5 Signs a Website Is Fake: Is Your Money Safe?
Fake websites steal your money, bank details, and identity. Before you enter any personal or payment info online, here are 5 quick checks every Indian should do to avoid getting scammed.
One fake banking site can drain your savings faster than 3 months of chai budget.
Lost to online fraud in India — fake websites are the #1 entry point
Key Takeaways
Check the URL carefully before entering any details — fake sites often use slight misspellings like 'incometax-gov.in' instead of 'incometax.gov.in'.
Look for the padlock icon and 'https://' at the start of the URL — if it says 'http://' only, never submit personal or payment data.
Avoid clicking on links in WhatsApp forwards, SMS, or unknown emails — type official website addresses directly into your browser every time.
Fake websites steal your money, bank details, and identity. Before you enter any personal or payment info online, here are 5 quick checks every Indian should do to avoid getting scammed.
Here's what happened: Cybercriminals create near-identical fake versions of bank, tax, and government websites to steal login credentials and money.. PIB Fact Check has flagged a rise in fraudulent sites mimicking official Indian government and financial portals like income tax, EPFO, and bank login pages.. Victims typically lose savings when they enter UPI PINs, net banking passwords, or OTPs on these lookalike fake sites..
What you should do: Check the URL carefully before entering any details — fake sites often use slight misspellings like 'incometax-gov.in' instead of 'incometax.gov.in'.. Look for the padlock icon and 'https://' at the start of the URL — if it says 'http://' only, never submit personal or payment data.. Avoid clicking on links in WhatsApp forwards, SMS, or unknown emails — type official website addresses directly into your browser every time..
Bookmark your bank's official website and income tax portal right now. Typing a saved bookmark takes 1 second and completely eliminates the risk of landing on a fake lookalike site.
Draft a Free RBI Complaint
Loan Kavach walks you through the RBI CMS process. No lawyer, no fee. Escalate to the RB-IOS Ombudsman if unresolved in 30 days.
Get Loan Kavach — Free →References
- [1]“How to spot fake websites: PIB Fact Check lists 5 warning signs to watch for” mint - money · 6 Jul 2026
This article is reported by GoCredit's Editorial Team based on the source above. GoCredit synthesises, contextualises, and adds India-borrower-relevant analysis. We are not the original publisher.