How to Spot a Fake Website — 2026 Guide

Fake websites steal billions annually. Here are 10 data-backed red flags to check before trusting any website. Use Nerq's website trust checker for instant analysis.

10 Red Flags of a Fake Website

1. Domain age under 6 months — 87% of scam sites are less than 6 months old. Check domain registration date.
2. No HTTPS / invalid SSL — Legitimate sites have valid SSL certificates. Look for the padlock icon.
3. Prices too good to be true — 50-90% off luxury brands is almost always a scam.
4. No contact information — No phone number, physical address, or real email (only a contact form).
5. Poor grammar and spelling — Especially in the domain name itself (amaz0n.com, g00gle.com).
6. Payment only via wire transfer or crypto — Legitimate stores accept credit cards with buyer protection.
7. No social media presence — Or fake social accounts with no real engagement.
8. Copied content — Text and images stolen from legitimate websites.
9. Excessive pop-ups and redirects — Legitimate sites don't bombard you with pop-ups.
10. No return/refund policy — Or a policy that's clearly copied from another site.

How to Check Any Website

Use Nerq to check any website's trust score: nerq.ai/is-[website]-safe or search above.

What to Do If You've Been Scammed

1. Contact your bank immediately to dispute the charge
2. Report the site to your country's consumer protection agency
3. Report to the FTC (US), Action Fraud (UK), or equivalent
4. Change passwords if you created an account on the scam site
5. Monitor your credit report for unauthorized activity

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Updated March 2026. Source: Nerq independent analysis.