How to Check If a Website Is Real or a Scam – A Complete 2025 Guide

Staying safe online is more important than ever. Cybercriminals are using artificial intelligence and other tools to create convincing fake websites, and scams are on the rise. In fact, the FTC reports that U.S. losses to online scams topped $12.5 billion in 2024 – up 25% from 2023. The Anti-Phishing Working Group found nearly 1.8 million new phishing and fake websites just in the second half of 2024. With stats like these and scammers writing “perfectly convincing” content via AI, verifying a site before you click or buy is crucial. Below we’ll cover common warning signs of scammy sites and walk you through a step-by-step checklist to make sure a website is legitimate in 2025.

Warning Signs of a Scam Website

Watch out for these red flags before you trust a website. Even one of these issues is a good reason to pause and investigate further:

Unrealistic deals or prices: Offers like a brand-name handbag or gadget for 50–80% off are classic bait. Scammers lure you with huge discounts or countdown timers, knowing that “extreme discounts are a classic way to bait buyers”. If it sounds too good to be true, double-check against reputable stores and search the site carefully.
Suspicious URL or domain: Carefully inspect the web address. Fake sites often use lookalike domains (extra letters, hyphens, different TLDs). For example, amaz0n.com (with a zero) or brand.xyz instead of the real brand’s .com. If the URL has odd spellings or doesn’t match the official company name exactly, “type the brand name directly into your browser instead of clicking a link”.
Poor design, spelling or content: Legitimate companies usually have polished websites. Look for typos, bad grammar, or low-quality images – these often indicate a hurried scam page. If pages like “About Us” or “Terms” are missing, incomplete, or full of placeholder text, that’s a warning sign. Scammers don’t invest time fixing mistakes, so errors, blurry logos, or inconsistent writing styles strongly suggest the site may be fake.
No clear contact info: Real businesses want customers to reach them. Check for a physical address, phone number, and professional email. If all you see is a generic contact form or vague “Contact Us” page, be suspicious. Legitimate sites usually list a valid address or phone number you can verify. If not, or if the “About” and “Contact” pages are empty or copied, the site could be a scam.
Fake trust seals: Scammers often stick images of security badges or payment logos on their pages. These images aren’t real seals. For example, a scam site might show a padlock icon or privacy logo that can’t be clicked or verified. Always click any trust logo – if it doesn’t link to a certifying authority, it’s fake.
Missing policies: Look for pages like Privacy Policy, Terms & Conditions, Shipping, or Refund Policy. A legitimate online store will clearly explain how returns or refunds work. If you can’t find any return or shipping info, that’s a red flag. Scammers often leave out these details because they just want your money and don’t plan to honor returns.
Demand for unusual payment: Be wary if the site only accepts wire transfers, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or other non-reversible methods. Reputable retailers accept credit cards, PayPal, or popular financing options. If they pressure you to pay via an odd channel or send money directly to a bank account, it’s likely a scam tactic.
Too-enthusiastic “trust signals”: Social media links or trust badges that go nowhere can also be telling. Scam sites often plaster on social icons (Facebook, Instagram, etc.) that lead to empty profiles or unrelated pages. If those links don’t work or the social pages have no posts and few followers, be cautious.

If you notice one or more of these warning signs, take a step back before entering any information. Now let’s look at a structured way to verify a site.

Step-by-Step Guide to Verify a Website

Follow these steps in order to make sure a site is genuine. Even if a site passes one check, it must pass all before you can feel safe.

1. Check HTTPS and the Padlock Symbol

Look for “https://” at the start of the URL and a padlock icon in your browser’s address bar. This means data you send (passwords, payment info) is encrypted. A secure site should always have HTTPS, especially on pages where you enter personal data.
Click the padlock icon to view certificate details. Make sure the certificate is valid and issued to the company you expect. (For example, if you’re on “www.example.com”, the certificate should also say example.com.)
Remember: encryption alone isn’t enough. A padlock only means data is secure in transit; it doesn’t guarantee the site itself is honest. Scammers can buy SSL certificates for their sites, so HTTPS is necessary but not sufficient. Use this step in combination with others. If the padlock is missing or broken, do not enter any sensitive info.

2. Analyze Design and Contact Details

Site design: Trust your gut on appearance. Professional sites invest in design. Look for clean layouts, working menus, and high-quality logos. If pages look rushed, items overlap, links are broken, or photos are blurry, that’s suspicious. Compare with the official site of the company (if known) or a related brand to see if something feels off.
Contact information: Find an About Us page and Contact page. Legitimate businesses provide an email, phone number, and often a physical address. If you only see a “Contact Us” form with no additional details, be wary. You can even copy the address and search it on Google Maps to see if it’s real.
Trust seals: Any security or verification badges (e.g. SSL seal, payment logos) should be clickable. For example, a VeriSign or BBB logo should lead to a verification page. If they’re just static images, ignore them.
Grammar and content: Read the About page or policy pages. Poor spelling, obvious typos, or text that looks copied and pasted are bad signs. These suggest the site was put together carelessly.

