You open your email that supposedly comes from your bank or are surfing on Facebook and suddenly you see a tempting advertisement from a well-known brand. One click – and you’re on the website. But stop! Is it really the real website or a clever deception by scammers?

Playing with the Cyrillic “а”

A letter is just a letter, right? But on the Internet, an “а” can be the gateway to a nightmare. For URLs like “deutsche-bank.de” or “bankaustria.at”, a single Cyrillic “а” makes the difference between a legitimate website and a fraud trap.

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This is called “punycode,” and it’s a tactic used by cybercriminals.

Punycode: What is it actually? Punycode is like a translator. When people from different countries use different fonts, Punycode helps the internet understand them. It's like a bridge between different letters and characters.

But now comes the problem: sometimes bad people take advantage of this “translator”. They create websites that look like real, well-known websites. For example, someone can replace the "a" in "bank" with an almost identical character in another language. We often don't notice the difference, but the computer does.

It's like someone making a counterfeit of your favorite brand. At first glance everything looks the same. But when you look closer, you realize that something is wrong. These scammers hope that we won't notice the difference and will be fooled. And that's exactly where we have to be careful! It's like shopping: you should always look carefully before you buy something - or in this case, before you click on a website.

Scammers on social media

But we don't just have to be careful with URLs. Fraudsters also take advantage of the similarities between characters on platforms like Facebook. By creating fake pages with names like “Facebook” or “Standards Meta,” they lure unwary users into their networks. One click on such a site and your data could be at risk. (we reported HERE )

How do you stay safe?

  1. Remain critical : Always look carefully and, if necessary, enter the URL manually.
  2. Think first, then click : Don't be swayed by haste or enthusiasm. Every link deserves a critical look.
  3. Security software is your friend : Use programs that detect fraudulent websites.
  4. Try uppercase and lowercase letters : Some Cyrillic letters look different in uppercase. It's worth a try!
  5. A trick with the font : Copy suspicious links or text into Word and change the font. Some fonts display Cyrillic letters differently and are then easier to recognize.
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Screenshot: Word

Better safe than sorry!

On the Internet, mistrust is better than blind trust. Even small signs can have a big impact. But with vigilance, knowledge and the right tools, you can protect yourself effectively. A tiny letter can make a big difference. As the Internet becomes increasingly complex, we must learn to recognize the subtle clues that warn us of potential threats.

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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )