Website Spoofing: How to Spot a Fake Website

What is website spoofing?

There are many scam websites out there on the world wide web, ranging from online shopping scams to scareware scams and sweepstake scams. But one of the most prevalent scams is website spoofing.

Website spoofing is a basic but effective scamming technique. Cybercriminals create fake websites that mimic legitimate websites in order to steal sensitive information or data.

The spoof or fake website is designed to look identical to the real website, and may even function in the same way... to a certain point. The fake website has only malicious intent, and that is to get the user's data or to get users to download malware.

How does website spoofing work?

These days anyone can create a professional-looking website without much cost or web design experience. While that's great news for the Average Joe Blogger, it also means more opportunities for cybercriminals.

A bad actor can easily replicate an existing website, perhaps even using the very same web design template and inserting content copied directly from the original page.

Victims tend to arrive at a spoofed website in one of two ways— by making an unfortunate typo when typing in a legitimate address, or clicking on a fake website link.

If it's a common typo, the cybercriminals may have decided to take advantage of it and created a fake website so that victims won't realize their mistake until it's too late.

But the more common arrival is via a bad link.

So, where do the bad links come from?

These dodgy links may be presented to the victim via a phishing email, malicious advert, or a pop-up on another website. Once the web user clicks on the link, they will be led (or redirected) to a fake website under the scammer's control.

Scammers register a website domain that looks identical to that of a legitimate site.

There are a few different ways they can do this, such as:

Homograph attack: Homograph attack is when scammers use characters from different languages or scripts to create domain names that look similar to the real domain names. For example, using Cyrillic letters (instead of Latin) to make a fake domain name look like the real domain name. To the human eye, these letters will be indistinguishable.

Typosquatting: Typosquatting involves creating a fake domain name that is similar to the real domain name but with a slight typo. For example, using "gmial.com" instead of "gmail.com." This is how those typos can be very costly when you're typing in an address.

URL shortening: Scam artists may use URL shortening services to hide the true destination of a link. For example, they may create a link that appears to go to a legitimate website but actually redirects to a fake website.

What is the aim of website spoofing?

Cybercriminals create fake websites for various reasons, but most often, they do it to steal sensitive information from unsuspecting victims. Here are some common motives behind website spoofing:

To steal personal information: Cyber criminals may create a fake website that looks identical to a legitimate one, such as a bank, e-commerce site, or government body. They then trick users into entering their login credentials, credit card numbers, or other personal information, which the hackers can then use to commit identity theft or financial fraud.

To distribute malware: Some fake websites may contain malicious software that is automatically downloaded onto a user's device when they visit the site. This malware can then be used to steal information from the user's device, such as login credentials or sensitive files.

To conduct phishing attacks: Fake websites are a common component of phishing attacks as they help add to the facade and create a false sense of security for potential victims.

To spread misinformation: In some cases, cybercriminals conduct website spoofing to spread false information or propaganda. This can be used to manipulate public opinion or sow confusion and chaos.

Real-life examples of website spoofing scams

In January 2023, the North Carolina attorney general sent a message to prospective students to be aware that not all college websites are real. The warning came after it was discovered that scammers had created a fake website pretending to be a real but now-closed college.

The legitimate King's College in Charlotte closed its doors in 2018, but there are still King's Colleges in Pennsylvania and New York City.

Although the fake website lacked details on things like legal authorization, the curriculum, or any proof of the thousands of students and hundreds of faculty members it claimed to have, it had populated other parts of it with content copied entirely from Cardiff University in the UK.

As well as asking for a $75 application fee, the scam website also included an online application form requesting reams of personal information and an image of driver's licenses, all that's needed for the scammers to commit identity theft.

The deception was quite elaborate and went beyond the spoofed website. The fake college even had a LinkedIn profile with more than 4000 followers, and posted a fake article that references the closing of the college and its supposed re-opening. The scammers have gone to a lot of effort to create the illusion of legitimacy.

How to spot a fake website?

Since the whole point of website spoofing is to deceive, they can be difficult to spot. Cybercriminals often mimic well-known names and brands or authoritative organizations because of the familiarity, trust, or respect people have for them. All it takes is a busy web user to quickly glance and click and they are suddenly in the web of deceit.

But if you take your time, there are a few things that will help you spot a fake website.

Inspect the URL

As we saw above, website spoofing involves creating URLs that will, on first glance, look identical to the legitimate site address. It might be one letter out, have a digit instead of a letter, use homograph tactics, or typosquatting. For example, they may register "gogle.com" instead of "google.com."

Check for grammatical errors

Cybercriminals may have the technical skills to spoof a website, but often, they are creating website content that is not in their first language. A fake website may have poor grammar or spelling mistakes in the content, which is a huge red flag. Legitimate websites are proofread and checked for errors multiple times before going live, so if you see mistakes, be cautious.

