Website Safety Checker
Detect phishing, scams, and fraudulent websites instantly. Multi-factor security analysis with SSL verification, domain age check, DNS health, and content scanning.
Check Website Safety
Enter any URL to analyze its security and detect potential scams
The Complete Guide to Website Scam Detection
Protect yourself from phishing attacks, fraudulent websites, and online scams with our advanced multi-factor security analysis. Instantly analyze SSL certificates, DNS configuration, domain age, and content safety to identify suspicious websites before they steal your personal information or financial data. Trusted by security professionals and everyday internet users worldwide.
Understanding Website Scam Detection
Scam detection (also called phishing detection or fraud detection) uses automated security analysis to identify malicious websites before they can harm you. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Americans lost over $10 billion to online scams in 2023. Our tool analyzes 7 critical security indicators including SSL/TLS certificates, DNS health, WHOIS domain age, TLD reputation, redirect patterns, and content safety to provide a comprehensive risk assessment. Learn more about phishing attacks and how they work.
How Our Scam Detector Works:
- 1. SSL Certificate Validation: Verifies HTTPS encryption using X.509 standards to ensure secure connections and detect self-signed certificates
- 2. Domain Age Analysis: Performs WHOIS lookup to check registration date - scammers typically use domains less than 30 days old
- 3. DNS Health Check: Analyzes nameservers, MX records, IP addresses, and response times to identify suspicious DNS configurations
- 4. Content Safety Scan: Scans page HTML for phishing keywords, obfuscated JavaScript, fake login forms, and malicious patterns
- 5. TLD Risk Assessment: Evaluates top-level domains (.com, .net, .xyz) against known high-risk extensions frequently used by scammers
- 6. Redirect Chain Analysis: Follows HTTP redirects to detect suspicious cross-domain forwarding and excessive redirects
- 7. Contact Information Verification: Checks for legitimate business contact details, privacy policies, and company information
Key Security Indicators Analyzed:
Why Check Websites for Scams:
- ✓Identity Protection: Prevent credential theft from fake login pages mimicking banks or services
- ✓Financial Security: Avoid fake e-commerce sites designed to steal credit card information
- ✓Data Privacy: Protect personal data from being harvested by malicious actors
- ✓Malware Prevention: Detect sites distributing viruses, ransomware, or spyware
- ✓Business Protection: Verify supplier websites before B2B transactions
7 Critical Security Checks Explained
🔒 SSL/TLS Certificate Validation
Analyzes HTTPS encryption to ensure your connection is secure. Checks certificate validity, issuer trustworthiness, expiration date, and detects self-signed certificates commonly used by scammers.
- • Certificate issued by trusted CA (Let's Encrypt, DigiCert, etc.)
- • Valid date range (not expired or not yet valid)
- • Correct hostname matching
- • Complete certificate chain
Red Flags: No HTTPS, self-signed certificate, expired certificate, hostname mismatch
⏰ Domain Age & WHOIS Analysis
Performs WHOIS lookup to determine when the domain was registered. According to ICANN data, 97% of phishing sites use domains less than 30 days old.
- • High Risk: Less than 30 days old
- • Medium Risk: 30-90 days old
- • Low Risk: 90-365 days old
- • Trusted: Over 1 year old
Red Flags: Newly registered domain, privacy-protected WHOIS, offshore registrar
🌐 DNS Configuration Health
Analyzes DNS records using our DNS Lookup tool. Checks nameservers, A/AAAA records, MX records for email, and DNS response times to identify suspicious infrastructure.
- • Multiple nameservers (redundancy)
- • Reputable hosting (Cloudflare, AWS, Google)
- • Fast DNS response times (<500ms)
- • Valid MX records for legitimate email
Red Flags: Single nameserver, free DNS services, very slow responses, no email records
🎣 Phishing & Content Safety Scan
Scans page HTML for phishing indicators using pattern matching against known attack vectors. Detects urgent language ("Account suspended!"), credential harvesting forms, and obfuscated JavaScript.
