7 maneras de detectar correos electrónicos o sitios web falsos

These days, it seems like scammers are attacking us from all sides: dangerous emails and texts, fake websites, phishing messages, suspicious calls, and much more—all in the hopes of getting our information and our money. That’s why we do everything we can to learn how to be vigilant and protect ourselves from scammers and imposters online. 

Cómo identificar sitios web falsos

Fortunately, there are some signs that can help us detect if we’re being scammed. This will help you identify fake websites and messages. 

1. Look for bad URLs . If you want to access a specific website, such as your bank’s or a well-known e-commerce site, but end up on a page with a slightly different web address, this is a clear sign that the site is fake. Scammers create a similar website in the hope that you’ll enter your personal and payment information without realizing it. There are several ways to protect yourself from these situations:  

• • If you’re using a computer, hover your mouse over the link to see a preview of the URL in the status bar. Then, check if the linked site matches the URL of the legitimate page.  For example, if you receive an email from “Banca del Norte,” but instead of taking you to www.bancadelnorte.es, the link takes you to something like www.banca-norte.es, don’t click it.
     
  • If you’re on a mobile device, use the link preview to see the actual URL before clicking.
     
  • You can also use  McAfee®  WebAdvisor on your computer and mobile devices to ensure the links you click are safe.

• • Make sure the web address begins with “https” instead of “http,” as this indicates the website is secure. You can also check if the page has a trust mark, such as McAfee SECURE. 

3. Check the sender’s email address. You can also verify who sent the email by analyzing the sender’s address. The message may say it’s from a Banca del Norte employee, but the address could be somewhat strange, such as bancadelnorte@hotmail.com. The sender shouldn’t use a public account address, such as Hotmail, Gmail, or Yahoo!, if it’s supposed to be from a legitimate company.
4. Pay attention to the greeting . If the message header is something like “Dear Sir” or “Valued Customer,” you should be suspicious. Senders with whom you have a trusting relationship will generally use your name.
5. Pay attention to low-resolution images and spelling errors. Typos or grammatical errors are another clear sign that the message or page is fake. Another telltale sign is low-quality logos or other graphic elements. 
6. Be suspicious of intrusive requests. Your bank will never ask for your PIN or card information via email or text message. They won’t call you directly asking you to confirm account information. Neither will IRS officials. Fake calls from agencies like the IRS  claiming you owe taxes are becoming common. Rest assured, organizations of this type will always send you official notifications. 
7. If you have any questions, please contact them. If you’re unsure about the legitimacy of a request, contact the institution or individual directly using their website, email address, or official phone number.  

If you receive an email from someone you know asking for confidential information and it appears to be from a real address, be aware that it could be a case of  spoofing . Speak to the person directly to confirm that they actually sent you the email. 

This type of fraud has recently become popular as part of the ” CEO scam .” These are cases in which a hacker falsifies the email addresses of real people in a work setting, such as the chief executive officer (CEO) or HR manager, and requests sensitive data such as Social Security numbers and employee salaries. Because they appear to come from people in authority, the recipients usually respond and provide the requested information. 

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