UAE: Is this website a scam? Use this website to check before you shop online

Dubai: Have you ever come across a website offering your dream designer bag at an unbelievable price, or tickets to a popular concert or attraction at a fraction of the cost? While such offers may look tempting, they could be scams.

Dubai Police has warned residents about fraudulent websites and links claiming to sell Global Village VIP packs for the upcoming season at discounted rates. Authorities said these scams resurface every year, exploiting strong demand for Global Village tickets by creating fake websites that mimic official pages and trick buyers into sharing their money and personal details.

So how can you be sure a website is genuine? The UAE’s Cyber Security Council, in partnership with etisalat by e& and the Global Anti-Scam Alliance, has launched a free online tool called Stay Safe. Developed by ScamAdviser, a platform that reviews websites, the tool lets users check the credibility of any site by rating it against different parameters. It is accessible through staysafe.csc.gov.ae.

While Stay Safe can be a helpful resource to spot phishing scams, experts advise residents not to rely on it alone. Doing your own research and knowing the warning signs of fraudulent websites remain essential steps to avoid falling victim to online scams.

It is important to note, however, that the website is only a helpful resource in checking the legitimacy of a website. It is always advisable to do your own research and learn the different ways in which you can recognise the warning signs of a fraudulent website.

According to the UAE Cybersecurity Council, the website allows people to check if a website is legitimate, or potentially an online phishing scam. You can type in the address of any website you want to verify, and the platform will check for malware, phishing or other scams.

“These sources are neither complete nor perfect. The phish may be brand new or the scam may be well hidden. We therefore strongly recommend you to always do your own check as well,” the Cyber Security Council states on the website.

• Website reliability score - A colour-coded system (red, yellow, light green, dark green) instantly flags potential scams. Dark green means the website is reliable, if it is light green then the site ‘maybe trustworthy’. While red indicates a high risk of fraud.

• Detailed breakdown - Stay Safe shows if the site has been reported for phishing, is registered with local authorities, and how old the domain is.

According to the UAE Cybersecuirty Council, here are the signs that can indicate that a website could be a scam:

1. Super cheap deals - If a price is unbelievably low, be cautious. The easiest way to verify the prices is to simply check the price of the product at competing websites. If the difference in prices is huge, it might be better to double-check the the website for any other signs of fraud.

2. Missing social media handles - Legitimate businesses usually have active social media pages and their websites have social media buttons that take you directly to their pages. A fake website might have social media buttons but they will take you to an empty profile or nowhere at all. If there are functioning social media accounts, take a quick look to see if there are any posts and if so what are the kind of comments users are leaving.

3. Poor grammar - Typos and unprofessional design can signal a scam.

4. Suspicious brand names - Be wary of sites using brand names with ‘cheap’ or ‘free’. Also, legitimate websites have high-quality logos and pictures. Scammers often steal content like images and product descriptions from various sources.

5. Deceptive domain names - Check the website address carefully for spelling mistakes or minor alterations from the real brand name.

6. New website - The ‘Stay Safe’ tool also tells you how old the website is. Other information is also gathered about the domain, such as for how long it has been registered. Domain names that have been registered for short periods of time, say, a year, might be suspicious because scammers don’t invest much money in their websites.

7. No safe payment options - Always check if credit cards and popular online payment services are offered on the website. In general credit cards and other payment methods offer consumer protection by allowing consumers to get their money back in case the product is not delivered. Scam websites might use bitcoin or bank transfers.

8. No contact information - A real business will have a phone number, email, or active social media presence. If they have an email address or social media presence, message or email the company. A professional online store usually replies within hours or a maximum of two working days.

This article was published on June 23, 2024 and has been updated since.