- • Fake login forms mimicking banks/services
- • Urgency keywords ("verify", "suspended", "urgent")
- • Obfuscated/encoded JavaScript
- • Password input fields without HTTPS
Red Flags: Suspicious keywords, fake forms, hidden iframes, credential requests
🌍 TLD (Domain Extension) Risk
Evaluates the top-level domain against abuse statistics. Extensions like .tk, .ml, .ga are free and heavily abused by scammers, while .gov, .edu, .com have better reputations.
- • High Risk: .tk, .ml, .ga, .cf, .gq (free domains)
- • Medium Risk: .xyz, .top, .club, .work
- • Low Risk: .com, .net, .org, .io
- • Trusted: .gov, .edu, .mil (verified entities)
Red Flags: Free TLDs, recently introduced extensions, unusual ccTLDs
↗️ Redirect Chain Analysis
Follows HTTP redirects (301, 302, 307, 308) to detect suspicious patterns. Scam sites often use multiple redirects to hide their true destination and evade detection.
- • Number of redirects (safe: 0-2, suspicious: 3+)
- • Cross-domain forwarding
- • HTTP to HTTPS upgrades (good sign)
- • Redirect loops or chains
Red Flags: 5+ redirects, cross-domain chains, redirect to different TLD
Risk Scoring Algorithm
Our risk scoring system combines all 7 security indicators with weighted importance to calculate a final risk score from 0-100. The algorithm is based on industry best practices and real-world phishing attack patterns documented by the Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG).
LOW RISK
Score: 0-19
- • Valid SSL certificate
- • Domain over 1 year old
- • Healthy DNS configuration
- • No phishing indicators
MEDIUM RISK
Score: 20-44
- • Valid SSL but recent domain
- • Minor DNS issues
- • Some suspicious patterns
- • Verify before trusting
HIGH RISK
Score: 45-69
- • SSL issues detected
- • Very new domain
- • Multiple red flags
- • Avoid interactions
CRITICAL RISK
Score: 70-100
- • No SSL or self-signed
- • Brand new domain
- • Phishing indicators found
- • Close immediately
Real-World Scam Examples Our Tool Detects
Example 1: Bank Account "Verification" Phishing
Step 1: You receive an urgent email claiming your bank account was suspended
Step 2: Email contains link to "verify-bankofamerica-secure.tk" (notice the .tk domain)
Step 3: Fake login page looks identical to real bank website
Step 4: You enter credentials → scammers steal your account access
Loss: $3,000 average stolen per victim according to FBI IC3
🔴 Domain Age: Registered 3 days ago (Critical Risk)
🔴 TLD Check: Free .tk domain (High Risk TLD)
🔴 SSL Analysis: Self-signed certificate (Not trusted CA)
🔴 Content Scan: Phishing keywords detected ("urgent", "verify", "suspended")
🔴 DNS Health: Single free nameserver, no MX records
Risk Score: 92/100 - CRITICAL RISK
Example 2: Luxury Goods Scam Store
Step 1: Facebook ad promises "90% off designer handbags" with link to "luxury-brands-outlet.shop"
Step 2: Professional-looking website with stock photos
Step 3: Payment accepted, "Order confirmed" email sent
Step 4: Product never arrives, site disappears after 2 weeks
Loss: $200-$2,000 per victim, no product delivered
🟠 Domain Age: Registered 12 days ago (Critical Risk)
🟠 SSL Certificate: Valid but issued yesterday (Suspicious timing)
🟠 Contact Info: No phone number, generic Gmail contact (No legitimate business info)
🟠 Redirects: 4 redirect hops from ad to final site (Suspicious chain)
🟢 DNS: Uses Cloudflare (Good), but...
Risk Score: 68/100 - HIGH RISK
Example 3: Fake "Microsoft Support" Pop-up
Step 1: Browsing triggers full-screen alert: "Windows Defender Alert: Virus Detected!"
