Spotting Fake Online Ads: Tips to Identify Scams

Have you ever come across an ad online, started to click on its link, and then realize something seems … a bit off? As cybercriminals become increasingly sophisticated and more brazen, Internet phishing schemes masked as legitimate links can fool even the most tech savvy among us. Bad online actors may reel us in through bogus ads for real products, breach our cybersecurity protection, and steal our personal data. How can you avoid these schemes and protect yourself? Here’s how you can spot fake ads online, and how you can protect yourself from falling victim to their nefarious ways. Fake product or website ads online are a relatively new form of cybersecurity threat, made possible by image tools like Canva and the rapid evolution of AI. These ads can crop up in your social media feeds, as pop-ups on websites that you visit, and even occasionally worm their way into search results. Bogus digital ads will masquerade as products from industry leaders and well-known brands, and include malicious links for you to follow. These links may take you to a fake website or sign-in page that will resemble a verified site such as Amazon or FedEx. They’re set-up to create a siphon of en masse personal data from numerous users. Although cybercriminals may use this technique to use your personal information themselves, they often sell collected data on the dark web to turn a quick profit. Even the largest websites, tech companies, and social media platforms are vulnerable to fake digital ads. Cybercriminals steal brand names, logos, website formats, and even similar domain names to pose as legitimate companies. These fraudsters may bypass Google verifications and bid on keywords to appear in search results. Although Google has taken measures to prevent fake ads from ranking in online search results, scammers still find ways to take advantage of the system. Hackers may use fake ads in the following ways: This will cause your system to lock, and the hackers will demand payment for OS recovery. Fake ads aren’t just detrimental for Internet users, they can cause great harm to the businesses they impersonate, too. Some of the ways fake ads can negatively impact online businesses include: Fake ad attacks are often sophisticated and well orchestrated. There may already be inflicted damage and havoc wreaked before a brand can report the ads or mitigate the negative consequences. Some of the most common examples of fake ad attacks include: Although fake online ads have increased in sophistication, there are still ways you can spot them and avoid their malevolent ways. Some of the signs an online ad is fake include: Fake ads not only put your personal cybersecurity at risk, they can also threaten your business. If a fake website poses as your brand, it can divert traffic from your site and damage your business reputation. Thus, now that you know how to spot fake ads online, it’s important to understand how you can protect yourself, and your business, from malicious actors. Here are some steps you can take to avoid potential harm from these ads: You can find useful cybersecurity tools on the What Is My IP Address homepage. and check out our blog for the latest in cybersecurity insights, tips, and trends.