If you think you’ve stumbled on a fake website, maybe one that looks like a very similar existing real national acompany, then check each section of the URL or domain name for any misspellings or there may be no locked padlock on the search bar entry or the phrase https at the start. Although these do not guarantee the site is in any way reputable, a locked padlock symbol means the connection is secure so information is encrypted. If the browser actually flashes up the phrase ‘not secure’ then it should not be opened and certainly no information provided to it.

If you suspect something is not right, if you have doubts about the website, then you should cut down and close it immediately, with definitely no clicking of links.

Criminals are opening fake websites more than before – they are an easy way of farming masses of personal information and passwords. Once they have these, they will very quickly attack bank accounts and try to empty contents as quckly as they can.

Some of the more obvious signs to look out for are sites offering normally very high priced items at rediculously low figures but with no safety net. i.e. no returns policy and the ad phrased in language designed to make a customer panic to buy NOW before they ‘all sell out’. They will often stipulate bank transfer payment and not allow credit or debit card or trustworthy payment agencies. All these things can be checked out before any business dealings taske place and fraudulent companies reported as soon as possible to the cyber crime agency.