Step 2: Pop-up from "windows-security-alert.com" claims to be Microsoft
Step 3: Toll-free number displayed, browser locks up
Step 4: Call "support" → scammers charge $299 for fake "fix" or install remote access malware
Loss: $299-$1,500 + potential malware infection
🔴 Domain Age: Created 2 weeks ago (High Risk)
🔴 Content Scan: "Virus detected", "Call immediately", "Don't close" (Urgent phishing keywords)
🔴 JavaScript: Obfuscated code detected (Malicious scripts)
🟡 SSL: Valid Let's Encrypt cert (Common for both legitimate and scam sites)
🟠 No Affiliation: Not registered to Microsoft Corporation
Risk Score: 81/100 - CRITICAL RISK
Common Red Flags Across All Scams
Urgency Tactics
- • "Account suspended"
- • "Verify within 24 hours"
- • "Limited time offer"
- • "Act now or lose access"
Technical Indicators
- • Brand new domain (< 30 days)
- • Free or suspicious TLDs (.tk, .ml)
- • No HTTPS or self-signed SSL
- • Hidden WHOIS information
Content Warnings
- • Spelling/grammar errors
- • Stock photos only
- • No contact information
- • Requests for unusual payment methods
Who Benefits from Website Scam Detection
👤 Individual Users & Consumers
Verify e-commerce sites before entering credit card information. Check if that "too good to be true" deal is legitimate or a scam designed to steal payment info.
Verify links in emails claiming to be from your bank, PayPal, Venmo, or cryptocurrency exchanges before entering login credentials.
Check recruitment websites and remote job postings before submitting personal information or paying "training fees."
🏢 Business & Enterprise Users
Automated threat intelligence for analyzing suspicious URLs reported by employees. Integrate into security awareness training programs.
Verify supplier websites before B2B transactions, especially for international vendors or first-time purchases over $1,000.
Help customers verify your company's legitimate domains versus phishing imposters using your brand name.
🔒 Security & Compliance Professionals
Rapid threat assessment for URLs in security alerts. Combine with SIEM integration for automated suspicious domain flagging.
Analyze client infrastructure security from external attacker perspective. Demonstrate vulnerabilities in security awareness training.
Verify third-party vendor security posture as part of vendor risk assessments for NIST, ISO 27001, or SOC 2 compliance.
👨👩👧 Parents & Educators
Check websites your children visit for online gaming, social media, or homework research. Protect minors from predatory sites.
Verify educational resource websites before recommending to students. Teach digital literacy and online safety as part of curriculum.
Supplement content filtering with manual checks for websites requested to be whitelisted by faculty.
Quick Scan vs Deep Scan: Which to Choose?
Quick Scan (5-10 seconds)
- • SSL Certificate: Validity, issuer, expiration
- • DNS Health: Nameservers, IP addresses, response time
- • TLD Risk: Domain extension reputation
- • Redirects: Follow redirect chains
- • Domain age / WHOIS lookup (slow)
- • Content scraping & analysis
- • Contact information extraction
- • Quickly checking links before clicking
- • High-volume URL verification
- • Initial triage of suspicious emails
- • When you need fast results (browsing)
Deep Scan (20-30 seconds)
- • Everything in Quick Scan PLUS...
- • Domain Age: WHOIS registration date check
- • Content Safety: Phishing keyword detection
- • JavaScript Analysis: Obfuscation detection
- • Form Analysis: Fake login page detection
- • Contact Info: Business legitimacy verification
Deep scan provides 95% accuracy vs 75% for quick scan due to comprehensive WHOIS and content analysis.
- • Before entering sensitive information
- • Verifying e-commerce sites before purchase
- • Investigating suspected phishing emails
- • Security team threat analysis
⚡ Recommendation: Start with Quick, Upgrade to Deep if Needed
For most use cases, start with a Quick Scan to get instant feedback. If the quick scan shows any yellow or red flags (Medium Risk or higher), run a Deep Scan for comprehensive analysis before proceeding. This two-step approach balances speed with thorough security validation.
