The technology behind the Fraud Scanner is not just any basic tool

Multiple sources are always consulted before you receive a warning. In fact, a kind of digital “file” is built up, and based on that file, a trust score (reliability score) is determined. This means that on the one hand, you can receive a warning even for lesser-known fraudulent websites, and on the other hand, that warnings are never given lightly. The lower the score, the less trustworthy the website is. And that’s when you’ll get a warning.

The process works roughly as follows:

• Domain connection check (via DomainTools*)
  The Fraud Scanner uses our partner DomainTools to determine how closely a domain is connected to other known malicious domains. In fact, through machine learning, the Fraud Scanner can also recognize domains that resemble those commonly used for spam, phishing, or malware.

• Blacklist check
  All known databases containing malicious websites are cross-referenced with the website you’re visiting to see if there’s a match.

• Reports from other Fraud Scanner users
  When many users report the same website, its trust score decreases. As soon as it drops below a certain threshold, other users will start receiving warnings.

• Trust seals and certifications
  If a website carries trust seals, its trust score actually increases. These seals only apply after extensive checks on cybersecurity.

It may sound like a long process, but all of this happens in milliseconds—so by the time the page loads, you’ve already received the warning. 😉

*DomainTools has been the most popular domain research service for over 20 years. It tracks 97% of the internet with real-time predictive risk scores.