Fake websites are one of the largest types of online scams. But what do they do? Scammers set up fake retailer websites that look like genuine online retail stores. They may use sophisticated designs and layouts, possibly stolen logos, and a ‘.com’ of a major country domain.
Many of these websites offer luxury items such as popular brands of clothing, jewellery and electronics at exceptionally low prices. Sometimes you will receive the items you paid for, but they will be fake, but most times you will receive nothing at all. The biggest tip-off that a retail website is a scam is the method of payment. Scammers will often ask you to pay to a random PayPal address, wire it by Western Union, pay in gift card such as iTunes or by Bitcoin.
We encourage you to print for this Infographic for your own use as well as to place as a poster at your place of work. As always we thank the e-Skills Malta Foundation for the Infographic and their contribution to the ĠEMMA tips.
If you believe that you have uncovered a scam or you were the target victim of one, ĠEMMA advises you to report this. Do not let the scammer get away with it. Remember that there are vulnerable people who may not have the knowledge you have and may be at a high risk of being scammed unless the scam is stopped.
Contact the Malta Police Force’s Cyber Crime Unit as follows:
Online: [email protected]
Telephone: +356 2294 2231/2.
In person: Call or visit any Police District station and lodge a report. The District Police Officer will request the assistance of a member from the Cyber Crime Unit as required