3. Look for Reviews and Complaints

Google it: Search the site or company name along with words like “scam,” “review,” or “complaint.” For example, type ExampleStore reviews scam. Real customers often share experiences on blogs, forums, or social media. If multiple people report fraud, you’ll likely see it in the results.
Independent review sites: Check sites like Trustpilot, Sitejabber, or the Better Business Bureau’s Scam Tracker. Enter the website name or URL and see if there are registered complaints. The BBB Scam Tracker is a free tool where consumers report fraud.
Watch for red flags in reviews: Even on-site testimonials can be bogus. Fake review examples include generic praise without details or stock photos with made-up names Legitimate reviews often mention specifics and flaws. If a site has no reviews anywhere, or only positive reviews that sound copied, be skeptical.

4. Use Verification Tools

Website scanners: Enter the URL into tools like ScamAdviser or VirusTotal. These sites check the domain against blacklists, malware databases, and known scam reports. For example, URLVoid and VirusTotal scan links for dangerous content. A clean result doesn’t guarantee safety, but a red flag (such as being on a blocklist) means stay away.
Google Safe Browsing: You can also use Google’s Transparency Report or Safe Browsing site status to see if Google has flagged the URL. Many browsers will warn you if a site is known to be malicious.
WHOIS lookup: Perform a WHOIS or ICANN lookup on the domain. This shows when the domain was registered and to whom. Be suspicious if the domain is very new (just a few months old) or if the registrant info is hidden or unrelated. For example, if a site claims to be a U.S. company but the WHOIS shows it’s registered in a different country, that’s odd. Established businesses usually have domains that are several years old or renewed well into the future.

5. Google the Business Name + “scam”

Perform a quick search for the company or website name along with the word “scam” or “fraud.” For instance, search “Example Store scam” or “Example Store review.” Scammers often leave digital footprints like forum posts or articles warning others. This simple trick can quickly reveal if anyone has reported issues.

6. Verify Social Media Presence

Check linked social pages: Legitimate businesses often link to their social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn). Click those icons on the site to see if they lead to real, active pages. If the links are broken or the profiles are empty/new, be cautious.
Search directly: Look up the business name on social platforms. Are the pages filled with regular posts and real followers? If you find none or only spammy posts, that’s a warning. Real companies also reply to messages or comments. For example, ScamAdviser notes that “a professional web shop usually replies within hours or a maximum of two working days” to social inquiries.

7. Check Refund and Return Policies

Look for a Refund/Return Policy page: A trustworthy online store clearly states its return, refund, and shipping policies. If the site doesn’t explain how returns work or simply has no such page, that’s highly suspicious. Real retailers want you to feel confident that you can return an item, so they explain the process.
Review other legal pages: Make sure the site has Terms of Service and Privacy Policy pages as well. Scam sites often omit these or copy generic templates. Absence of basic legal information usually means the site is not professionally run.

8. Check Domain Age and Registration Details

Domain creation date: As mentioned, a very new domain is a concern. Use a WHOIS lookup or a tool like Whois.net or ICANN’s lookup. If the domain was registered only weeks or months ago, ask yourself why – scammers frequently spin up short-lived sites. Established businesses’ domains are often years old and renewed regularly.
Who owns the domain: The WHOIS info can also reveal who registered the domain. While many small businesses use private registration, be wary if the owner’s name is clearly not a business or if the listed owner is in a country far from where the company claims to operate.
Registration service: Check which registrar and hosting company the site uses. Obscure or shady registrars can be a sign; most legitimate businesses use well-known registrars.

Practical Tips for Safe Online Shopping

Besides vetting individual websites, follow these general safety practices whenever you’re online:

Use strong, unique passwords and 2FA: Create complex passwords for every site, and turn on two-factor authentication (2FA) when available.This helps keep your accounts safe even if one site is compromised.
Avoid public Wi-Fi or use a VPN: Public networks (cafes, airports) are often insecure. If you must shop or log in on public Wi-Fi, use a reputable VPN (virtual private network) to encrypt your connection. This prevents hackers on the network from intercepting your data.
Pay with credit cards or secure methods: Credit cards and services like PayPal or Apple Pay often provide fraud protection. If something goes wrong, you can dispute charges. Avoid retailers that only accept wire transfers, cryptocurrencies, gift cards, or unknown payment apps. Those are common scam tricks.
Stick to well-known retailers when possible: If a deal seems too risky or the site is obscure, consider buying from a more established store or brand instead. Well-reviewed, reputable retailers have a stake in their reputation and use secure practices.
Review policies upfront: Before you click “Buy,” scan the site’s shipping and return policies. Make sure they meet your needs (e.g. free returns, known timeline). If refund policies look dodgy or missing, shop elsewhere.
Monitor your accounts: Keep an eye on your bank and credit card statements for unauthorized charges. If you spot anything strange, contact your bank immediately.

Conclusion

In 2025, with scams becoming more sophisticated, it pays to be cautious and verify before you trust a website. By watching for warning signs (like awful design, missing info, or ridiculously low prices) and following the checklist above, you can browse and shop online much more safely. Remember: take a moment to double-check any site that makes you uneasy – it’s better than losing your money or personal data.