How to check if a website is legit

Updated September 30, 2026 · by the IsLegitOrNot team

Most scam websites fail at least three of the checks below. None of them takes more than a minute, and together they will catch the large majority of fake shops.

1. Check when the domain was registered

This is the single most useful check. Fake shops are usually registered a few weeks before they start running ads, then abandoned. Enter the site in our checker to see the exact registration date. A shop selling well-known brands on a domain that is only a month old deserves a lot of suspicion.

2. Compare the prices

If the same product costs 70 to 90% less than at every major retailer, the product probably does not exist. Real clearance sales rarely go below 50% on current items.

3. Look for a real company behind the site

A legit shop lists a company name, a physical address and a way to reach a person. Search the company name in your country's business register. A contact form and a free email address are not enough.

4. Read the returns and shipping policy

Scam sites often copy these pages from elsewhere. Look for another shop's name left in the text, impossible delivery times, or a return address in a different country from the one the shop claims to be in.

5. Check the payment options

Be very careful if the only options are bank transfer, crypto, gift cards or payment apps without buyer protection. Legit shops accept cards and usually PayPal, which let you dispute a charge.

6. Read reviews on independent sites

Testimonials on the shop itself prove nothing. Look for reviews on independent platforms, including ours, and pay attention to complaints about orders that never arrived or refunds that were never paid.

7. Check the address bar carefully

Lookalike domains change one letter or add a word: amaz0n, nike-official-outlet. Type the address of well-known brands yourself instead of clicking links in ads or messages.

8. Do not trust the padlock alone

A padlock means the connection is encrypted. It does not mean the seller is honest, because certificates are free and scammers use them too. A missing padlock is a red flag; a present one is only the minimum.

9. Watch for pressure tactics

Countdown timers, "only 2 left" banners and pop-ups saying someone just bought the same item are designed to stop you from checking. Take the two minutes anyway.

The quick version

Paste the website into our website legit checker. It checks the domain age, certificate, scam patterns and Google Safe Browsing for you and shows what other customers experienced.