How to Check if a Website Is Legit Before You Buy Anything

Before you hand over your payment details to a website you have never used, it is worth spending two minutes checking it out. Here is a practical checklist. 1. Search the domain plus the word "scam" or "reviews". If a site has scammed people before, someone has usually already written about it. 2. Check how long the domain has been registered. Brand-new domains selling heavily discounted electronics, designer goods, or supplements are a classic red flag - legitimate retailers rarely launch a store and immediately run huge fire-sale discounts. 3. Look for a real contact method. A working phone number, a physical address that resolves on a map, and a responsive support email are all good signs. A contact form with no other details is not. 4. Check the checkout page for HTTPS and a recognizable payment processor. Sites that only accept wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency for ordinary retail purchases should raise immediate suspicion. 5. Read the return policy. Scam stores either have no return policy or one so vague it is unenforceable. 6. Search the site on Check Before Trust. If other shoppers have already reported problems with this store, you will see their reports, the risk categories involved, and a community Trust Score before you risk your own money. None of these checks are perfect on their own, but combined they catch the overwhelming majority of fake storefronts. When in doubt, search first, buy second.