Question: I’m concerned about accidentally shopping from a fraudulent website. How can I spot the fakes?


Answer: Watch out for these common red flags:

1. A URL starting with http://
   The first thing you want to look for on a website is the https:// at the beginning of the address. The
   “s” in https:// stands for “secure,” indicating the website uses encryption to transfer data, protecting it from hackers.
   
   
   If a website uses http:// (without the “s”), that doesn’t guarantee it’s a scam, but it’s reason for pause. To be on the safe side, you should never enter personal information into a site beginning with http://.
   
   
   
2. A Newly Created Domain
   Scammers often have to set up new websites in an effort to outrun negative reviews from those they’ve scammed, so domain age can be a telltale sign. Check a resource such as https://whois.domaintools.com to see when the website was created. If it’s only been around for a few months, it might be a scam.
   
   
   
3. Fake Security Logos
   Check sites for logos that indicate which security certifications a website has, like DigiCert, Verisign, or Symantec. A scam site may copy and paste pictures of these logos on their sites. To check whether a certification is valid, click on the logo to see if it opens a new tab with details about the website’s security. If the logo is just a picture and not a button, it’s likely fake.
   
   
   
4. No Social Media Presence
   Legitimate companies tend to have, at the very least, a presence on Facebook or Twitter with a respectable number of followers. Fraudulent websites, by contrast, may lack social media accounts.
   
   
   
5. No Customer Reviews
   Do a quick Google search of the business’s name along with “reviews” or “complaints.” If there is a lack of reviews or other mentions of the website, you should consider it suspicious.
   
   
   
6. Prices Too Good to Be True
   Use common sense to avoid scams. If a website’s deals seem too good to be true, they probably are. A good rule of thumb is to be suspicious of discounts greater than 50%.
   
   
   
7. Requirement to Use Unsecured Forms of Payment
   Legitimate websites offer standard payment options, such as credit cards or PayPal. If a website requires you to use a wire transfer, money order, or other unsecured (and nonrefundable) form of payment, stay away.

With these things in mind, you won’t be fooled by fraudulent websites. Stay informed, keep vigilant, and take control of your online shopping experience.

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It can sometimes be tricky to spot work-from-home scams since they often appear alongside legitimate opportunities on popular job-search websites. But it’s important to educate yourself to avoid losing money instead of gaining a job.


The median loss for work-from-home scam victims is about $1,200, according to the Better Business Bureau’s BBB Scam Tracker. Federal officials have raised alarms about such scams spiking amid the coronavirus shutdown, as millions of people who’ve lost jobs search for new ones.


Common ploys invite you to earn money by stuffing envelopes, processing billing forms, filling out online surveys, doing typing or data entry, or assembling crafts. The common thread is that you’ll be asked to pay something upfront for supplies, certifications, coaching, or client leads. In return you may get a bunch of useless information. Or you may get nothing at all.


Additional warning signs include an ad that claims no skills or experience are required and offers high pay for little or no work, and a company that promises a surefire business opportunity that will pay off quickly and easily.


Here’s what to do if you’re looking for a work-from-home job:

• Check out the company offering the job with your state consumer protection agency as well as the Better Business Bureau in your community and the area where the company is located.
  
  
  
• Learn about the FTC’s Business Opportunity Rule, which requires companies to disclose key information about business opportunities they are selling, to provide references, and to back up claims about how much you can earn.
  
  
  
• Ask detailed questions about how you’ll be paid, who will pay you, and when will the payments begin.
  
  
  
• Don’t assume a work-at-home offer is on the level because you saw it in a trusted newspaper or on a legitimate job website. It could still be a scam. If you spot a suspicious listing, report it to the publication or site.
  
  
  
• Keep in mind that fake work-at-home sites are full of fake personal stories of people making thousands of dollars a month because they took advantage of this amazing opportunity.

To learn more, visit www.consumer.ftc.gov/topics/working-home.