Skip to main content
AI for Seniors

Is this website legit? Free website scam checker

Found a great deal from a store you’ve never heard of? Before you pay, take two minutes. Step 1: check the web address. Step 2: answer 12 quick yes-or-no questions. We’ll explain the warning signs in plain words.

Step 1: Check the web address

Copy the address from the top of the store’s page and paste it here. We never open the website.

We never open or visit the link. We only look at how it is written and do a few safe lookups.

Wise owl mascot

Paste a link and I will check it!

Try an example (these are made-up example links):

Step 2: Answer 12 quick questions about the store

Answer what you can. “Not sure” is fine, and we’ll tell you what to check. Your answers stay on your device.

  1. 1. Does the site only let you pay by gift card, wire transfer, a payment app like Zelle or Cash App, or cryptocurrency?

  2. 2. When you search the store’s name plus the word "scam" or "complaint" on Google or Bing, do you see warnings from other shoppers?

  3. 3. Does it ask for things a store doesn’t need, like your Social Security number, your bank password, or a photo of your ID?

  4. 4. Does the web address look odd: a famous brand name with extra words (like bestbuy-outlet-deals), a misspelling, or a strange ending like .top or .xyz?

  5. 5. Is a brand-name item priced far lower than at other stores?

  6. 6. Did our Link Checker say the website name is new, created less than a year ago?

  7. 7. Did you find the site through a social media ad, a pop-up, or a text or email you didn’t ask for?

  8. 8. Is there no real way to reach them: no phone number, no street address, only a form or chat?

  9. 9. Is the return policy, refund policy or shipping time missing or hard to find?

  10. 10. Is there a countdown clock, "only 2 left!" or other pressure to buy right now?

  11. 11. Are the reviews all perfect, all posted around the same time, or only found on the store’s own website?

  12. 12. Does the site have lots of spelling mistakes, blurry logos, or photos that look copied from other stores?

0 of 12 answered

5 rules for safe online shopping

  1. Pay with a credit card. The FTC says it gives you the most protection, and you can dispute the charge.
  2. Never pay by gift card, wire transfer, payment app or cryptocurrency to an online store. Only scammers insist on that.
  3. Search before you buy: the store name plus “scam,” “complaint” or “review,” on Google or Bing.
  4. Too good to be true usually is. Compare the price with stores you know.
  5. Keep records: the website, the order, the receipt and every email, until your item arrives.

Teaching a class? Our free lesson plan Safe Online Shopping uses this checker, with a printable handout. Got a strange text or email about an order? Try the Scam Text and Email Checker.

Get one simple safety tip a day

Free, plain-language tips to shop and browse safely. Unsubscribe anytime.

Free. We never sell your email. Unsubscribe anytime with one click.

Questions people ask

How can I tell if a website is legit before I buy?

Search the store’s name plus "scam" or "complaint" on Google or Bing. Compare the price with stores you know. Look for a real phone number, street address, and a clear return policy. Pay with a credit card. And never buy from a seller who insists on gift cards, wire transfers, payment apps or cryptocurrency.

Can any website checker tell for sure if a site is real?

No, and be careful of any tool that promises it can. Scam stores look more real every year. Our checker looks at the web address and walks you through the warning signs the FTC describes, so you can make a smart choice.

Does the lock icon or "https" mean a website is safe?

No. The FTC explains that the "s" in https means the connection is encrypted, but it doesn’t mean the site is legitimate. Scammers can get the lock, too.

Is a website safe if it has lots of good reviews?

Not always. The FTC warns that some reviews are fake, and not all fake reviews are five stars. Read reviews on several different sites, not just the store’s own website.

What should I do if I already bought from a fake website?

Call your credit card company or bank right away and ask to dispute the charge. If you paid with a gift card, call the company that sold the card. Keep your receipts and emails. Then report the site at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Does this checker send my answers anywhere?

Your yes-or-no answers stay in your web browser and are never sent to us. If you use the Link Checker step, we look only at how the address is written and when the website name was created. We never open the website.

Is this website checker free?

Yes. It is free, with no sign-up and nothing to download.

Sources

Last updated: October 17, 2026. This checker is a guide, not a guarantee.