Guide · 5 min read
How to Check If a Website Is Legit Before You Buy
Quick answer
To check if a website is legit, read the domain letter by letter, look for real contact details and a returns policy, avoid sites that only take wire, gift cards or crypto, and search independent reviews.
Fake stores and lookalike login pages can look polished. A few quick checks catch most of them.
A quick checklist
- Read the domain carefully, letter by letter. Watch for extra words, hyphens or swapped letters.
- Look for a real address, phone number and returns policy.
- Be cautious when prices are far below every other store.
- Avoid sites that only accept wire transfers, gift cards or crypto.
- Search the store name plus 'scam' or 'reviews' on an independent site.
- A padlock icon only means the connection is encrypted — not that the site is honest.
Still unsure?
Paste the link into ScamCheck Pro for a free risk check that highlights suspicious patterns before you enter any details.