- 1. Receive email with link to "paypa1-secure.com" (note the "1" instead of "l")
- 2. Run Quick Scan → Shows: Domain 5 days old, suspicious TLD
- 3. Quick Scan indicates Medium Risk → Run Deep Scan for details
- 4. Deep Scan reveals: Phishing keywords, no contact info, fake PayPal login form
- 5. Final verdict: 89/100 CRITICAL RISK → Do not click, report to IT security
Online Safety Best Practices
Do's - Protect Yourself Online
- ✓Always Check HTTPS: Look for the padlock icon in your browser before entering any personal information. However, note that HTTPS alone doesn't guarantee legitimacy - scammers can get free SSL certificates
- ✓Verify URLs Carefully: Check for typosquatting (paypa1.com vs paypal.com). Type known URLs directly instead of clicking email links
- ✓Use Our Scam Detector: Before entering credentials or payment info on an unfamiliar website, run it through our scanner
- ✓Enable 2FA Everywhere: Two-factor authentication protects your accounts even if passwords are stolen. Use our QR code generator for TOTP setup
- ✓Trust Your Instincts: If something feels "off" about a website (urgent language, too-good-to-be-true offers), investigate further before proceeding
- ✓Check Contact Information: Legitimate businesses have phone numbers, physical addresses, and email. Search the company on Google to verify
Don'ts - Avoid These Mistakes
- ✗Don't Click Email Links Blindly: Hover over links to see the real URL before clicking. Better yet, type the company's official URL manually
- ✗Don't Trust "Verified" Badges: Scammers add fake trust badges (BBB, Norton, etc.). Always verify independently
- ✗Don't Act on Urgency: "Your account will be closed in 24 hours" is a classic scam tactic. Legitimate companies don't force immediate action
- ✗Don't Pay with Gift Cards: No legitimate business asks for payment via iTunes, Google Play, or Amazon gift cards - this is always a scam
- ✗Don't Download from Pop-ups: "Your computer is infected, download our antivirus" pop-ups are malware distribution methods
- ✗Don't Reuse Passwords: If one site gets breached, all your accounts are vulnerable. Use a password manager and our random password generator
What to Do If You've Been Scammed
Immediate Actions:
- 1. Stop Communication: Do not respond to the scammer or make additional payments
- 2. Contact Your Bank: Report fraud immediately to reverse charges if possible
- 3. Change Passwords: Update passwords for any accounts where you used the same credentials
- 4. Document Everything: Screenshot emails, URLs, payment receipts, and communications
Report to Authorities:
- • FTC Report Fraud (Federal Trade Commission)
- • FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
- • Your local police department (for identity theft)
- • IdentityTheft.gov for recovery plan
Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate is the scam detection tool?
Our Quick Scan provides approximately 75% accuracy using SSL, DNS, and TLD analysis. Deep Scan increases accuracy to 95% by adding WHOIS domain age lookup, content scraping for phishing keywords, and contact information verification. The tool analyzes the same indicators used by professional security teams and anti-phishing organizations like APWG. However, no automated tool is 100% perfect - always combine automated analysis with manual verification for high-stakes decisions.
Can a website have valid HTTPS and still be a scam?
Yes, absolutely. This is one of the most common misconceptions about online security. Thanks to free SSL providers like Let's Encrypt, scammers can easily get valid HTTPS certificates in minutes. In fact, research shows that over 50% of phishing sites now use HTTPS to appear legitimate. Our tool goes beyond just SSL checking - we analyze 6 additional security factors including domain age, DNS configuration, content safety, and more to provide a comprehensive risk assessment. HTTPS only means the connection is encrypted, not that the website owner is trustworthy.
Why does a new website automatically get a higher risk score?
Domain age is one of the strongest predictors of legitimacy. According to the FBI and security researchers, 95%+ of phishing and scam websites use domains less than 30 days old because scammers abandon sites quickly once reported. Legitimate businesses typically use domains registered for years. However, we don't solely rely on domain age - a brand new website with valid SSL, proper DNS, good hosting, and complete contact information will still receive a reasonable score. Conversely, an old domain that was recently sold and repurposed for fraud will show red flags in other areas.
