Is This Online Store Legit? A 2-Minute Checklist
Before you pay a store you don’t know, run through these questions. The checklist follows the FTC’s online shopping advice. At the end you’ll see what checks out, what’s missing and what to do next.
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What the checklist looks at
The FTC’s online shopping advice boils down to a few habits: read reviews from impartial sources with a critical eye, search the company name with words like “complaint” or “scam”, know the full cost including shipping and fees, check the delivery time and return policy before you buy, pay by credit card, make sure the site uses encryption (“https”), and keep records of your order.
The checklist can’t prove a store is a scam. It shows what’s missing at a glance. A real store might miss one item; fake stores tend to miss several at once, especially reviews, payment methods and policies.
The biggest red flags
- The seller insists on gift cards, wire transfers, payment apps or cryptocurrency. The FTC says never to pay a seller who demands these.
- No complaints search turns up anything good, or reviews look fake or copied.
- The total cost isn’t clear until the last step.
FAQ
How can I tell if a website is legit?
Search the store name with “complaint” or “scam”, read reviews from impartial sources, confirm the full price and return policy before paying, and pay by credit card. Be wary of stores that only accept gift cards, wires, payment apps or crypto.
Does “https” mean a site is safe?
No. It means the connection is encrypted, which the FTC says to check, but scam sites can have it too. It’s a minimum, not proof.
What should I do if I already paid a scam store?
Call your card issuer or bank right away to dispute the charge, keep screenshots of the order and messages, and report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Do you store my answers?
No. The checklist runs in your browser.
Sources
Updated
