Just like a business can purchase online ads through channels like google and social media, so can fraudsters. Fraudsters will pose as a business and place a fake ad to trick people into clicking and going to their fake site where they will sell counterfeit products or steal personal information.

Although fake ads are prohibited from sites like google, and social media channels, some still slip through the cracks. So, make sure to think before you click and watch for these warning signs.

• Check the URL on the ad – does it match the website name or landing page? If not it’s probably a fraudster masking their actual domain

• Research the company – check reviews, if they have a valid address or if it’s a registered business

• Look for mistakes in grammar or spelling

• If the promotion seems too good to be true – it probably is

Here’s an example of what a fake ad might look like: