How to spot a fake web link

Warning: This article is going to be full of links for you to test out our Techspert Furqan Ashraf's advice, in how to spot a rogue link easily.

This article follows on from our “How to spot a fake website” article last week.

As we have seen yesterday in our “Royal Mail Alert”, we are being targeted in the UK by fraudulent red slips through our letter boxes, these also arrive via email. The email and hard copy both contain QR codes and links ready to trick you into opening a fake website which looks like Royal Mail, yet will harvest your bank details.

Here is what Furqan has to say:

“A quick scenario. Picture this. You get a text:

“Your parcel could not be delivered. A £1.45 redelivery fee is due. Pay here: royalmail-redelivery-uk.com

It looks official. The amount is tiny. You were expecting a parcel anyway. That’s exactly why it works.”

“Check 1: See the real link before you tap

The words in a message and the place a link goes can be two different things. A button that says “Track my parcel” can go anywhere.

On a computer: hover your mouse over the link (don’t click). The real address shows up in the bottom corner of your screen. Test this link... Subscribe here

On a phone: press and hold the link (don’t tap). A preview pops up showing the real address. Test this link... Subscribe here

If the real address looks nothing like the company’s website, stop there.”

If you haven't seen our follow up article "How to spot a fake website" you really need to read this next, as now you have identified how to spot the real link, now you need to identify how to read a real web address.

This article has been created with information provided by Techspert Furqan Ashraf, who publishes articles such as “How to Check a Link Before You Click It” which was written specifically for The Scam Hound community. This article is for information purposes only and is not intended as financial advice.