Johan

Signs That a Website Is Fraudulent

Cybercrime is on the rise, so it is more important than ever to protect yourself from fraudulent websites. There are a number of things to look out for in order to keep you and your family safe from the many online scams being run.

What Is a Fraudulent Website?

A fraudulent website can be defined as one that is fake, set up in order to run some sort of scam or phish for sensitive private information, with a view to defrauding site visitors or even stealing their identities.

Fortunately, there are a number of telltale signs to watch out for.

Signs That a Website Is Suspicious

1. The domain name

Fraudulent sites will usually use a domain name similar to a reputable company or brand name. There have been many scam sites based around Amazon.com, for example. They might include a brand name in the URL, such as AdidasBargains.com, but not be affiliated with the company in any way.

2. No contact information posted prominently

Honest websites have nothing to hide, so you will usually see some form of contact information posted at the site prominently, such as name, address, phone and email. Google requires this data to be obvious in order to include a site in their search engine results pages. If you don’t see a physical location as well as virtual contact data, steer clear.

3. Spelling and grammatical errors

Sometimes the URL looks legitimate apart from a spelling error. In other cases, the content at the site will be badly written. A lot of scam sites try to pose as American or Canadian companies in order to make consumers feel a false sense of security. Poor mechanics is a sign of overseas cybercriminals trying to con you.

4. Check the WHOIS registration for the domain

Not all of the data is completely visible; some pay more for secure accounts. In general, however, Network Solutions is the best place to see who owns the domain and where it is being administered from. Go to https://www.networksolutions.com/whois/index.jsp and put in the URL of the site you suspect. Check to see the location where it has been registered and the creation date to see how long it has been registered for. Scam sites are usually made on the fly and disappear just as quickly.

5. Try the phone number listed

WHOIS should list a phone number. Call it to see if it works. If it is an answer machine, the number is not in service, or no one ever answers during business hours, it is more than likely a scam. It might also be a website hosting service where the domain is parked, in which case there will be no way to contact actual staff for the site. Again, steer clear.

6. Look for the “s” in https://

This shows it is a secure site. If there is no “s”, then the site is not secure and others can access your sensitive information. Google will not list sites that do not have https:// certification.

7. Run a Google search

See if the site has any reviews or if people are complaining it is a scam. Also, see if it shows up in search engine results.

8. Check the links on Google

If it is a legitimate site, it will usually have links pointing to it from other websites. If the only thing that shows up is the domain name, steer clear.

9. Beware phishing emails

These will often look like they come from PayPal or your bank, but there will be something off about the URL and it won’t always look identical to the usual log-in page.

Go to https://www.usa.gov/online-safety to learn more about safety and report any scam site you come across.

Seven Important Considerations When Growing a Product-Based Business

There are several important considerations when it comes to starting and growing a product-based business. Here are some to keep in mind.

1. Digital versus Physical

A lot will depend on the kinds of products you sell, digital versus physical. Digital is far easier because there isn’t any warehousing, inventory, picking, packing and shipping, and so on. On the other hand, physical products are often extremely popular.

2. Knowing Your Niche

Choosing the right topic or niche is essential if you are to make money and hopefully not start to get bored with what you are doing. You need to determine whether or not you have found a paying market, and if so, what kinds of products those interested in your niche are buying.

3. Going Head to Head with the Competition

Some new business owners make the mistake of thinking they need to come up with something completely unique. The truth is, if it is not already sitting on store shelves, or you can’t find similar eBooks and multimedia courses, there’s probably little demand for it. You can go head to head with your competition by offering similar products at the same or a slightly lower price to start gaining a market share. It’s easier than you think because you will simply be offering things you know people are already buying.

4. Price versus Value

As a new business owner, you may be tempted to price yourself lower than your competition in order to get some sales, but don’t drop your price so low that your target audience might wonder if there’s something wrong with your product.

Price is also not the only consideration when it comes to your prospects making purchasing decisions. There is value as well. Compare two digital products side by side, for example. Your product might be similar to others on the market, but offering great bonus items plus various extras like checklists, templates and other items your audience can really use will create a higher perceived value.

5. Positioning Yourself as an Expert

Don’t sell yourself short when it comes to starting your own business. Make the most of whatever past experience you have in that niche or industry, and knowledge you possess, to position yourself as an expert worth paying attention to. It will make it easier over time for prospects to recognize your brand and come to respect it.

6. Understanding the Logistics of Selling Physical Products

Perhaps you have invented a product you feel sure people will love. You’ve done your market research, surveyed your target audience, and are confident it is going to be a winner. Now you have to transform your idea into reality. There are many steps involved before your first unit is ever sold and arrives in the mail at the customer’s home. This process can take months or even years depending on what mistakes you make or blind alleys you go down.

Fortunately, there are examples you can follow of successful entrepreneurs who have gone before you and outlined a general formula for success. Books and eCourses can help you follow that formula.

7. Having a Frugal Mindset

You need to be frugal so you can minimize costs and maximize profits. Know what everything costs, down to the last cushioned back and roll of tape used to send out your orders, or what your warehouse/fulfillment house is charging for them to be sure you are getting the best deal.