How to Detect Online Scams

• The domain was registered very recently, or it's a slight misspelling of a brand you know.
• It's hosted on a free platform, a link shortener, or a dynamic DNS service — unusual for a real business.
• It creates urgency: countdowns, "last chance," or pressure to act before you can think it through.
• It asks for payment, gift cards, or crypto through channels a legitimate company would never use.

Check a suspicious link with NetArmature — it checks these signals automatically. For a deeper dive, see our fake website checker guide.

• Hover over the link (or long-press on mobile) to preview the real destination before tapping it.
• Watch for redirect chains that hop through several unrelated domains before landing.
• Be extra cautious with shortened links (bit.ly and similar) — they hide the real destination.
• When unsure, paste it into NetArmature's scam checker instead of opening it directly. See our suspicious link checker guide for more.

• You're offered the job with no interview, or after a suspiciously short one.
• You're asked to pay upfront for training, equipment, or a background check.
• You're asked to buy gift cards, forward money, or receive/re-send funds through your own account.
• The recruiter only communicates over chat apps and avoids a verifiable company email.

• A price that's noticeably below similar listings in the same area.
• The "landlord" claims to be out of the country and can't show the property in person.
• You're asked to wire a deposit or first month's rent before signing a lease or seeing the unit.
• The listing photos appear on other websites under a different address or contact.

• The message creates urgency ("your account will be suspended") to stop you from checking carefully.
• The sender address or link domain is a close but not exact match for the real brand.
• It asks you to "verify" or "confirm" a password, card number, or one-time code.
• Legitimate companies won't ask for your password or a full card number by email, text, or chat.

• Contact your bank or card issuer immediately to report the charge and ask about a chargeback or reversal.
• If you shared passwords, change them immediately — starting with your email and financial accounts.
• Report the scam to your local consumer-protection agency and, if applicable, the platform it happened on.
• Save every message, receipt, and link involved — it helps investigators and other victims.