Things Schools Should Actually Teach | How to Tell If a Website Is Legitimate Before Entering Your Info
Fake websites are everywhere. This teaches you how to tell if a website is legitimate, spot phishing sites, determine if its a scam e-commerce store, and figure out fake customer support pages. This is important because with just one wrong click, and you could be:
- Handing over your password to hackers
- Giving your credit card details to a scammer
- Downloading malware onto your device
Scammers are getting better at making fake sites look real. This guide will teach you how to spot a scam website before you get tricked.
The Red Flags of a Fake Website
Before entering any personal info, check for these warning signs:
The URL Looks Suspicious
Fake websites often have slight misspellings (Do NOT go to these sites! They are examples of potential malicious sites):
- www.amaz0n.com
- www.paypa1-login.com
- www.microsoft-support1.com
What to Do Instead:
- Manually type in the website: or use bookmarks.
- Look for HTTPS: a padlock icon in the address bar.
- Check the domain age: using Whois Lookup. Scam sites are often very new.
The Website Tries to Rush You
Scam sites pressure you with urgency:
- “LIMITED TIME OFFER! ENTER YOUR CARD NOW!”
- “Your account is at risk! Log in immediately!”
- “Claim your prize before it’s too late!”
What to Do Instead:
- Slow down: real businesses don’t force panic decisions.
- Search online to check out the deal or offer: make sure it’s not a known scam.
The Grammar & Design Are Off
- Typos & bad grammar: Example: “Your account has been compromise, please reset password.”
- Low-quality images or mismatched fonts
- Broken links or missing contact info
What to Do Instead: Check for errors: real companies proofread their content.
Compare it to the Official Website: open the real site in another tab.
The Payment Methods Are Suspicious
- Only accepts gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency
- Prices are too good to be true
- No secure checkout (HTTPS)
What to Do Instead:
- Use credit cards (not debit) for better fraud protection.
- Check user reviews on Trustpilot or the Better Business Bureau.
How to Tell If a Website Is Legitimate
Even if a site looks real, use these verification steps before entering information:
Google It
- Search the site name + “scam” (e.g., “ZippyShoes scam”)
- Look for news articles or Reddit threads exposing fake stores
Use a Website Checker Tool
- Google Safe Browsing: transparencyreport.google.com
- ScamAdviser: www.scamadviser.com
Check the Contact Page
- No phone number, address, or official email address? Suspicious.
- Email looks generic (e.g., “support123@gmail.com” instead of “support@realcompanyname.com”)? Fake.
What to Do: Look for real company details and verify them independently.
What to Do If You Land on a Scam Website
- Don’t click anything
- Close the tab immediately
- Run a malware scan (especially if you entered info)
- If you entered your password: Change it ASAP.
- If you entered credit card details: Contact your bank immediately.
Stay Smart, Stay Safe
Scammers win when people panic. Take your time, double-check, and stay safe online.
- If a website looks off, trust your instincts.
- Check URLs, verify payment options, and use scam detection tools.
- Never rush into entering personal information.
Glossary
- HTTPS: A secure version of a website (look for the padlock icon).
- Phishing: A scam where hackers try to steal your info by pretending to be a trusted site.
- ScamAdviser: A website that checks the trustworthiness of online stores.
- Typosquatting: Creating a fake website with a misspelled domain name (e.g., “micr0soft.com”).
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About the Author | Hunter Storm | Technology Executive | Global Thought Leader | Keynote Speaker
CISO | Advisory Board Member | SOC Black Ops Team | Systems Architect | Strategic Policy Advisor | Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cybersecurity, Quantum Innovator | Cyber-Physical-Psychological Hybrid Threat Expert | Ultimate Asymmetric Advantage
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Hunter Storm is a veteran Fortune 100 Chief Information Security Officer (CISO); Advisory Board Member; Security Operations Center (SOC) Black Ops Team Member; Systems Architect; Risk Assessor; Strategic Policy and Intelligence Advisor; Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cybersecurity, Quantum Innovator, and Cyber-Physical-Psychological (Cyber-Phys-Psy) Hybrid Threat Expert; and Keynote Speaker with deep expertise in AI, cybersecurity, and quantum technologies.
Drawing on decades of experience in global Fortune 100 enterprises, including Wells Fargo, Charles Schwab, and American Express; aerospace and high-tech manufacturing leaders such as Alcoa and Special Devices (SDI) / Daicel Safety Systems (DSS); and leading technology services firms such as CompuCom, she guides organizations through complex technical, strategic, and operational challenges.
Hunter Storm combines technical mastery with real-world operational resilience in high-stakes environments.
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A recognized subject matter expert (SME) with top-tier expert networks including GLG (Top 1%), AlphaSights, and Third Bridge, Hunter Storm advises Board Members, CEOs, CTOs, CISOs, Founders, and Senior Executives across technology, finance, and consulting sectors. Her insights have shaped policy, strategy, and high-risk decision-making at the intersection of AI, cybersecurity, quantum technology, and human-technical threat surfaces.
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Hunter Storm is the creator of The Storm Project: AI, Cybersecurity, Quantum, and the Future of Intelligence, the largest AI research initiative in history.
She is the originator of the Hacking Humans: Ports and Services Model of Social Engineering, a foundational framework in psychological operations (PsyOps) and biohacking, adopted by governments, enterprises, and global security communities.
Hunter Storm also pioneered the first global forensic mapping of digital repression architecture, suppression, and censorship through her project Discrimination by Design: First Global Forensic Mapping of Digital Repression Architecture, monitoring platform accountability and digital suppression worldwide.
Achievements and Awards
Hunter Storm is a Mensa member and recipient of the Who’s Who Lifetime Achievement Award, reflecting her enduring influence on AI, cybersecurity, quantum, technology, strategy, and global security.
Hunter Storm | The Ultimate Asymmetric Advantage
Hunter Storm is known for solving problems most won’t touch. She combines technical mastery, operational agility, and strategic foresight to protect critical assets and shape the future at the intersection of technology, strategy, and high-risk decision-making.
Hunter Storm reframes human-technical threat surfaces to expose vulnerabilities others miss, delivering the ultimate asymmetric advantage.
Discover Hunter Storm’s full About the Author biography and career highlights.
Securing the Future | AI, Cybersecurity, Quantum computing, innovation, risk management, hybrid threats, security. Hunter Storm (“The Fourth Option”) is here. Let’s get to work.
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