by Scam websites are any illegitimate internet websites used to deceive users into fraud or malicious attacks. Scammers abuse the anonymity of the internet to mask their true identity and intentions behind various disguises. These can include false security alerts, giveaways, and other deceptive formats to give the impression of legitimacy.
Although the internet has numerous useful purposes, not everything on the web is what it seems. Among the millions of legitimate websites vying for attention are websites set up for an array of nefarious purposes. These websites attempt anything from perpetrating identity theft to credit card fraud.
How does a scam website work?
Scam websites work in a wide variety of ways, from publishing misleading information to promising wild rewards in a financial exchange. The end goal is almost always the same: to get you to relinquish your personal or financial information.
A website of this nature may be a standalone website, popups, or unauthorized overlays on legitimate websites via clickjacking. Regardless of presentation, these sites work methodically to attract and misguide users.
Attackers using scam websites will typically use these steps to deceive users:
- Bait: Attackers draw internet users to the website through various distribution channels.
- Compromise: Users take an action that will expose their information or devices to the attacker.
- Execute: Attackers exploit the users to misuse their private information for personal gain or to infect their devices with malicious software for various purposes.
While a given scheme may be more complex, most can be distilled to these three basic stages.
A scam website may lure internet users through many communication channels, such as social media, email, and text messaging. Search results are sometimes manipulated through search engine optimization (SEO) methods, leading to malicious sites appearing in top positions.
By appearing as an attractive offer or a frightening alert message, users are more receptive to these schemes. Most scam websites are driven by psychological exploits to make them work.
Understanding exactly how these scams trick you is an essential part of protecting yourself. Let’s unpack exactly how they accomplish this exploitation.
How does a scam website exploit you?
At their core, scam websites make use of social engineering — exploits of human judgment rather than technical computer systems.
Scams using this manipulation rely on victims believing that a malicious website is legitimate and trustworthy. Some are deliberately designed to look like legitimate, trustworthy websites, such as those operated by official government organizations.
Websites designed for scamming are not always well-crafted, and a careful eye can reveal this. To avoid being scrutinized, a scam website will use an essential component of social engineering: emotion.
Emotional manipulation helps an attacker bypass your natural skeptical instincts. These scammers will often attempt to create these feelings in their victims:
- Urgency: Time-sensitive offers or account security alerts can push you to immediate action before thinking critically.
- Excitement: Attractive promises such as free gift cards or a rapid wealth-building scheme can trigger optimism that may lead you to overlook any potential downsides.
- Fear: False virus infections and account alerts lead to panicked action that often ties in with feelings of urgency.
Whether these emotions work in tandem or alone, they each serve to promote the attacker’s goals. However, a scam can only exploit you if it feels relevant or relatable to you. Many variants of online scam sites exist specifically for this reason.
Types of scam websites
Scam websites, like many other scam types, operate under different premises despite sharing similar mechanics. As we detail exactly what types of premises a scam website might use, you’ll be better equipped to spot future attempts. Here are some common formats of scam sites:
Phishing Scam Websites
Phishing websites are a popular tool that attempts to present false situations and get users to disclose their private information. These scams often pose as legitimate companies or institutions such as banks and email providers.
Attackers typically bait users to the website with emails or other messages claiming an error or another issue that requires your action to proceed. The scam presents a situation that asks you to provide an account login, credit card information, or other sensitive data. This culminates in the misuse of anything obtained from victims of these attacks.
Online Shopping Scam Websites
As one of the most prevalent schemes, online shopping scam websites use a fake or low-quality online store to collect victims’ credit card information.
These scams are troublesome as they can sometimes deliver the products or services to create the illusion of trustworthiness. However, the quality is inevitably subpar. More importantly, it is an uncontrolled gateway to obtain your credit card details for excessive and unpermitted use.
Scareware Scam Websites
Scareware website scams involve the use of fake security alert popups to bait you into downloading malware disguised as an authentic antivirus program. They do this by claiming your device has a virus or malware infection, fear and urgency may drive you to download a solution.
Owning a real internet security suite would help prevent malware downloads, but users who don’t have it may fall prey to this.
Sweepstakes Scam Websites
Sweepstakes scams involve giveaways of large prizes that entice users to engage, ultimately providing financial information to pay a false fee.
This fee may be presented as taxes on the prize or a shipping charge. Users who provide their information become vulnerable to fraud and never receive the prize.
Examples of scam websites
Past internet scams have frequently involved the use of dedicated scam websites in their efforts. To help you spot future attempts, here are some notable examples:
COVID-19 Vaccine Trial Scam Websites
In mid-to-late 2020, reports of false COVID-19 treatments appeared. These COVID-19 scams involve gathering payment information or valuable details like your social security number (SSN) in exchange for an entry into the trial testing of a COVID-19 vaccine.
While authentic vaccination trials may offer payouts and ask for personal information, no compromising information is required to participate. Payouts for clinical trials are often done via gift card, whereas the scam may ask for your card details or even your bank account number. Basic personal information is also commonly provided in real trials but never includes your SSN or other intimate details.
DMV Phishing Scam Websites
In October 2020, phishing scams have taken advantage of a move to online services by posing as the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Creating websites that mimic legitimate DMV sites has allowed scammers to take fraudulent vehicle registration payments and more.
How to identify fake websites
Fortunately, there are several simple ways to protect yourself from scam websites to ensure your family and your wallet stay safe as you navigate the World Wide Web.
By following the tips below, you can better protect against these threats:
- Emotional language: Does the website speak in a way that may heighten your emotions? Proceed with caution if you feel an elevated level of urgency, optimism, or fear.
- Poor design quality: It may sound a little obvious but look closely at how a site is designed. Does it have the type of design skill and visual quality you would expect from a legitimate website? Low-resolution images and odd layouts can be a warning sign of a scam.
- Odd grammar: Look for things like spelling mistakes, broken or stilted English, or really obvious grammar errors, such as the incorrect use of plural and singular words.
- Absence of identifying web pages: Additionally, a proper business website should have basic pages, such as a “Contact Us” page and an “About Us” page. If you’re uncertain, give the business a call. If the number is a mobile phone or the call isn’t answered, be on guard. If a business seems to want to avoid verbal contact, there’s probably a reason.
How to avoid scam websites
Avoiding scam websites requires moving through the internet with caution and care. While you may not be able to completely avoid these sites, you may be able to behave more effectively to keep them from affecting you. Here are some ways you can stay away from these scams.
Check the domain name
Sites set up to spoof a legitimate site often use domain names that look or sound similar to legitimate site addresses. For example, instead of FBI.gov, a spoof site might use FBI.com or FBI.org. Pay special attention to addresses that end in .net or .org, as these types of domain names are far less common for online shopping sites.
