Top 10 Ways to Spot a Scam Site

Often times, a website that is secure will have an "https" in the URL bar. Never enter personal information into a site beginning with "http://", to be on the safe side. Some scam websites even tend to have a fake version of the website. If the URL doesn't match the website itself, stay away.

Exactly the same as #1. A scammer's favorite trick is making websites with addresses which imitate large brands or companies. Always be sure to double-check the address bar.

Scammers know that more people shop during the holidays, so they put together real-looking websites during those times. By checking the domain age, you can see how long the website was in business, giving you a better sense of its veracity.

Excessive spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar mistakes indicate that a website was up quickly. Companies with real websites can certainly have occasional typos but still do their best to present a professional website.

Real websites should have other features such as an “About Us” section, terms and conditions, and privacy policies. Check each of those pages to make sure they are there.

Shopping websites offer regular payment options. If a website requires wire transfer, money order, or other unsecured (and nonrefundable) form of payment, stay away.

This happened to me when I tried to buy a PS4 Pro from FaceBook Marketplace.

Don't fall for deals that seem too good to be true; they are most likely scams. Chances are you‘ll never see the goods you purchase.

The Google Safe Browsing Transparency Report allows you to put the URL into a field and gives you a report on whether the site is trustworthy or not.

Simple. If you don't see any customer reviews anywhere or see negative reviews, steer clear. You can research the reputation of each seller through official review sites. Reviews of websites speak very high volumes about it's trustworthiness.