On a practical front, you can use http://www.scamadviser.com to look up info on any site, to see if the site’s real location or the identity of its owner is being hidden–both of these are pretty serious red flags. If a site is hiding its real location and its owner’s identity, it’s pretty safe to assume it’s a scam/propaganda outlet until proven otherwise.
Keep in mind, passing this test doesn’t mean it’s legit either. But if it fails, just walk away.