Online shopping offers convenience and access to a global marketplace, but it also comes with risks—chief among them, the threat of scam websites. These fraudulent sites are designed to steal your money, personal information, or both. Whether you’re hunting for a bargain or making a big purchase, it’s essential to know how to protect yourself. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to avoid scam websites when shopping online.
Check the URL Carefully
One of the easiest ways to spot a scam site is by inspecting its web address.
- Look for HTTPS: Secure sites start with “https://” instead of “http://”. The “s” stands for secure and indicates that the site uses encryption to protect your data.
- Watch for misspellings: Scammers often register fake domains that look similar to popular websites, such as “amaz0n.com” or “paypa1.com”.
- Avoid unknown domains: Be cautious with sites that use unfamiliar domain endings like “.top”, “.xyz”, or “.biz”.
Research the Website
If you’re unfamiliar with the seller, do some quick research before making a purchase.
- Search the company name + “scam” or “review”.
- Check review platforms like Trustpilot, SiteJabber, or the Better Business Bureau (BBB) or Trusted 2A.
- Visit social media: Reputable companies often have active social media pages. Scam sites may have no presence or use stock images and fake followers.
Be Skeptical of Deals That Are Too Good to Be True
If a product is being sold at a price far below its market value, it could be a red flag.
- Compare prices on other websites.
- Look for limited availability tactics like countdown timers or “only 1 left in stock”—scam sites often use these to pressure shoppers.
- Avoid sites with “unicorn” products: If a product is out of stock everywhere but a site lists hundreds in stock, it is a huge red flag.
Check Payment Options
Scam sites typically offer limited and unsecure payment options.
- Use credit cards or PayPal: These offer fraud protection and chargeback options. Do not use PayPal “Friends & Family”, only use goods and services.
- Avoid wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency: These payment methods are harder to trace and recover.
- Look for payment security logos like Visa Secure or Mastercard Identity Check—though note that scammers can fake these images, so use them as a supporting clue, not proof.
- Do not use Venmo or Paypal Friends and Family if you want to avoid scam websites when shopping online.
Look for Contact Information
A legitimate business will provide clear, accessible contact details.
- Check for a physical address and customer service phone number.
- Test the email or chat: Reach out with a question—if you get no reply or an odd response, that’s a red flag.
Read the Return and Privacy Policies
Legit e-commerce sites have detailed and reasonable return, refund, and privacy policies.
- Avoid sites with vague or overly strict return policies.
- Be wary if there’s no privacy policy—this may indicate that your data is not being handled securely.
Use Website Safety Tools
There are free browser tools and extensions that can help flag dangerous sites.
- Google Safe Browsing: Automatically blocks known scam and phishing sites.
- Extensions like McAfee WebAdvisor, Norton Safe Web, or Bitdefender TrafficLight: These provide real-time alerts about suspicious sites.
Inspect the Domain Registration
Checking the domain registration details of a website can provide insight into its legitimacy.
- Use WHOIS lookup tools (such as whois.domaintools.com or ICANN WHOIS) to find out:
- When the domain was registered: Scam sites often use newly registered domains.
- Who registered it: Be wary if the registrant’s information is private or masked, especially for e-commerce.
- Where it’s registered: Unfamiliar or offshore registrars can be a red flag.
- Check the domain’s age: Legitimate businesses usually have websites that have been active for a while. A brand-new domain claiming to offer massive discounts is suspicious.
- Check the domain registration country: If a company says it’s located in the US heartland but is registered outside of the US it might be a scam.
Domain registration info isn’t foolproof, but it’s another layer of defense in spotting fraudulent websites.
Inspect Pages Like “About Us” for Red Flags
A genuine online store typically takes the time to write unique, informative content about their business.
- Look for generic language or unedited templates: Scam sites often copy and paste vague or boilerplate text, like “We are the best online shop” without any real details.
- Watch for placeholder text: If you see “Lorem ipsum” or other filler text, it’s a major warning sign that the site was hastily thrown together.
- Check grammar and tone: Poor grammar, awkward phrasing, or inconsistent branding may indicate the site isn’t run by a legitimate business.
- Cross-check company claims: If the site says it’s a “trusted brand since 2005” but the domain was created last month, it’s likely a scam.
Always read the “About Us”, “Contact”, and “FAQ” pages to get a feel for the site’s authenticity. Sloppy or suspicious content is often a giveaway.
Trust Your Instincts
If something feels off—whether it’s an amateur design, low-quality images, or broken links—don’t ignore that gut feeling. It’s better to miss out on a “deal” than to risk being scammed.
Social media sites like Reddit and Facebook are full of questions like “is XXXX legit?” If you’re asking that question, you already know the answer.
Final Thoughts
The internet is filled with legitimate businesses and great deals, but scammers are always lurking. By staying cautious, doing a bit of research, and using secure payment methods, you can protect yourself from falling victim to online shopping scams.
When in doubt, remember this rule: If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.
If you follow these steps you’ll be able to easily spot and avoid scam websites when shopping online.
For a list of websites that have proven to be excellent resources, you can view our Nice List. To check if we’ve identified a site as one to avoid look at our Naughty List.
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