Check for an SSL cert

An SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate is a digital certificate that authenticates the identity of a website and encrypts the data that is transmitted between the user's browser and the website's server.

To check for an SSL certificate look for the padlock icon in the browser address bar. The padlock presence means that the website is using an SSL certificate and the connection is secure. Another clue is that the URL will start with "https" instead of "http”.

You can also view the SSL certificate details by clicking on the padlock icon in the address bar and selecting "View Certificate" or "Certificate Information."

This will show you the name of the organization that issued the certificate and the expiration date. You can also check the certificate authority by viewing the "Issued By" field.

Pay attention to web design quality

Bad actors may have web templates at their fingertips, but creating a slick, informative website is not the aim of their game. Fake websites may be designed to appear legit but they aren't going to focus on user experience or win any design awards!

If the design seems a bit basic or the layout shoddy, especially if it's a big-name brand that should do better, then consider that a red flag.

Also, check the image quality. A legit website will be using good-quality images. If the images and graphics are low-res, then that can be another tell-tale sign of website spoofing.

Look for the contact information

Legitimate websites usually have a contact page with a registered physical address for the company, a contact phone number, and a company email address. If the website doesn't have this information or only provides a generic email address, it's likely a fake website.

If it does provide contact details, double-check them. Copy and paste the contact information into a search engine. If it's a fake website with fake contact details, they may have already been reported and the search results will show it.

Use a website checker

The easiest answer to “how to spot a fake website” is to use a website checker. These online tools can help you check if a website is legitimate or not. For example, Google's Transparency Report has a Site Status diagnostic tool that allows you to check if the website contains any content that has been deemed “dangerous” by Google's Safe Browsing. The Firefox browser also uses Google's safe browsing API. You can also use independent sites such as PhishTank.

What to do if you've fallen for website spoofing?

If you find yourself on a fake website there are several steps you can take to minimize the damage and protect yourself from further harm.

Protect your identity and information

If you entered any personal or financial information on a fake website, take steps to protect your identity and accounts. Change your passwords, contact your bank or credit card provider to cancel any transactions, or freeze your account. You can monitor your credit report for any unauthorized activity. Even better, request a credit freeze to avoid any issues down the line. You can unfreeze and refreeze as and when you need to.

Report the website to the authorities

You can report the fraudulent website to law enforcement agencies such as the FBI, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), or the Cybercrime Unit in your country. These organizations have the necessary expertise and resources to investigate and take action against scammers. You can also report the website to the domain registrar or hosting provider, who may be able to take down the website or suspend the scammer's account.

Document the evidence

If you plan to file a complaint or report the scam to authorities, it's essential to gather evidence that proves the website is fraudulent. Take screenshots of the website, including the URL, the content, and any contact information. Keep a record of any emails or messages you received from the scammer, and save any transaction receipts or bank statements that may be relevant.

Report to your browser

Most popular web browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Edge have built-in tools that allow you to report fake websites directly to the browser. Here's how you can do it:

Google Chrome: If you're using Google Chrome, you can report a fake website by clicking on the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner of the browser window and selecting "More tools" > "Report an issue". This will open a new window where you can select "Deceptive site ahead" and provide details about the fake website.

Mozilla Firefox: To report a fake website in Mozilla Firefox, click on the three-line menu icon in the top-right corner of the browser window and select "Web Developer" > "Report Deceptive Site". This will open a new window where you can provide details about the fake website and submit a report.

Microsoft Edge: If you're using Microsoft Edge, you can report website spoofing by clicking on the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner of the browser window and selecting "Help and feedback" > "Report a website". This will open a new window where you can select "Deceptive site" and provide details about the fake website.

When you report website spoofing, the browser will send the website's URL and any additional information to the browser's security team for analysis. If the website is confirmed to be fake, the browser may add it to a blacklist and display a warning message to other users who attempt to access the website.

Notify the legitimate website owner

If the website is impersonating a legitimate company, you can notify the real company's customer service department or legal team. They may be able to take legal action against the scammer and protect their brand reputation. You can usually find contact information for the company on its official website or through a search engine.

Don't fall for website spoofing scams

The key to learning how to spot a fake website is to take your time. Scammers are counting on people not paying attention to the finer details. You see a brand name (or think you do) and we let our guard down. These fake websites are increasingly deceptive but if you follow the tips we've outlined above you can hopefully avoid falling victim. Remember to inspect URLs for errors, check for incorrect grammar, be wary of poor design or image quality in the web content, and look for an SSL cert.

READ MORE: Deepfake Phishing: The New Wave of Cyber Crime