Advertising banners or pop-up windows that contain fake warnings or error messages can pressure you into acting.
United States lost $74 million to online scams last year.
Scammers create fake websites to look like well-known brands. They impersonate famous people and make it look like they recommend the product or service. They use fake reviews to make you trust them.
Advertising banners or pop-up windows that contain fake warnings or error messages can pressure you into acting.
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Steps you can take to avoid website scams
These simple steps can help prevent loss of money or personal information to scams:
- Do some research on the organisation or person you are dealing with before giving anyone your money or personal information
- Don’t rely on reviews written on the website itself - search for independent reviews on other sites
- If an offer appears too good to be true, it probably is. Research any investment opportunity fully before investing money.
- If a warning or error message pops up on your screen don’t click on it, instead go to the application it refers to directly to check if it is real.
- If you have a secure, authenticated way to reach an organisation (an app or portal) use these rather than search engine results
- Keep the device you use for online shopping up to date by enabling ‘automatic updates’ for your operating system and apps.
- Find out how to protect yourself while shopping online on the United States Cyber Security Centre website.
- Find out how to have safer, more positive online experiences on the eSafety website
