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Fake Websites: How to Spot One Before It's Too Late
A fake website only needs to fool you for a few seconds — long enough to collect a card number or a password. Here's how to catch one first.
How Fake Websites Are Built
Most fake websites aren't built from scratch. They're near-identical copies of a real brand's site — same logo, same layout, same product photos — hosted on a lookalike domain that's one letter off from the original. Links to them usually arrive through ads, texts, emails, or social media posts rather than a search engine.
Signs a Website Isn't Real
- The domain is slightly off — an extra word, a different ending (.net instead of .com), or misspelled brand name.
- Prices are dramatically lower than anywhere else for the same item.
- Checkout feels rushed — countdown timers, "only 1 left" banners, or aggressive pop-ups pushing you to pay now.
- Payment options are limited to direct bank transfer or crypto, with no card or buyer-protected option.
- Contact information is thin or missing — no real address, phone number, or working customer service link.
What to Do If You Already Entered Information
- If you entered card details, contact your bank or card provider immediately and consider freezing the card.
- If you reused a password from another account, change it everywhere it's used.
- Report the site so others can be warned before they land on it.
Before entering any payment details on an unfamiliar store, it's worth a quick trust score check on the seller or domain if you have a way to identify them, and a look through our buyer safety guide.