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Typosquatting

A stylized illustration showing a person tapping on a search bar

Typosquatting targets internet users who incorrectly type a URL into their web browser. The scammer registers domain names that are a slight variation of the target brand with a common spelling error. The victim is unaware they’re shopping, banking or surfing on a fraudulent, look-a-like website that could contain malware or steal personal information.

  • Check for typos when manually entering a website address.
  • Doublecheck the spelling to make sure it’s not an imitation before entering sensitive or financial information.
  • Beware of fraudulent links in emails leading to fake sites.
  • Eliminate surprises by using browser bookmarks for often used sites such as banking or retail.
A graphic showing examples of typosquatting, where extra letters are inserted into popular web site addresses

Questions about information security?

Office of Information Security
214-648-7600

informationsecurity@UTSouthwestern.edu