Spotting Fake Links: Your Guide to Online Safety🔗︎

Why This Matters🔗︎

Every day, scammers send millions of fake emails and post malicious links on websites and social media. These links can steal your passwords, install malware on your device, or trick you into giving away personal information. Learning to spot fake links is one of the most important skills for staying safe online.

The Golden Rule: Hover Before You Click🔗︎

Most important habit: Never click a link immediately. Instead:

• On computers: Move your mouse over the link without clicking. A small preview will show the real destination.
• On phones/tablets: Press and hold the link to see where it actually goes.

This simple step can save you from most online scams.

Understanding Web Addresses (URLs)🔗︎

Every web address has several parts. Here's how to read them:

graph TB
    URL["https://secure.bankofamerica.com/login/account.html"] --> Protocol
    URL --> Subdomain
    URL --> Domain
    URL --> TLD
    URL --> Path

    Protocol["https://
=� How data is sent
 Encrypted connection"]
    Subdomain["secure.
<� Department/service
� Can be faked!"]
    Domain["bankofamerica
<� The actual company
=
 MOST IMPORTANT PART"]
    TLD[".com
<
 Domain type
(.com, .org, .gov, etc.)"]
    Path["/login/account.html
=� Specific page
Usually safe to ignore"]

    style Domain fill:#ff9999
    style TLD fill:#ff9999

What to focus on: The domain name + ending (like bankofamerica.com) is what really matters. Everything else can be misleading.

Common Scammer Tricks🔗︎

1. Look-Alike Domains (Domain Spoofing)🔗︎

• L Fake: bank0famerica.com (zero instead of letter 'o')
• L Fake: bankofamerica-security.com (extra words added)
• L Fake: bankofamerica.net (wrong ending)
• Real: bankofamerica.com

2. Misleading Subdomains🔗︎

• L Fake: bankofamerica.com.security-check.net
• The real domain is security-check.net, not Bank of America!
• Real: secure.bankofamerica.com
• The real domain is bankofamerica.com

3. Display Text vs. Real Destination🔗︎

• L Suspicious: Email says "Visit PayPal" but hovering shows suspicious-site.ru
• Legitimate: Display text and hover destination match

The HTTPS Myth: Why the Lock Icon Doesn't Mean Safe🔗︎

Why HTTPS isn't enough: - What HTTPS does: Encrypts data between you and the website - L What HTTPS doesn't do: Verify the website is legitimate - =� Reality: Anyone can get a free HTTPS certificate in minutes

Think of HTTPS like a locked briefcase - it protects what's inside during transport, but doesn't tell you if the person carrying it is trustworthy.

Examples of dangerous HTTPS sites: - https://payp4l-security.com (fake PayPal with HTTPS) - https://amazon-verification.net (fake Amazon with HTTPS)

How to Check Links Safely🔗︎

Method 1: Manual Inspection🔗︎

1. Hover over the link (don't click!)
2. Read the domain carefully - look for: - Misspellings (arnazon.com instead of amazon.com) - Extra words (paypal-security.com) - Wrong endings (.net instead of .com)
3. When in doubt, type the website address manually into your browser

Method 2: Free URL Verification Tools🔗︎

Before clicking suspicious links, paste them into these tools:

Method 3: Browser Extensions (Automatic Protection)🔗︎

Install these trusted extensions for real-time protection:

For Chrome Users:🔗︎

• Malwarebytes Browser Guard - Blocks malicious sites and scams
• Guardio - Real-time threat detection
• Norton Safe Web - Website safety ratings

For Firefox Users:🔗︎

• Malwarebytes Browser Guard - Same protection for Firefox
• Bitdefender TrafficLight - Free anti-phishing protection

Red Flags: When NOT to Click🔗︎

=� Immediate warning signs:

• L Urgent language: "Act now!" "Account suspended!" "Verify immediately!"
• L Generic greetings: "Dear Customer" instead of your actual name
• L Unexpected emails from banks, PayPal, Amazon asking you to click links
• L Links in text messages from unknown phone numbers
• L Shortened URLs (bit.ly, tinyurl.com) from people you don't know
• L Emails with spelling mistakes or poor grammar
• L Requests for passwords, Social Security numbers, or bank details

Quick Safety Checklist🔗︎

Before clicking ANY link, ask yourself:

• Was I expecting this message?
• Does the sender's address look correct?
• When I hover, does the destination match what I expect?
• Are there spelling mistakes in the domain name?
• Is the message creating false urgency?

If you answered "no" to any of the first three or "yes" to the last one - DON'T CLICK!

What to Do If You Clicked a Suspicious Link🔗︎

Don't panic! Follow these steps immediately:

1. = Close the website - Don't enter any information
2. L Don't download anything the site suggests
3. =� Run antivirus scan on your device
4. = Change passwords for accounts that might be affected
5. =@ Monitor your accounts for unusual activity over the next few days
6. =� Report the suspicious link to the company being impersonated

Interactive Link Checker🔗︎

Use this embedded tool to check suspicious links right from this page:

The Bottom Line🔗︎

Remember these key points:

1. Always hover before clicking - This one habit will protect you from most scams
2. Focus on the main domain name - Ignore everything else when checking legitimacy
3. HTTPS doesn't mean safe - Scammers use it too
4. When in doubt, don't click - Type website addresses manually instead
5. Use multiple verification tools - Cross-check suspicious links
6. Install browser protection - Let extensions help guard against threats

Taking 10 seconds to verify a link can save you hours (or days) of dealing with identity theft, malware, or financial fraud.

For more security tips and guidance, visit the main Security section.