Checking a Brand Website’s Identity
A practical checklist for separating a website’s name from evidence of who operates it.
Read the complete hostname
Look at the complete address, including spelling, extra words and redirects. A brand name in a domain does not establish who operates the website.
Look for independent corroboration
Check a channel you have already verified and compare the addresses it publishes. Keep track of which source supports the identity claim. Do not treat a search advertisement as verification.
Separate three different questions
The identity of a website, the accuracy of an article and the authenticity of a physical item are different questions. Evidence for one does not automatically answer the others.
Protect sensitive details
Do not post complete codes, payment details or identity documents in a public comment. This journal does not collect authentication codes or provide product authentication.
Keep the source, method and limitations together.
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