With the growing number of online scams and fraudulent websites, it is essential to be careful when entering into online transactions or providing personal information. In this article, we will look at five ways you can check if a site is legit or not. Nowadays checking the legitimacy of online sites before taking any action is a must.
1. Check the HTTPS and SSL certificate
One of the first and easiest ways to check the legitimacy of a website is to make sure that the site is using the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol. This is reflected in the browser address bar, where the website URL should begin with “https://” instead of the plain “http://”. Also, search engines often show a green sign in the address bar for legitimate websites that use SSL certificates.
If a website does not have an SSL certificate, then it is not providing security to its visitors. Their data can be seen and stolen by hackers as the system is easy to break into. Moreover, by 2024, most legitimate websites have an SSL certificate, so its absence is a reason to doubt the legitimacy of the platform.
2. Verification of contact information
Legitimate websites usually provide clear contact information including address, phone number and email address for contact. Check this information and make sure it is valid. If the site does not provide any contact information or it looks questionable, it may be a sign of illegitimacy.
At the same time, it is a good idea to see if there is a live chat that you can use. Most online shops, betting sites and service platforms have a chat facility for you to contact support to address your queries. This is a great convenience that should not be spared to you. Live chat is another sign of legitimacy. Observe are the contact information as it is of prime importance.
3. Research the reputation of the site
Before making a purchase from a particular website, do some online searches to check its reputation. Read reviews and comments from other users who have used the services or made purchases from the site. However, be careful of fake reviews that may be placed by the websites themselves or by their competitors.
One of the best ways to check reviews and opinion is if the site is present on social networks. In case the online platform has a page on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, you can trust it more and also read the user comments that are very important for you and your presence on the site.
4. Check additional certificates and licenses
Some websites may promote themselves as legitimate by using different certificates and licenses. For example, online stores often use security certificates or trust certificates from different organizations. Check for the availability of such certificates and make sure they are valid and issued by reputable institutions.
5. Caution against fraudulent practices
Finally, be careful in recognizing common fraudulent practices that are used by illegitimate websites. These include excessively good offers, lack of clear terms of use or refunds, and demanding unusual forms of payment, such as a preference for anonymous payment methods. In case you have doubts about a site, then stay away from it.
Unfortunately, many people these days come across fraudulent sites and then face stolen bank card numbers, bank accounts and e-wallet accounts. Try to avoid such a scenario as it will affect your psyche in a negative way. Check out our tips above and make your choice of site.
Conclusion
In the online space, it is essential to be careful and informed when transacting online. By following the above five ways of checking the legitimacy of websites, we can reduce the risk so that you don’t fall victim in scams and can surf the web with peace of mind. We hope this article has been comprehensive enough for you and wish you good luck and all the best.
