The rise of the internet has provided people with a host of conveniences, entertainment, and productivity tools. It has truly transformed the way we work, spend our free time, communicate, and more. Unfortunately, it didn’t take scammers long to figure out how to leverage the internet for their criminal activities.
Today, one of the biggest issues people face is knowing how to distinguish legitimate websites from scams. This is especially true in the e-commerce industry, where consumers can easily be fooled into providing personal details, including sensitive payment information.
Online casinos are another place where scammers have flourished, building fake virtual casinos with the sole goal of stealing your money.
It is alarmingly easy to create scam and fake websites—so how can you spot the real deal? Here are some of the basics you’ll want to know to protect yourself and your family from being scammed.
Always Check the URL Before You Start Shopping
This is probably one of the easiest tips to follow and doesn’t require any tech know-how at all. Take a look at the URL, which should start with “HTTPS”, and it should have a padlock symbol next to it. This means that it is secure and is encrypted and safe from potential hackers.
While you’re looking at the URL, make sure it also contains the correct spelling of the brand name or organization. If there are spelling mistakes in the URL, there’s a good chance it’s not the real deal—no matter how convincing the site looks otherwise.
Does the Site Take Trusted Forms of Payment?
Sometimes these scammer sites don’t offer trusted forms of payment. For instance, they will not accept widely-used credit cards.
Almost every trusted and established e-commerce site and online casino should accept major credit cards. If any site asks for your banking access codes or other unusual forms of payment, think twice before giving out that information.
Is the Contact Information Listed?
Because people can run into issues when shopping online, trusted websites always have a way to reach customer service.
Generally speaking, there should be multiple ways to talk to a customer service provider—such as a phone number, email, or even a live chat feature. If the site doesn’t mention anything about customer service, that’s a huge red flag—and probably best avoided.
Check When the Website Was Created
You will need to be a bit more tech savvy to use this tip, but it is worth taking this extra step. Checking the domain age, which means when the website was created, can be very telling.
If the site has only been around a few weeks or months and it’s hard to find any information on it online, that could be a serious red flag. Conversely, domains can change hands, so what was once a reputable site could now be owned and operated by scammers, but that is generally the exception rather than the rule.
If you are visiting an established e-commerce platform, then it was probably created a while ago. You can also check the domain expiration date.
Does the Website Look Professional?
As you scroll through the e-commerce site or online casino, ask yourself if it seems professional looking. A legitimate business would have invested time and money into creating a website that works well, has high-quality images, is easy to navigate, and feels professional. If anything seems off, investigate things further.
Do the Prices Seem Reasonable and Realistic?
It’s easy to get excited about rock-bottom prices when shopping online, but that can also be a red flag. As the famous saying goes, “If something is too good to be true, then it probably is”.
If the pricing is way off the competition, and the deals seem impossible, then it’s time to dig deeper. You could end up paying for items you never receive or aren’t as described.
This leads to the return policy. The policy should be easy to find and fair for buyers. If the website doesn’t offer any returns, you have to ask yourself if it’s worth taking the chance to buy from them.
Scam Casinos Are More Common Than You May Think
Online casinos have grown in popularity in the past decade, and people have more options to play games online than ever before. The problem is that not all of these casinos are legit. Some are nothing more than scams just waiting to take your hard-earned money.
Fake casinos share some fairly obvious tells, such as excessive bonuses, offers that seem too good to be true, and payment providers you’ve never heard of. Players would be wise to do their research before choosing an online casino. Looking for in-depth reviews at a trusted website like casinos.com will help weed out the scams.
Another red flag that players should be wary of is the website’s design and user interface. It should look professional, run smoothly, and be free of any bugs or issues.
Check to make sure that the casino offers enhanced encryption and security when making deposits and withdrawals. A legitimate online casino will answer questions about security and more on its “About Us” page. There should also be an easy way to contact customer service.
When you use these tips to inspect a site before using it, you may be shocked at how many online casinos don’t pass the test. Be relieved that you are potentially saving yourself from an expensive mistake!
You Don’t Want to Become a Statistic
No one wants to become a statistic when it comes to online scams and fake websites. Making payments online requires constant vigilance, asking the right questions, and taking the time to make sure each site is trusted and the real deal. At the end of the day, if you’re ever in doubt about a website, it’s always best to err on the side of caution and close that window.
