Paying a bill online should be simple. You search for the biller, find their payment page, enter your information, and you’re done. But that quick online search could take you somewhere you didn’t mean to go.

Bill pay impersonators and misleading third-party payment services can use online search results to make their websites appear to be an official payment option for a utility company, medical provider, government agency, or other organization. If you aren’t paying close attention, you could give sensitive information to the wrong company or pay unexpected fees.

Before you click “Pay,” take a few extra seconds to make sure you’re in the right place.

How Do Bill Pay Impersonators Work?

Imagine you need to pay a utility bill. Instead of typing the company’s website address into your browser, you instead search online.

The first result looks legitimate, so you click on it.

The catch? That result may be a paid advertisement from a company that isn’t actually affiliated with your utility provider.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, some companies have used paid search ads to make consumers believe they were using an official payment channel when they were actually visiting a separate third-party service.

The website may prominently display the biller’s name or otherwise look convincing enough that you don’t realize you’ve left the company’s official website.

You may only discover the difference after you’ve submitted your payment, encountered an unexpected fee, or had trouble confirming whether your bill was paid.

A Search Result isn’t Necessarily an Official Website

One of the biggest challenges is that paid advertisements can appear above regular search results.

Seeing a familiar company name at the top of Google, Bing, or another search engine doesn’t automatically mean the link is from that company.

Before clicking, check for labels like “Sponsored” or “Ad.” These labels don’t necessarily mean the advertiser is fraudulent, but they do indicate that the result was paid for rather than appearing organically.

Take a moment to check the website address as well. Scammers and misleading services may use web addresses that resemble a legitimate company’s domain but include extra words, unusual spellings, or other subtle differences.

Safer Ways to Pay Bills Online

A few simple habits can help you avoid ending up on the wrong payment site.

Go directly to the biller’s website.
If you already know the company’s website address, type it directly into your browser rather than searching for it each time.

Use a trusted bookmark.
After verifying a company’s official website, bookmark its payment page for future use.

Use the company’s official app.
If the organization offers a mobile app, download it from your device’s official app store and verify the developer before signing in.

Check the web address before entering any information.
Look at the full URL and make sure you’re on the site you intended to visit before entering account, card, or banking information.

Be cautious with sponsored search results.
Scrolling past paid advertisements is usually a smart idea.

Review payment details before submitting.
Check the biller’s company name, payment amount, and any added service fees before authorizing the transaction.

Consider Paying Bills Through Your Financial Institution

One of the safest ways to pay eligible bills online is through your financial institution’s online bill pay service.

Members of First Financial can utilize our Online Bill Pay, add billers, schedule payments and set up future or recurring payments through Online Banking or the First Financial Mobile App.*

Using a familiar, trusted platform can also save you time from repeatedly searching online for various bill payment websites.

What if You’re Not Sure You Used the Right Payment Website?

If you realize you may have entered payment or financial information on a suspicious website, act quickly.

Contact the company you intended to pay using contact information from a trusted source, such as a previous statement or its verified website, to confirm whether your payment was received.

You should also review your bank or credit card activity for unfamiliar transactions. If you shared financial information or notice suspicious activity, contact your financial institution or card issuer as soon as possible.

If you believe you encountered a scam or deceptive business practice, you can also report it to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Pause Before You Pay

Online bill payment is convenient, but that convenience can sometimes make it easy to click the first search result without taking a closer look.

Before entering your account or payment information, verify the website, check the URL, and make sure you’re dealing directly with the company you intended to pay.

Those few extra seconds can help protect both your money and your personal information. For more ways to stay a step ahead of scams, visit the Important Alerts & Scams section of our First Scoop Blog.

First Financial members can securely manage eligible bill payments through Online Banking and the First Financial Mobile App. Visit our Digital Services page to learn more about Online Bill Pay and other convenient ways to manage your finances online.*

*You must have an account at First Financial Federal Credit Union (serving Monmouth and Ocean Counties in NJ), and be enrolled in online banking, to use our mobile app or online banking services. Data rates may apply. Check with your mobile phone carrier for details. A First Financial membership is available to anyone who lives, works, worships, volunteers or attends school in Monmouth or Ocean Counties. A $5 deposit in a base savings account is required for credit union membership prior to opening any other account. Other terms & conditions may apply, see credit union for details.