Dubai: Did you find tickets to a sold-out concert on a website? Or unbelievably discounted airfares for your dream holiday destination? It’s worth checking if the website is legitimate or phony, via the UAE Cyber Security Council’s StaySafe website.
Here’s how to check whether a website is fraudulent, and how to avoid being scammed.
What is StaySafe?
With online phishing and scams on the rise in an increasingly digital world, the UAE government has taken steps to protect online users in the country through an online tool called StaySafe. Launched by the UAE’s Cyber Security Council, in partnership with etisalat and the Global Anti-Scam Alliance, the tool is completely free to use.
StaySafe allows users to check the credibility of any website, by rating it against a range of parameters. The tool checks links against several sources for you, to check for malware, phishing, or scams.
The UAE Cyber Security Council cautions, however, that the sources are neither complete nor perfect, and advises netizens to do their own checks as well, in order to avoid falling victim to online scams.
How does the tool work?
Follow these steps to use the StaySafe online tool:
Visit staysafe.csc.gov.ae/en. Enter the website link in the ‘Search’ section.
Following your input, StaySafe uses a colour-coded system – from red, yellow and light green to dark green – to flag potential scams, and gives you a website reliability score. If the result is dark green, this means the website is reliable and you can proceed to use it. If the indicator turns red, this means the website has a high potential for fraud.
Once the colour-coded results are provided, StaySafe also shows whether the website has been reported in the past, for phishing, and whether it has been registered with the local authorities, as well as details regarding how old it is.
How do I conduct a check to see if a website is a scam or phishing site?
From fake investment opportunities to fraudulent online stores, there are plenty of ways to be scammed online. The Cyber Security Council shared the following tips to help individuals gain the ability to spot online scams:
Use common sense: If the price of a product on a website looks too good to be true, it likely comes with strings attached. The authorities advise thinking twice and double-checking. The easiest way to do this is to simply check out the same product at competing websites that you trust. If the difference in prices is huge, it’s a red flag.
Check out social media links: Scammers know consumers often expect retailers to have a social media presence, and so they insert logos of social media platforms on their websites. Scratching beneath the surface often reveals non-functional links. If there are functioning social media accounts, take a quick look to see if there are any posts. Oftentimes, if the website is a scam, angry users will let you know.
Check the small print: Scammers often use placeholder or rushed text in pages like ‘About Us’, ‘Terms & Conditions’, ‘Shipping Policy’ and ‘Return Policy’ to give the air of professionality. If you find that these pages don’t exist or are of poor quality, think twice about shopping on the website.
Check if brand names are being misused: A lot of fraudulent retail sites use brand names in combination with words like ‘discounted’, ‘cheap’, ‘sale’ and even ‘free’ to get visitors via search engines. However, premium brands rarely or never put their products on sale or offer huge discounts. Likewise, most serious online stores sell multiple brands and do not deal in only one brand. Pay attention to the look and feel of these websites. Legitimate websites have high-quality logos and pictures. Fraudulent websites can appear unprofessional, with odd looking formatting or low-resolution pictures.
Look for a working trustmark: Trustmarks are authentication symbols displayed on a website to show that it has passed an independent assessment, and complies with specific standards for privacy, security, quality or trade practices. However, scam websites may also use them without permission, in an attempt to mislead consumers. A way to see if the trustmark is real is to click on it – if the functionality is not working, it’s a red flag.
Check the domain name: Certain websites will try and trick you into thinking they are the official websites of known brands, even if they have no relation to the actual company. Make sure that the domain name, or the link address, is as expected. For example, a real domain name of a brand may be ‘brand.com’, while a fake website might use variations like ‘brand.net’, or ‘brand.online’.
Learn from reviews: A website using a well-known consumer review system is usually a good sign. However, some review systems are better than others. Check if the review system adheres to the Review Certification Standards, meaning the website cannot delete or edit reviews without proper cause. Websites like Scamadviser, TrustPilot and others allow users to leave reviews which cannot be deleted or edited by companies.
Check if communication is secured: If there is a ‘https’ in front of the retail site and a lock symbol visible, this means the website and your browser are encrypted, making it safer to use. However, note that it does not guarantee that the site is not fake, as the cost of adding an SSL certificate for secure communication is minimal, and anyone may do so.
Look for safe payment methods: Credit cards, PayPay and Alipay offer consumer protection by allowing consumers to get their money back in case the product is not delivered. Check if the website supports these payment methods. Never transfer money to a bank account if you have doubts about the reliability of a website.
Check delivery partners: Check if the website lists its delivery partners. Not all websites do so, but some integrate a feature to track shipments. If a reliable delivery partner is named, this is usually a good sign.
Check contact details: Call the company if in doubt or send a request for more information via email or social media. A professional web store usually replies within hours or a maximum of two working days, depending on the medium.
Err on the side of caution: If you are still in doubt, do not proceed. StaySafe advises that if you are still unsure, it’s better to be cautious and follow your intuition. Don’t let a great price cloud your judgement. If you have doubts, there are plenty of other shops to buy from.