One of the many creative ways scammers perform their fraudulent activities is through fake websites where they steal personal information from people to get access to their accounts or money. Home Credit, the country’s leading consumer finance and digital financial services provider, warns the public to be vigilant against fraudulent websites posing as legitimate institutions or companies to mislead the public.

Fake websites are any illegitimate internet website that might pass as an authentic page but is actually designed to deceive users into fraud or malicious attacks. They can come in different forms – a copycat of a legitimate institution, a phishing website or online shopping website – but ultimately, they all serve the same purpose and that is to steal your personal information and hard-earned money.

In order to keep ourselves safe in the digital space, it’s also our responsibility to take precautionary measures so here are some helpful tips to avoid being a victim of fake websites:

If ever you stumble upon an email or text message asking you to update your account or input your log-in details through an embedded link, do not click on that link. It will lead you to a fake website where your personal information will be stolen.

For a safe and secured online transaction, always make sure that the URL address starts with “https” and there should be a padlock icon beside it. Most companies or institutions would also announce what their official channels or websites are so make sure to check those so that you will be informed of the correct site to visit.

Check if the website has grammatical errors or wrong spellings. If it does, it’s more likely to be a fake website. It might also copy the name or logo of legitimate companies or institutions to trick you to provide personal information or conduct transactions through their fake websites.

Be careful when you share or input your username, password card details, such as 16-digit number, card expiration date, CVV, and OTP. Make sure that you don’t provide it to the wrong people. Always check if you’re transacting in the right website.

Conduct transactions only on official and verified sites. If ever you need to access the service of Home Credit, use the My Home Credit App or any of our official channels.

“As our usage of digital payment services increases, fraudsters are also creating new ways to scam the public,” warns Mariz Quilnat, Risk – Anti Fraud Team Leader of Home Credit Philippines. “The goal of financial institutions like us at Home Credit is to inform and educate our consumers on how they can spot a scam and prevent them from getting victimized,” she added.

In case you become a victim of fraud or if you suspect that [a Home Credit website is fake](https://revamp-pilot.homecredit.ph/Contact-Us), report it by calling your bank or financial provider. If you believe your transactions with Home Credit are compromised, immediately call their Customer Service hotline at (02) 7753-5711.