In today’s digital age, everything happens with the help of mobile phones and internet. Be it banking, shopping, or entertainment, this is why billions of apps are downloaded around the world every year. But amidst this convenience, the biggest threat is from fake apps and fraudulent websites.
Often, due to lack of information, people trust apps or websites that look completely genuine but are actually designed for fraudulent purposes. Downloading or opening them can lead to your mobile phone being hacked, your data being stolen, and even money disappearing from your bank account. So, let’s talk about how to know if a website or app is fake and what methods can protect you from fraud.
How to know if a website or app is fake
In today’s world, data is more valuable than money. If someone gets your personal data, they can misuse it or even blackmail you. Therefore, it is very important to know whether a website or app is real or fake. The good thing is that you can check the authenticity of any website or app yourself by following some easy steps. For this, the Government of India has provided a very useful facility on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCCRP), where you can find out in minutes whether any app or website is genuine or fraudulent.
The easiest government way to check fake website or app
1. Search NCCRP in Google search bar on your mobile or laptop.
2. In the search results, you will see the official website of National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal; Open it.
3. Once the website opens, tap the three lines at the top or side to open the full menu.
4. In the menu, you will see an option called “Check Reports and Suspects”; Click on it.
5. Here you will find the option “Check Suspicious (Website/App)”; Open it.
6. Now you will see two options: Website URL and App URL. Select the one you want to check.
7. Now, in the given box, enter the full website link or app name/URL that you want to check. 8. After entering all the information, fill the CAPTCHA and click on the search button.
9. After searching, the system will tell you whether the website or app is fake or safe.
