In 2025, one of the fastest-growing cybercrimes targeting companies—particularly in the retail, food, and trade industries—is the creation of fake websites designed to impersonate legitimate businesses. These fraudulent platforms are not amateur scams; they are professionally designed, often using domain names that closely mimic real companies, and are increasingly difficult to spot.
The Tactic:
Criminals register domain names that are nearly identical to official company URLs—sometimes changing a single letter, adding a hyphen, or switching from .com to .net. Once live, these websites copy the entire content of the original site, including articles, branding, logos, and even contact details. The goal? To deceive partners, suppliers, and clients into believing they are dealing with the legitimate company.
The Method:
After launching the fake site, scammers aggressively contact marketing departments, pretending to be from trusted media outlets. They present cloned media kits, send deceptive proposals, and attempt to secure advertising contracts. Some even offer placement in publications that don’t exist.
To add to the illusion of legitimacy, these fraudsters go further:
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They create fake LinkedIn profiles, pretending to be media executives or editorial staff.
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They buy website traffic to artificially inflate visitor numbers and analytics.
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They purchase fake followers from agencies to appear influential and trustworthy on social media.
It’s a well-orchestrated deception designed to trick even experienced marketers.
A Real-Life Case – Targeting ISN:
At International Supermarket News, we recently discovered a fraudulent company attempting to pass itself off as our brand. Upon investigation, we confirmed that their domain name was only registered this year, in 2025 — a major red flag that marketers should always check.
They shamelessly copied and pasted content from our official media pack, right down to the formatting and editorial tone. They have already misled several companies, offering fake advertising opportunities and claiming non-existent affiliations. These individuals have no knowledge of the retail or supermarket industry. Their sole objective is to trick marketing managers into spending money on worthless visibility.
The Damage:
This type of fraud causes both financial and reputational harm. Trusted brands may see their name misused and their relationships damaged. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), especially exporters and innovators trying to grow internationally, are particularly vulnerable to such tactics.
How to Stay Protected:
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Always check the registration date of a domain – newly registered domains mimicking established companies are a major red flag.
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Monitor domain registrations close to your own brand name and report any suspicious activity.
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Secure key domain extensions (.net, .org, .co.uk, etc.) to limit misuse.
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Educate your team and network to verify all emails and business contacts, especially on LinkedIn.
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Be cautious of inflated traffic claims — always request analytics verified by third-party tools.
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If you’re a victim, act fast: initiate takedown notices, inform your partners, and report to relevant cybercrime authorities.
Final Word:
In today’s digital-first world, credibility is currency. The rise of professional-grade impersonation scams means every company must treat brand protection as a frontline business priority. At ISN, we are actively pursuing legal options and working with cybercrime authorities to prevent others from falling victim to these fraudulent schemes.
Stay sharp. Stay vigilant. Trust, but verify.