How to Know if a Website or Online Store Is Fake
Updated 2 October 2026
Fake shops can look professional, so appearance alone proves nothing. These checks take a few minutes and catch most fake websites.
Check the domain
- Look closely at the spelling. Scam sites often copy a real brand with a small change.
- Check when the domain was registered using a WHOIS lookup. A shop that claims to be "established for years" but was registered last week is a warning sign.
- Be cautious of unusual endings or very long addresses that stuff in brand names.
Look at how they want to be paid
Be careful if the only option is a bank transfer to a personal account, or if you are pushed to move the chat to WhatsApp to pay. Legitimate shops usually offer a secure checkout or payment on delivery.
Verify contact details and policies
- A real address, working phone number and email address.
- Clear return, refund and delivery policies.
- A privacy policy and terms page written for the actual business, not copied text.
Search for reviews outside the site
Search the shop name with words like "scam", "review" or "complaint". Reviews that appear only on the shop's own website prove little. Check social media pages for real customer comments and a history of posts.
Check the padlock, but do not rely on it
HTTPS means the connection is encrypted. It does not mean the business is honest, because scammers can get HTTPS certificates too. Treat it as the minimum, not proof of safety.
Use a website checker
A tool like AbegVerify looks at domain details and community reports together, which gives you a faster picture than checking each item by hand.