Why "Domain Age" Is the #1 Way to Spot a Scam Website
You get an urgent text message: "Your bank account has been locked. Click here to verify your identity."
The link looks real. It has the logo. It even has the little green padlock (SSL) in the browser.
But is it safe?
There is one "Trust Signal" that scammers cannot fake: Time.
The "Churn and Burn" Tactic
Scammers don't keep websites for long. They register a domain (like https://www.google.com/search?q=secure-bank-login.com), send out millions of spam emails, and then delete the site 48 hours later before they get caught.
Because of this, 99% of scam sites are less than 1 month old.
Real businesses, on the other hand, have history.
Chase.com was registered in 1998.
Amazon.com was registered in 1994.
How to Check Domain Age Instantly
If you are ever unsure about a website, do a "background check" on it before entering your password.
- Copy the domain name (e.g.,
example.com). - Go to the
https://findinfo.io/tool/domain-search FindInfo Whois Lookup. - Look for the "Creation Date" row.
The 6-Month Rule
If the domain is less than 6 months old, be extremely careful.
Unless it is a brand new startup you personally know, a "young" domain is a huge red flag. No major bank, shipping company (FedEx/UPS), or government agency uses a domain that was created last week.
What About the Green Padlock?
Don't trust the padlock alone! In the past, the lock meant "Safe." Today, anyone can get a free SSL certificate in 5 minutes.
Even scam sites have HTTPS now.
The padlock proves the connection is secure, but the Domain Age proves the business is legitimate.
Conclusion
Scammers can fake logos, emails, and even encryption. But they cannot fake history. Make it a habit to check the age of any suspicious link. If it was born yesterday, it's probably out to steal your money.
Is that website safe?
