How to Recognise Copycat Websites
Author: Shaun Packiarajah
You're late for your tax return, or you've just realised that you have to renew your passport before your holiday. We’ve all been there and you probably ended up on search engines looking for the quickest way to get it done. 'Creative entrepreneurs' (ie. scammers) know this and have created websites to trick you out of your money!
How are Copycat Websites created?
- The scammers set up a slick website, making it seem like they are the official company or government organisation. That is important, as they are relying on people not checking or noticing that they aren’t on the official site.
- They try to make sure it ends up high on search engine rankings, even paying for ads if necessary.
- They let you fill in all the details necessary for the real application.
- They take your payment for the service they have provided. You might be asking where is the scam here? Well here is the next step…
- They take your information and fill it on the official website. Something you could have done yourself from the beginning for free.
The most devious part of this scam is the fact it is often 100% legal! The scammers will have in small print, or somewhere less obvious that there is in fact an official site where you can fill the information in, and that they have no affiliation with t`
Let’s look at an example of UK Passport Company:
This is a prime example of a passport service being exploited to gain money. Check out the reaction from the public on MoneySavingExpert.
Our advice? Always double-check that a website is an official government site. That means that the small print as well! Another tactic is to double-check the website online for reviews.
They might try and trick you with design, but everyone gets caught eventually. On the internet, there will most likely be someone who has been scammed and is talking about their experience
Have you been a victim of these copycat scams? Let us know by submitting your story or posting a comment below!
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