How to Tell If a Website Is a Scam: 10 Checks Before You Pay
A polished design doesn't make a site honest: building a convincing shop takes a few hours. The right approach isn't to hunt for a single clue, but to cross-check several signals. Here are ten checks that take less than five minutes in total.
Key takeaways
- Site address read letter by letter.
- Complete, verifiable legal notices.
- Domain age consistent with what the site claims.
- Reviews read outside the site itself.
- Protected payment method (card), never bank transfer or prepaid cards.
1. Read the site's address, letter by letter
Fake sites imitate well-known brands with a changed letter, an added hyphen or an unusual extension. Check that the address shown in the browser bar matches the merchant's name, and that it starts with https. Be careful: the little padlock only means the connection is encrypted, not that the seller is honest.
2. Look for the legal notices
A reputable online shop says who it is: company or person in charge, address, registration number, a way to contact it, and the general terms of sale. Check that the address exists and that the company number matches the name. A “legal notice” page that is empty, copied from another site or impossible to find is a strong signal.
3. Check the age of the domain name
A “whois” service tells you when the domain was registered. A site that presents itself as a brand established for ten years but whose domain is only a few weeks old raises a real question. It isn't a standalone criterion: an honest shop can be new.
4. Compare the price with the market
Look for the same product at two or three other sellers. A price far below everyone else's, especially on a well-known brand outside the sales, is the most common sign of a scam or a counterfeit.
5. Read the reviews, but not the ones on the site
Search for the site's name with “reviews” or “scam” in a search engine and read the feedback on independent platforms. Also be wary of a complete absence of reviews anywhere, or reviews that are all identical.
6. Test customer service before paying
Send a simple question to the contact address (delivery time, returns). A precise, quick answer is reassuring; no answer, or one that doesn't address your question, is much less so.
7. Look at the payment methods offered
A site that only accepts bank transfers, prepaid cards or cryptocurrency takes away any chance of disputing the payment. A legitimate shop offers bank card payment or a recognized protected payment.
8. Examine the delivery and return conditions
Delivery times, shipping country, fees and the return procedure must be written clearly. A 14-day right of withdrawal must be mentioned for consumers. A return policy that is missing or impossible to apply is a warning sign.
9. Be wary of pressure
Countdown timers, “only 2 left in stock”, “37 people are looking at this product”: these urgency cues are sometimes real, often artificial. Take the time to check; a real shop will still be there tomorrow.
10. Trust a second opinion
If several signals bother you, ask someone else or use a verification tool. An outside second opinion breaks the “buying tunnel” effect you can get caught in.
A single signal is never enough to draw a conclusion. It's the accumulation that counts: recent domain + very low price + no legal notices + unprotected payment = a bad idea to order.
Frequently asked questions
Does the padlock in the address bar prove that a site is reliable?
No. It only indicates that the connection is encrypted. Fake sites can have it too.
What should I do if I've already paid on a dubious site?
Contact your bank quickly to dispute the payment, keep all the evidence, and read our guide on the steps to take after an online scam.
How can I check a company?
Look up its registration number in your country's official register, check that the name and address match what the site displays, and compare with independent reviews.