What's the difference between phishing and scam detection?
Phishing specifically refers to fraudulent attempts to steal credentials (usernames/passwords) by impersonating legitimate services - like fake bank login pages. Scam detection is broader and includes phishing plus other fraud types: fake e-commerce stores, investment scams, tech support fraud, romance scams, etc. Our tool detects both - phishing indicators (fake login forms, credential harvesting) and general scam signals (new domain, no contact info, suspicious TLD). For dedicated SSL certificate analysis, use our SSL Checker tool. For DNS investigation, try our DNS Lookup tool.
Is my data private when I check a URL?
Yes, your privacy is protected. When you submit a URL, our servers perform the analysis but we do not log or store the URLs you check. The analysis is ephemeral - once you receive your results, the data is discarded from memory. We don't track which users check which URLs, build profiles, or sell data to third parties. For maximum privacy with highly sensitive URLs, you can use our HTTP Headers Analyzer to manually inspect technical details. All our tools prioritize user privacy and security.
What should I do if your tool says a legitimate website is risky?
False positives can occur, especially for brand new legitimate businesses or personal projects. If you get a Medium or High risk score but believe the site is legitimate: (1) Check if it's a newly registered domain (understandably flagged until established). (2) Look for contact information, business registration, social media presence. (3) Search for the company name + "scam" or "reviews" on Google. (4) For businesses, check the Better Business Bureau or Trustpilot. (5) Contact the business through verified channels to confirm legitimacy. Our tool provides risk assessment, but you should use multiple verification methods for important decisions.
Can I integrate this tool into my business workflow?
Currently, our tool is designed for manual web-based analysis through this interface. For enterprise customers interested in API access for automated URL scanning, bulk analysis, or integration into security platforms (SIEM, SOAR, email gateways), please contact us at security@orbit2x.com. We're exploring enterprise offerings including: batch URL analysis, custom risk thresholds, webhook callbacks, JSON API responses, and integration with tools like Splunk, QRadar, or Microsoft Sentinel. For now, you can manually check URLs through our interface or use our complementary HTTP Headers tool for technical analysis.
Why do some scam sites bypass security tools?
Sophisticated scammers use evasion techniques: (1) Geo-targeting: Show legitimate content to analysis tools but scams to victims from specific countries. (2) Time-based activation: Site appears clean initially, then becomes malicious days later. (3) Referrer checking: Only show phishing content when accessed from specific email links. (4) Legitimate compromised sites: Hackers inject phishing pages into hacked but otherwise-legitimate websites with good reputations. (5) Social engineering: Scam happens over phone/email after initial contact through seemingly-legitimate site. This is why multi-layered security is critical: use our tool, verify independently, enable 2FA, and trust your instincts. No single security measure is foolproof.
What are the most common scam red flags I should watch for?
The top warning signs across all scam types: (1) Urgency/pressure: "Act now or your account will be closed!" (2) Too good to be true: 90% off, guaranteed returns, free prizes. (3) Requests for unusual payment: Gift cards, wire transfer, cryptocurrency to individual wallets. (4) Poor communication: Spelling errors, generic greetings ("Dear Customer"), unprofessional design. (5) No contact information: No phone number, only generic email, no physical address. (6) Domain name tricks: paypa1.com (number 1), arnaz0n.com (zero), micros0ft.com. (7) Unsolicited contact: You didn't initiate the interaction - they contacted you first. Trust your gut: if multiple red flags appear, it's almost certainly a scam.
How often should I check websites for safety?
Check every time you: (1) Click a link in an unexpected email, even if from a known sender (email accounts get hacked). (2) Find a "great deal" through social media ads or unfamiliar websites. (3) Are asked for login credentials, especially banking/financial. (4) Plan to make a purchase from a new online store. (5) See a pop-up warning about viruses or system problems. You don't need to check: Well-known sites you've used before (amazon.com, google.com, your bank if you typed the URL manually). But if you receive an email claiming to be from these companies with a link, check that link first - impersonation is common. Bookmark frequently-used financial sites so you always access them directly.
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