NT Consumer Affairs says there are a number of steps that consumers can take to protect themselves from scam websites:
- Follow us on social media platforms (Facebook and Instagram) for information about fake websites.
- Ring us if you are unsure 1800 019 319, your local fair-trading office or check Scamwatch online.
- Be wary of buying large expensive items online that you can’t physically check out, such as caravans, motorhomes, and large vehicles.
- Be wary of explanations that you cannot inspect an item because it is as the depot – this is s a red flag.
- Do reverse image searches of photos on the website. Scammers often get their images from other websites, searching photos can often reveal where the photos have originally come from. Also look for image inconsistencies that do not correlate with the State or Territory they are claiming to operate from. For example, the business claims to operate in the NT and has photos of alligators.
- You can search on https://whois.domaintools.com to find out when a website was created. If the business claims they are a long-standing Territory business and the website was created last month this might be a red flag.
- Look for strange extensions such as .su, this is an old Soviet Union extension which is still available, that we see from time to time.
- Know that a valid ABN is not evidence of legitimacy. Scammers can look up this information and misuse for their own purpose.
- Search the address in Google Street View, does the business come up?
- Call the business – check for a number independent of the website and give them a call and ask about the website. Do not call the number on the website, if it is a fake website, it will be the scammer you are speaking with.
