As we’ve stated before, the best way to protect yourself from fraud is to stay cautious and remain vigilant. Whether its an email you’re suspicious of, a weird text, or even a website you normally visit that seems a bit off, you are your own first line of defense. 

Website spoofs are a particularly devious way that scammers trick people into giving away their personal information. By making a nearly identical version of a website, including a fake login page, all scammers have to do is wait for unsuspecting victims to not realize they’re in the wrong place and accidentally give up passwords, payment info, and more. There are a few dead giveaways that a website is a spoof, however, and we’re here to share them with you so you can protect yourself from falling victim:

• Same look, new name: Does your favorite online store have the same look but suddenly changed their name and branding? It’s likely that a scammer spoofed the website. Search the original name and look at their social media posts to see if they announced a name change. If they haven’t, then you’ve found a scammers impersonation site.
• Hey! I’ve seen this one before: Let’s say that same site has the right name but all of their information, promotions, and products are outdated. Maybe you see a summer deal in the winter or a product you remember from a year ago but has since been discontinued. If you find yourself pulling a Marty McFly and saying “Hey, I’ve seen this one,” there’s a chance this website is a scam.
• A gut feeling: When it comes to identifying scams, it’s always smart to trust your instincts. If something feels off, it probably is. The best way to protect yourself from fraud is to trust yourself and keep a watchful eye on where and when you enter in personal information.

The wide world of fraud can seem like a scary place but you’re much more safe than you may realize. John Marshall Bank is in your corner and helping you fight back against scammers with tools and tips to protect yourself from fraud. 

Remember: Please ensure that you are using our official website at https://www.johnmarshallbank.com/ before logging into online banking and conducting any online transactions.