How to Tell if an Internet Website is Legitimate

It is important to be able to distinguish if an Internet website is legitimate. A copied website can look almost the same as the real one, except for the URL, or the website address. A copied website may have a similar looking URL with only a small change, so you have to look hard to notice it.

Padlock Icon

Another giveaway is a lack of a 'padlock icon' on sites that ask you to give them personal details, password, or credit card details. Always look for this icon, usually in the information bar at the bottom of your browser window.

Check the Owner of the Website

A good way to determine that a site is genuine is to check the name and contact details of the website owner. There are special websites that have been established for this purpose. The company's information from the site should match up.

Broken Links

Other clues are broken links, images that link to other sites and offers that are too good to be true. Be careful and treat such websites with caution. If you are in doubt, look for a phone number, and then call to find out if it is a genuine phone number.